LAKEWOOD – Village officials are looking into establishing an historic district.

Ted McAgue, Lakewood historic preservation committee chairman, spoke to trustees Monday about how the Village of Lakewood may obtain Certified Local Government (CLG) status.

According to parks.ny.gov, “The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program supports and strengthens local preservation activities by helping communities achieve their preservation goals through the adoption of a locally regulated historic preservation ordinance, which provides the strongest protection for a broad range of historic resources, including private property.”

Trustees voted to OK a measure to hire Heritage Resources LLC for $7,500 to apply for a Preservation League of New York State grant. The grant, McCague said, is for a survey of historical areas.

In a letter to the board, Heritage President Alma O’Connell-Brown said “new for 2026 is that projects such as the one the village wishes to submit for an Historic Resources Survey requires having an art component. Heritage Resources LLC will provide assistance to the village under this agreement to develop the art component and coordinate with a NYS-based local artist to lead this community engagement scope of work. We plan to have an art component ready to submit with the grant application.”

O’Connell-Brown added that the pre-application is due Aug. 28, and the full application is due Sept. 30.

“I have pulled a list of all the residences, buildings, properties in Lakewood, and for historic preservation, the survey looks at those properties that are 50 years or older in the community. We have a lot,” McCague said. “Some of them (properties) are not historic preservation material. Others definitely are. So we already have that information.”

McCague added that Chautauqua Avenue should be an historic district.

“There are historic buildings on Chautauqua Avenue that are characteristic of iconic Lakewood that should be preserved, so it’s likely that that would be one recommendation,” McCague added.

In 2023, the Lakewood Village Hall received a listing on the New York State Register of Historic Places.

In a related matter, trustees are also looking into establishing an Historic Preservation Board.