At a Glance:
What: The facilitation and submission of an National Historic Places Designation (NHPD) Project within the Downtown Improvement District, considering the context of areas with substantial historic assets.
Why: Quality and considered improvement to the built environment and its surroundings are central to a downtown’s beautification, pedestrian scale, and street-level storefront business attraction and retention.
Who: The Erie Downtown Partnership, in collaboration with the City of Erie Planning and Neighborhood Resources department, the City of Erie Historic Review Commission, and the City of Erie Redevelopment Authority
When: On-site research by the consultant, Markosky Engineering’s preservation team, will be conducted Fall 2025 through Winter 2026. Recommendation for the application will be presented to the public for feedback in April 2026, with submission to the Trust for Historic Preservation in June 2026.
Benefits
A National Register of Historic Places Designation can incentivize developers via Historic Tax Credits and grants, while advancing EDP’s work to make downtown safe, fun, and welcoming for all.
Through state and federal historic tax credits, rehabilitation of existing buildings provides space for entrepreneurs, civic functions, and residential development. Working with the Certified Local Government program and the City of Erie Historic Review Commission, revitalization leaders use historic preservation to enhance the physical environment and to attract residents and visitors.
Preserving historic and cultural assets is economically smart, not just sentimental.
Placemaking Matters
As more development comes to downtown Erie, the need to create a vibrant downtown through strategic placemaking is critical. People want to spend time in beautiful places. Encouraging and guiding quality investment and improvements of our built environment helps establish a standard of care that can be measured and incentivized. These improvements often include building rehabilitations, façade improvements, and engagement with history and culture as it relates to an area.
Benefits of Designation:
- Increased property values
- Economic incentives such as historic tax credits or local and state grants
- Economic impact on small businesses and tourism
- Job creation
- Encourage adaptive reuse
- Encourages incrementalism
- Creates sense/quality of place
The designation does NOT:
- Restrict development
- Require maintenance or public access
- Guarantee funding or protection
Alignment
Business corridors utilize preservation tools with the goal of creating economic and social benefits for communities. This designation, as well as the EDP-led Design Guidelines of 2022, create tools to inform, assist, and elevate development. Honoring downtown’s historic significance within the built environment was recommended in the Erie Downtown Master Plan (2016), the Erie Refocused Comprehensive Plan (2016), and the Erie County Cultural Heritage Plan. This project aligns with Strategies 2.4.1 - 2.4.3 of the Erie Downtown Master Plan and action item #5 of the Erie Refocused Plan
This designation also aligns with the existing Lower State Street Historic District, as identified in the 1980s, and further enhances the surrounding neighborhood.
Participate in the Process
Additional opportunities for public input will be provided via our website and in other public meetings. Our team is available to meet with anyone who needs more information or who would like to share considerations or concerns. Feedback can be sent to emily.fetcko@eriedowntown.com.
