Foster Building
Also known as: Hotel Foster
Why it's listed
Rising six stories above the mostly three-story buildings around it, this structure at 508 State Street in downtown Schenectady was built in 1907 as the Hotel Foster. Architect Penn Varney of Lynn, Massachusetts, designed it for local hotel owner Charles Brown, and the Hanrahan Brothers built it for $50,000. Its steel frame is clad in white glazed terra cotta on the front, with Roman arches, engaged columns, pilasters and a bold metal cornice in the Beaux-Arts manner. Inside, the stair entrance keeps its mosaic floor, marble wainscot and coffered ceiling. The building was listed for its architecture, which reflects the City Beautiful movement and the boom that General Electric brought to the city. Its terra-cotta detail is unusually intricate for the region. Shops have occupied the lower floors since construction, while the upper floors served as a hotel and were converted to apartments in 1985.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be a distinguished example of early twentieth-century Beaux-Arts commercial architecture in the region, with one of the most highly decorated terra-cotta facades in the area. It reflects the City Beautiful movement and the prosperity General Electric brought to Schenectady. Its continuity of use and intact interior add to its importance.
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 91000664, listed June 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 508 State St., Schenectady |
|---|---|
| County | Schenectady County |
| Listed | June 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000664 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907 |
| Architect / builder | Penn Varney, architect; Hanrahan Brothers, builders |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Retail space on the first two floors and apartments on the upper floors, converted from hotel rooms in 1985; the building remains substantially as built apart from c. 1920s storefront changes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.81165, -73.94037 (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 91000664.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5473643
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.