Climate Resiliency Resources for Landmark Property Owners

Climate change is causing more frequent and intense flooding from coastal storms, rising sea levels, and heavy rainfall. With 520 miles of coastline, New York City's neighborhoods are increasingly at risk of flood damage, which can have a devastating impact on the city's historic buildings and landmarks.

If you own a property located in a historic district or designated as an individual or interior landmark, LPC can provide guidance and technical assistance to help you understand how extreme weather and climate change may affect your building, plan ahead to identify solutions that are both effective and appropriate for your historic property, and know what to do if your property sustains flooding damage due to a hurricane, coastal storm, or other type of storm with heavy rainfall.

This page brings together resources to help you get ready for climate-related hazards, including:

• How to prepare before a storm
• What steps to take to limit damage during an extreme weather event
• Guidance on how to restore your property after flooding

Taking action now can help protect your property, increase the resiliency of our communities, and safeguard New York City's designated buildings and sites against future weather events.

Please reach out to LPC at info@lpc.nyc.gov if you have any questions or would like to discuss steps you can take to protect your landmark property.

Responding to Weather-Related Events

• Notify NYC
  • Sign up to receive citywide and local emergency alerts, including flooding and life-threatening weather conditions.
• Recovery Resources (NYCEM)
  • Find resources for immediate disaster relief and recovery options for individuals and businesses.
• Report Damage After a Major Weather Event
  • Report impacts to your property from a disaster event or emergency.

Preparing for a Weather-Related Event

• FloodHelpNY
  • Find information about flood risk, flood insurance, and flood resiliency measures.
• Reduce Your Risk
  • Read more about actions you can take to reduce your risk before a disaster strikes, from minimal to high-effort strategies.

Loan and Insurance Programs for Property Owners

• NYS Resilient Retrofit 1% Loan Program
  • Eligible homeowners can apply for financing of up to $50,000 to undertake flood mitigation measures to their homes.
• National Flood Insurance Program
  • FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program allows homeowners, renters, and businesses to buy flood insurance, since standard policies usually do not cover flood damage.
• NYS Rapid Response Home Repair Programs
  • Apply for funding for emergency repairs after a weather event.

Filing Work with LPC

• LPC Permit Guidebook: How to Get Staff-Level Approvals
  • This resource helps applicants file applications that include the correct materials so that staff can review the proposed work and issue a permit more quickly. There is guidance on the most common work types, and also barrier-free access and sustainability, resiliency and flood-proofing measures in historic buildings so they may best adapt to the impacts of climate change.
• Flood Shields and Barriers and Other Resiliency Measures
  • This FAQ addresses common flood mitigation work that LPC reviews and references other LPC resources.