Building .... description of in a recent achitectual review...
The historic district’s period of significance spans from 1825 to 1972 and includes all of the standing structures within Utica’s central business district, exclusive of a few newer structures or additions made to older buildings. Collectively, these buildings “…reflect the zenith of the commercial prosperity of the City of Utica (between c. 1875 to 1930), the subsequent changes to the city wrought by the advent of car culture (1930 to 1958), and large-scale interventions undertaken during the Urban Renewal period (1958-1972).” The period of significance ends in 1972, and coincides with the end of the Urban Renewal program in the City of Utica with the completion of Kennedy Towers and the New York State Office Building. Kennedy Towers is adjacent to properties in the Project "Area of Potential Effects" (APE) on the south side of Columbia Street between State and Cornelia streets.
The Downtown Genesee Street Historic District is significant under NRHP Criterion A for its association with the commercial and institutional growth of the City of Utica, and under NRHP Criterion C for Architecture (CRIS 2018). Its period of significance (1825-1972) incorporates the rise and subsequent fall of Utica as a regional commercial and transshipment hub for central New York State and the related rise and fall of the city’s industries. The standing structures within the district demonstrate the linkage between Utica’s advantageous location on the principal east-west transportation routes and the late-nineteenth century commercial expansion of the city.
The district is significant for its architecture. Structures within the district embody the distinctive characteristics of commercial, institutional, and (to a lesser extent) residential structures of the period 1825 to 1972. Their designs reflect popular period architectural styles and aesthetics, and utilize characteristic construction technologies for the region. Greek Revival, Rundbogenstil (Round-arch style), Richardson Romanesque, Classical Revival, Art Deco, Moderne, International and other styles are represented. Construction techniques range from traditional braced framing (used in the oldest structures) to steel and concrete framing for buildings constructed near the end of the period of significance.
Read about the Major Milestones that have shaped the City of Utica.
BetterUticaDowntown (BUD) Says: "You will see how the Columbia-Lafayette Neighborhood will be further developed to Become a more desirable place to do business, visit, and live. You'll learn how we will work with other Utica Neighborhoods to develop increased contentedness"