Huntington Apartments in Seneca Falls has been honored with a 2025 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Preservation League of New York State. The award recognizes projects that successfully preserve historic structures while creating meaningful community impact. Winners will be celebrated at a public reception in New York City on November 3.
The transformation of the historic Huntington Building, originally the National Yeast Company, into 53 affordable apartments—including 27 supportive housing units for veterans—demonstrates a remarkable convergence of preservation, social impact, and sustainability. Located at 201 Fall Street, the building had fallen into disrepair before advocacy efforts by the Seneca Falls Historical Society and the Landmark Society of Western New York led to its inclusion on the 2018 “Five to Revive” list.
Home Leasing led the redevelopment, carefully preserving the building’s historic features, reconstructing a lost fourth floor, and adding modern amenities. The project also met high-performance energy and green building standards, with Energy Star appliances, central air, and energy-efficient systems throughout.
“This award reflects the dedication of so many who helped preserve this landmark and believe in our vision,” said Megan Houppert, CEO of Home Leasing. “We proudly share this recognition with all who stood with us to save it from demolition and give it new life.”
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas praised the project for combining affordable housing with historic preservation, noting that it aligns with Governor Kathy Hochul’s $25 billion housing plan. The redevelopment supports community values, particularly with units honoring Seneca Falls’ designation as a Purple Heart Town.
The Huntington Apartments project highlights the potential for adaptive reuse to revitalize small-town Main Streets, providing safe, sustainable, and supportive housing while preserving local history.
For more information about the award and Huntington Apartments, visit the Preservation League of New York State website.
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