Author: Preservation Buffalo Niagara

What’s Happening

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June 4th, 2019

Willert Park Courts announced as One of the
11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the United States

Last week, Willert Park Courts, a site PBN has been dedicated to saving for ten years, was named one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in the United States by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. PBN held a a press conference on May 31st. This has brought Willert Park Courts both national and local recognition as it has been mentioned in USA Today, CNN, Buffalo Rising, and WBFO. For more information please visit our website. If you would like to help then sign this petition or ask a friend to join us.

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Hard Hat Tour: Chandler Street


Want to get an exclusive look at exciting adaptive reuse projects? Then join us for a Hard Hat Tour of Chandler Street. Once home to factories for companies including Linde Air Products and Jewett Refrigerator, Chandler Street is quickly growing recently becoming the home of Thin Man Brewery, BlackBird Cider Works, and other rehabilitation projects. On June 20th, join PBN as we tour some of the unfinished sites with Signature Development. You can find more info or register here. 

E.B. Green Tour de Force

It’s time to get your brakes checked so you can cycle with PBN through the streets of Buffalo to discover the indelible mark of E.B. Green on June 22nd. See both iconic and lesser known buildings designed by the man who produced over 200 buildings in Buffalo. This special bike tour is open to riders of all levels and includes 10-12 miles of moderately paced biking. Don’t forget to register and always wear your helmet. 

This Place Matters: Willert Park Courts

The National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Buffalo Niagara are coming together to announce that Willert Park Courts has been named one of the United States 11 Most Endangered Historic Places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Although Preservation Buffalo Niagara has been fighting to save Willert Park Courts from demolition for ten years, this national recognition is a notable notch on the timeline of this fight.

To learn more about Willert Park Courts, watch the video below.

How can you help?
Sign this.
Join us.

National Main Street Center to do market analysis of Elmwood Village

 

This morning Preservation Buffalo Niagara & the Elmwood Village Association announced the kick off of a market analysis and commercial district planning process to be conducted by the National Main Street Center through its UrbanMain program.The plan will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the Elmwood commercial district’s assets and build a framework for moving forward.

Joining us at the press conference today were Assembly member Sean M. Ryan and Buffalo Common Council Member David A. Rivera, who provided funding for the study, as well as State Senator Chris Jacobs and Common Council Member Joel Feroleto.

Recently, the Preservation Green Lab did an analysis of Buffalo and found that areas of older, smaller, more character-rich building stock, including the Elmwood Village, have 72% greater population density than the City as a whole, and nearly 70% more women and minority-owned businesses than the City as a whole.  Thanks to this strength and diversity, Elmwood Avenue has received many accolades and honors over the years, and this has led to an increase in interest from investors in the area.  While that attention can be positive, in some instances, it can threaten the very qualities that have led to the community’s success.  In the last twenty four months, fifteen contributing buildings on the National Register have been lost, and there are plans and proposals to potentially remove a dozen more.  The challenge for the Elmwood Village at this point in its development is how to allow the community to evolve and strengthen its core shopping district, without losing the very things that have made it the popular, vibrant place that is has traditionally been.

PBN is thrilled to be able to support the community at this time by bringing in the National Main Street Center, and its UrbanMain program, which will bring national expertise to bear on the distinct opportunities and challenges of the Elmwood Village by utilizing a set of community-driven economic development tools and services aimed at encouraging sustainable growth while preserving local history and culture.

Over the next two months, consultants from the National Main Street Center will collect and analyze market analysis data, survey community members, and meet with stakeholders. The Elmwood Village Association and Preservation Buffalo Niagara will jointly host a community-wide meeting in early October.  Work will continue through the fall and winter, with final recommendations expected in January.  Final recommendations will be shared with the community in another public forum.

To learn more click here to read the full press release

 

Tax Credit Spotlight

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Two longtime Allentown residents have been dedicated stewards to their home for nearly 20 years. That love was tested on December 27, 2015 when fire struck destroying the first-floor bathroom and causing smoke and fire damage throughout the house. Attributed to an electrical short, the fire began and the fire department immediately responded. “They were there within minutes and saved the house putting the fire out with extinguishers eliminating water damage.”

As the smoke and water remediation was completed, the couple started the rehab plans. Because the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located in an eligible census tract, the project was eligible for the NYS Historic Homeowner Tax Credit. They had considered using tax credits in the past but it wasn’t until they realized the magnitude the post-fire rehab plans that they decided to pursue them. “The tax credit is so liberating. You know that everything you are doing is appropriate to the home and you get the benefit of the tax credit which ensures you will go the extra mile.”

After years of living with inherited dark finishes, heavy antique wallpaper, and non-original built-in units, the rehab of the house allowed the owners and their interior designer/project manager Mark Taylor, to put the historic character of the house on display. “You never saw the incredible artwork in the moldings and woodwork. The radiator in the kitchen- it’s a piece of art! And in redesigning the kitchen, the plans were done around this incredible radiator.”

After receiving their building permits and Certificate of Appropriateness from City of Buffalo’s Preservation Board and tax credit project approval from the New York State Historic Preservation Office, rehab work began in January 2016 and finished in April 2017. In addition to completely remodeling the fire damaged bathroom, they also removed and updated wallpaper throughout the house, underwent a major kitchen remodel, and refinished and/or replaced damaged flooring.

While the project evolved into more than just repairing fire damage, it was all worth it for the owners. “There’s a sense of stewardship when owning an historic house. It’s so meaningful to have contributed to the well-being of this house and the neighborhood and now we have contributed to its longevity.”

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