Your clients are correct in that there are significant restrictions on historic buildings. I will give you a short synopsis of the restrictions on buildings that are within a historic district and those that are specifically designated as landmarks. In order to assess the practical results, I highly recommend two or three people, who are experienced in the process and known to the appropriate agencies. The Landmarks Preservation Commission ("LPC") is the group that offers approvals over the designation as well as the scope of changes to a project. There are differences between a building that is designated within a historic district and a building that is designated as an individual landmark. Historic districts are collections of landmark buildings. Individual landmarks are stand-alone structures that have architectural, cultural or historical significance. Owners of individual landmarks and buildings within historic districts are required to obtain permits from the Landmarks Commission for most types of alterations. Only ordinary repairs and maintenance don't require approval. Interior work may require approval in some circumstances. In your question, you mention office space development. LPC would have approval over interior work when the work requires a buildings department permit, if the interior is designated as an interior landmark and when work on the interior affects the exterior. While there are burdens involved in buying and renovating historic/landmark buildings, the party doing the renovations can qualify for historic tax credits. I would appreciate the opportunity to work with you. You can contact me directly via my profile.
