STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — One of the oldest homes in New York City and state will soon return to its former glory. According to Jessica Phillips, CEO of Historic Richmond Town, restoration efforts at the Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House are now in their preliminary phases.
“It’s an incredible feeling to be moving forward on this important project,” Phillips noted. “We are grateful for the funding, now we are putting it into action. When restoration is complete, instead of folks wondering why this old house is still standing, we will be able to welcome them inside to see for themselves.”
Dubbed the Billiou-Stillwell-Perine House in honor of three prominent Staten Island families who’ve resided there, the structure, located at 1476 Richmond Road, was approved for a congressional grant, city capital funding and a $500,000 boost from New York state in 2025.
And now the team at Historic Richmond Town, which serve as steward for the property, are putting that money to work, contracting architectural firm Page Ayres Cowley and local restoration expert and preservationist Russell Powell of Island Housewrights. The team will be meeting at the property this month to conduct a condition assessment, which will provide critical information about the work that needs to be done. Phillips says that assessment will also allow her team to jump the last state hurdle to unlocking the funding they have secured.
“This house needs and deserves this restoration,” she said. “The property needs to be properly preserved so that its history can live on for generations to come.”…