The Commission’s grant program awarded a total of $49,000 to the owners of 66, 68, and 70 South Por tland Ave. in the Fort Greene Historic District to cover the cost of repair and restoration work to the facades, including repointing, repainting, window replacement and door installation.

“We thought identical, historically correct windows for these row houses that are adjacent to one another would not only improve our homes, but be an addition to our entire block,” said Joan Reutershan, owner of 70 South Portland Ave. “We were overjoyed to be approved … with the “new old” windows, our houses make a striking statement on the street. And my home is easier to heat.”

In the last 10 years, the program, which began in 1977 and is funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant program, has provided more than $1.8 million for the rehabilitation of histor ic properties in all five boroughs.  In May, the program received the Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America ’s Preservation Advocacy Award for its role in protecting buildings and places that reflect New York City ’s 19^th and early 20^th century heritage.

The three row houses that were rehabilitated through the program were constructed between 1852 and 1853 by a pair of Brooklyn builders in Fort Greene. The district was designated in 1978, and encompasses 825 residences and institutional buildings that were constructed as part of a new wave of development in Brooklyn.

Ah Ling Neu, the owner of 66 South Portland Ave., received a $15,000 grant through the grant program to rehabilitate her historic home.

“They encouraged me to secure a very low interest rate for additional funds so I could replace all 10 windows with wooden ones with grids and to replace the door, which had been an eyesore for too many years,” said Ms. Neu. “Now, what used to be one of the ugliest houses on the block is one of the most beautiful anywhere.”

Tenzing Chadotsang, who has served as the director of the grant program since 2005, said  Ms. Neu’s decision to rehabilitate the façade of her building prompted the owners of other row houses on the block to apply for grants to restore their homes.

“Most remarkable part of this project was working with three houses in a row next to each other where the impact of the work could be felt on the entire block,” he said. “We saw immediate results because two other owners of row houses on the same block who did not qualify for the grants decided to do extensive restorative work on their facades.”

He continued, “One of the biggest questions people have is, ‘Is this for real?’ That’s one of the most common questions I get. I say, ‘Yes, this is real, this is a grant and if you qualify, you should apply.’”

To determine whether you qualify for a grant, click here to read the eligibility guidelines, or call Mr. Chadotsang at 212-669-7944 or e-mail him at tchadotsang@lpc.nyc.gov.

####