Board reviews National Register nomination for rare Lustron house; schedules CLG training outreach

The Syracuse Landmarks Preservation Board on Oct. 30 reviewed a National Register nomination for one of the city's remaining Lustron prefabricated steel houses and agreed to provide comment to the State Historic Preservation Office as a Certified Local Government.

Staff said the property is the Westchester Deluxe model, built in 1949, and is one of only two Lustron houses claimed to remain inside city limits. The nomination references a multiple-property nomination prepared at the state level; auditors at the meeting noted that about 2,600 Lustron houses were produced nationally and that some have been deconstructed and moved.

Board members praised the property's condition and asked technical questions about construction, insulation and heating. Staff said the multiple-property nomination contains detail on assembly, thermal characteristics and original mechanical systems; board members asked staff to share that documentation with the group.

Separately, staff reported she had submitted a CLG training grant for four online sessions through the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions and proposed a local history presentation by the Onondaga Historical Association as part of the training. Staff said the online sessions are open to up to 30 people and she intends to invite city staff, board members and interested community members; proposed topics include design-review standards, legal basics and enforcement/violations.

Board members expressed strong support for commenting on the Lustron nomination and for the training plan; staff said she will circulate the multiple-property nomination and the training-course list to members.