McCarthy Building
Why it's listed
Located at 255-257 River Street in downtown Troy, this five-story commercial building was constructed in 1904 by builder Charles P. Boland. It is rectangular in plan and three bays wide, with walls of terra cotta, iron and glass. A large window arch with ironwork extends across the entire front of the first and second stories. The building was recognized for its contribution to the cityscape of downtown Troy. Its facade forms part of the enclosure of Monument Square, a space that also includes other notable buildings such as the Cannon Building. The nomination identifies architecture and commerce as its areas of significance and rates its significance as local. At the time of listing in 1970 the building was in good condition, unaltered, on its original site and in commercial use. It was included among a group of Troy buildings located in an area proposed for an urban renewal mall project.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an important element in the cityscape of downtown Troy. Its five-story facade of terra cotta, glass and iron forms part of the enclosure of Monument Square, where other notable buildings such as the Cannon Building stand. It is recognized for architecture and commerce.
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 70000430, listed March 5, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 255-257 River St., Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Rensselaer County |
| Listed | March 5, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000430 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904 |
| Architect / builder | Charles P. Boland, builder |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied with commercial use. |
| Within district | Central Troy Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 42.73217, -73.69118 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 70000430.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6800187
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.