Academy Street Historic District (Poughkeepsie, New York)

Infobox nrhp
name = Academy Street Historic District
nrhp_type = hd


caption = Restored houses on Academy Street, 2007
location = Poughkeepsie, NY
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 41
lat_minutes = 41
lat_seconds = 36
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 73
long_minutes = 55
long_seconds = 44
long_direction = W
area = 140 acres (56 ha)
built = 19th and 20th centuries
architect = William J. Beardsley, Percival Lloyd, William Appleton Pottercite web|last=Sharp|first=Townley|title=National Register of Historic Places nomination, Academy Street Historic District|url=http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=1752|date=August 10, 1980|accessdate=1008-01-18]
architecture = Greek Revival architecture, Hudson River Bracketed, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Eastern Stick-Eastlake, Colonial Revival
added = 1982
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 82001117
mpsub = Poughkeepsie Multiple Resources
governing_body = Private residencesThe Academy Street Historic District is located along that street between Livingston and Montgomery streets in the city of Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. It is a few blocks from US 9, just northeast of Springside, Matthew Vassar's never-completed estate that is now a National Historic Landmark.

Its 140 acres (56 ha) contain 46 buildings, mostly houses, in a variety of 19th and early 20th-century architectural styles. It was the first planned neighborhood in the city.

Originally part of Bronson Smith's 1805 farm, the land today part of the district was sold to a group of speculators in 1836. While the financial crisis that ensued the following year set back home construction, later on in the 19th century the purchase proved fruitful as many, many homes were built on it in a mix of styles, with houses near the north end of the district, closer to downtown Poughkeepsie, having smaller lots and yards than the ones further away. Christ Church, also built during this time, remains largely unaltered and is considered a contributing property.

In the late 1970s, 85% of the residents voted in favor of establishing the district, after seeing how successful the nearby Garfield Place Historic District had been at enhancing property values and preserving that neighborhood's historic character. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The district designation has spurred the redevelopment and restoration of homes within and has been used as a selling point by Realtors.cite web|title=Nader's Realty, Featured Home|url=http://www.nadersrealty.com/featured_home.htm|date=2008|accessdate=2008-01-21]

Today it is one of three historic districts recognized under city zoning and subject to special architectural rules enforced by the city's Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission (HDLPC).PDFlink|1= [http://www.cityofpoughkeepsie.com/download.php?id=108 City of Poughkeepsie Historic District and Landmark Preservation Commission Frequently Asked Questions] |2=39.2 KB] The HDLPC's jursidiction over the district is not supreme; in 1986 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ruled that the city's Planning Board was to be lead agency and have primary jurisdiction over a proposed 18-unit condominium complex within the district.cite web|last=Williams|first=Henry|title=City of Poughkeepsie Planning Board v. Historic District and Landmarks|url=http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/25082.html|date=June 25, 1986|accessdate=2008-01-21]

References