New Kasson Apartments
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 at 622 James Street in Syracuse, this seven-story apartment building was designed by the local firm Merrick and Randall. Its yellow-brick front is dressed with terra-cotta and cast-stone details in the Second Renaissance Revival style, including projecting bays, a Greek key belt course, and a bold modillioned cornice. Inside, each of the original twelve flats held more than 1,500 square feet, with reception rooms, libraries, dining rooms and servant quarters, finished in mahogany, cherry and white oak. A 1922 fire damaged the top floors, and 1940s changes split the flats into smaller units. The building is significant as one of the earliest apartment houses on a street of former single-family mansions, marking a shift toward multiple-family living for the upper middle class near downtown. It is also valued as a well-preserved example of high-style apartment design. The period of significance runs from 1898 to about 1955.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A in the social history of Syracuse as an early apartment building housing people outside the single-family or two-family house pattern. It is also significant under Criterion C as an outstanding example of an early apartment house in the Second Renaissance Revival style by Merrick and Randall. It signaled the shift of lower James Street from large single-family homes to multiple-family buildings.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 11000600, listed August 24, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 622 James St., Syracuse |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | August 24, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000600 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898-c1955 |
| Architect / builder | Merrick & Randall |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Renaissance: Second Renaissance Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as an apartment building; a 1922 fire damaged the upper stories and 1940s alterations divided the large flats into smaller apartments. |
| Coordinates | 43.05444, -76.14419 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 11000600.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707063
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.