For 40 years, New York City Historic Properties Fund (HPF) has helped owners of NYC Landmarks find and hire experts like AYON Studio for property restoration projects. To mark this important milestone, HPF launched an informative year-long video series titled “Celebrate HPF People.”
This month’s video features Cuban-trained preservation architect, author, and community activist Angel Ayón, who has participated in the HPF program as a trusted advisor for HPF-funded projects throughout Harlem and in Brooklyn.
Since 1982, HPF has provided over $31.6M in low-interest loans for over 273 buildings, including homes, co-ops, non-profits, and religious institutions throughout the city’s five boroughs. “This organization reinforces why we do preservation and why it’s of value…to the community at large,” says Angel.
“HPF is a reliable, trustworthy organization with competent staff. It not only provides funding, but guides homeowners throughout the process, from the beginning till the end,” he explains. “Then we can concentrate on the technical issues of the building. The whole thing is just better because [HPF staff] are there.”
Ayón says HPF also provides crucial work to small architects and contractors, who are often women and minority-owned companies and people of color. This provides economic opportunities, including those for growth and development, for the larger community. “That is really the tremendous positive impact the fund has had.”