The Burnham Building, a 120-year old building in Irvington, New York, sits on the corner of Main Street directly across from the railroad station. The building, vacant for 10 years, was a hazard and an eyesore, and it occupied the perilous realm of threatened destruction that faces so many historic buildings. From May 1998 to January 2000, the building redeveloped into what is now a new public library and 22 units of affordable rental housing. Making this transformation involved a unique collaboration between a village, its residents, county and state government, a non-profit organization, and local for-profit developer. The team worked together to raise the needed capital, to design and develop attractive but affordable hosuing, and to bring a new public library to the residents of Irvington. With the redevelopment of the building, the team was able to combine transit-oriented development, main street revitalization, historic preservation, and green material and systems in a mixed-use building. The quality and success of this project, including its green features, has inspired many other towns in the area to develop similar projects.

Support household and neighborhood fit:

The Burnham Building has helped to transform and revitalize a section of Main Street adjacent to a train station and is in the heart of a redeveloping Hudson River waterfront area. In addition to providing needed affordable housing units, the new building expanded the local public library and increased its telecommunications capacity. It is an essential part of this town’s community revitalization and economic development plan and a superb example of smart growth.

Promote energy and resource efficiency:

The Burnham Building was renovated as a “green” building and it is a model for environmentally responsible development. The adaptive re-use of this industrial building is a great example of resourceful land use.