Preservation League of NYS Funds Limited Condition Assessment of Historic Farmhouse in Queens
The Historic House Trust has been awarded a Technical Assistance Grant from the Preservation League of NYS to complete a Limited Condition Assessment of the circa 1772 Adriance Farmhouse at the Queens County Farm Museum.
The Preservation League of New York State and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts have announced that the Historic House Trust of New York City is a recipient of a 2024 Technical Assistance Grant (TAG). This grant of $4,000 will fund a Limited Condition Assessment of the Adriance Farmhouse. At the end of 2024, an independent panel of preservation professionals met to select this cycle’s grant recipients, with 20 projects representing 13 counties across the state being awarded a total of $75,290.
“The Queens County Farm Museum is part of a vibrant urban farming community in New York City,” said Giulietta Fiore, Historic House Trust Acting Director. “Thanks to support from the Preservation League, we are one step closer to ensuring that the centerpiece of the site, the Adriance Farmhouse, is preserved so future generations can visit and find authentic connection with the city’s agricultural roots.”
Named after third generation family farmer Jacob Adriance, the Adriance Farmhouse was built on the site around 1772 in a style typical of Dutch Colonial framing but following a Colonial New-England style plan. TAG funding will allow the Historic House Trust to work with consultant Michael Devonshire to complete a Limited Conditions Assessment of the historic building to determine the cause of movement of the foundation at the east façade. This analysis will inform the scope of a future capital project to restore the farmhouse and will help rally community supporters and partners to advocate for additional funding to preserve this New York City treasure.
One of New York City’s last operating farms and the longest continually farmed site in New York State, the Queens County Farm Museum is a rare survivor of the city’s agricultural past. First established by the Adriance family in the 17th century, the farm’s 47-acre historic site has produced food and fed New Yorkers for over three centuries. The Queens County Farm Museum welcomes over half a million visitors annually, serving as a vital resource for education, food access, and community engagement. They share the site’s rich history, celebrate local heritage through cultural events, provide fresh, locally grown food to New Yorkers, and demonstrate regenerative agricultural and sustainable horticultural practices.
“The targeted studies made possible by Technical Assistance Grants provide crucial support for strategic preservation planning as organizations look to the future,” said Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo. “The League is proud to support so many worthwhile projects across the state through this partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts. And we are equally grateful for additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation on Long Island and the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, which allows TAG funding to go further.”
The TAG program supports arts centers, historic sites, music halls, theaters, libraries, and other cultural nonprofit or municipal entities that steward historic buildings throughout New York State. With the announcement of the 2024 awards, support provided by TAG since its launch in 2012 totals $743,970. These grants have directly advanced the efforts of 230 preservation projects. “New York’s renowned arts and cultural sites not only benefit their communities today, but must plan to serve the residents, learners, and visitors of tomorrow,” said Erika Mallin, Executive Director of NYSCA. “NYSCA is proud to provide this key funding for organizations to identify their needs and proactively design their futures. Congratulations to all of this year’s grantees, we applaud your dedication and commitment to preserving the arts and culture of this great state.”
About the Historic House Trust of New York City
The Historic House Trust of New York City, in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, advocates for, promotes, and provides expertise to preserve 23 publicly owned historic sites located throughout the city's five boroughs. Our team manages restoration projects, coordinates daily maintenance needs, advises on best practices in historic preservation, and works to address the evolving needs of the communities we serve and the historic resources under our care. We work together with our nonprofit partners that operate the sites as museums and various city agencies to ensure the long-term preservation of these important treasures. Learn more at www.historichousetrust.org and follow on social media @hhtnyc.
About the Preservation League of New York State
Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League of NYS has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Our goal has been to preserve our historic buildings, districts, and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The League empowers all New Yorkers to use historic preservation to enrich their communities, protect their heritage, and build a sustainable future. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs across the state. Connect with us at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague and instagram.com/preservenys.
About the New York State Council on the Arts
The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award $162 million in FY2025, serving organizations and artists across all 10 of the state’s regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.
Press Contact:
Giulietta Fiore
giulietta.fiore@historichousetrust.org
646-360-0203
