Grand Street Historic District
Why it's listed
Grand Street in downtown Troy contains a one-block historic district between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, with buildings on both sides of the street. Its two- and three-story masonry structures sit at a uniform distance from the curb. Nearly all have brick facades, and No. 513 has a brownstone front. They follow the typical Troy rowhouse plan, with high basements, side entrances, three-bay facades, stone water tables, ornate cast iron or stone lintels and sills, and elaborate cornices. Commercial uses occupy the buildings at Nos. 503 and 521. Most of the present buildings went up in the late 1860s and early 1870s, after the Great Fire of 1862 destroyed earlier structures. The street was once called Grand Division Street and marked the boundary between farms of the Van der Heyden family. Listing recognized the block's well-preserved nineteenth century character and its close fit with the adjoining Fifth Avenue-Fulton Street district.
Significance in brief: The block keeps much of its late nineteenth century character and is a logical extension of the adjoining Fifth Avenue-Fulton Street Historic District. Its uniform building line, rowhouse type, materials, scale and detailing match that district, and few intrusions or alterations have occurred. The result is a well-preserved nineteenth century urban setting.
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 73001255, listed February 27, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Grand St. between 5th and 6th Aves., Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | February 27, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001255 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Nineteenth century Troy rowhouses |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked fair in the nomination. Later papers in the file describe a rehabilitation project and concerns over damage to historic fabric during construction. |
| Within district | Central Troy Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 42.73320, -73.68664 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 73001255.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q130235276
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.