Category: Front Page

Save on Taxes and Invest in Preservation

Would you rather pay more in federal taxes or support a cause you care about?

A new federal tax provision makes charitable giving more beneficial than ever. In previous years, taxpayers generally needed to itemize deductions to receive a federal tax benefit for charitable contributions to organizations like Preservation Buffalo Niagara, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

For tax year 2026, taxpayers who take the standard deduction may also claim a deduction for qualifying cash gifts to eligible charities. The deduction is capped at $1,000 for individual filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly.

That means your support for Preservation Buffalo Niagara can help protect our region’s historic places while also reducing your taxable income.

Consider making a gift before December 31, 2026, to take advantage of this new tax-saving opportunity and help preserve Western New York’s architectural and cultural heritage.

For more information please call, Patrick McNichol at:
(716) 852-3300, ext 105.

She’s Still Got It! Doors Open at the Eliza Quirk House

WOW, Buffalo! Thank you to everyone who came out to 72 Sycamore for Doors Open! Over 14 tours, more than 200 people walked through the doors of the Eliza Quirk House to see the building and learn about the remarkable woman who built it. The questions were great, the curiosity was contagious, and the love for this little building was everywhere!

Meet Eliza

Eliza Quirk’s life doesn’t fit neatly into any one box. She came to America from Ireland with very little, at a time when women had few paths to independence, and she built a real estate portfolio across Buffalo. Around 1846, she built 72 Sycamore, which operated as a brothel, part of how she became one of the wealthiest women in her neighborhood.

She also wasn’t afraid of the law. One of her fines in the 1850s was $1,000, which would be close to $40,000 today! Eliza paid it and moved on. In her later years, she turned to religion, yet her obituary still summed her up as having lived a “bold bad life.”

Her story is complicated, and that’s exactly why it matters. It reminds us that the people who shaped Buffalo weren’t always the ones in the history books, and their buildings still carry their stories.

What Visitor Saw:

What makes 72 Sycamore so special is how much of it survives. Original doors, trim, layout, and even wallpaper are still here, nearly 180 years later! Walking through it feels like stepping straight into Buffalo’s past.

What’s Next For Her:

The Eliza Quirk House is coming back to life! Water is back on, stabilization is done, permits are approved, $1.8 million in grants is secured, and work has begun. When she’s finished, she’ll be PBN’s first permanent home and the region’s first Preservation Resource Center: a place to learn, gather, and keep Buffalo’s buildings standing for generations.

Help us finish the job!

We have just $300,000 to go, and every gift keeps the crews working. If you came to a tour, or wish you had, please give today and help Eliza prove she’s still got it!

Donate to Save 72 Sycamore

A huge thank you to our volunteers, our tour guides, and every single person who showed up. See you at the grand opening!

With Love,
Bernice and the PBN team

Doors Open Buffalo: Explore the Eliza Quirk House at 72 Sycamore Street

This year, during Doors Open Buffalo, Preservation Buffalo Niagara invites visitors to step inside one of Buffalo’s oldest surviving downtown buildings and discover a remarkable chapter of our city’s past: the Eliza Quirk House at 72 Sycamore Street.

The Eliza Quirk House was constructed around 1848 by entrepreneur Eliza Quirk and remains one of the oldest buildings in downtown Buffalo. Today, it is recognized for its historic significance as both a City of Buffalo Landmark and a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

During Doors Open Buffalo, guests will have the opportunity to explore this pre-Civil War building and learn about its ongoing transformation. Preservation Buffalo Niagara is rehabilitating the structure to serve as its permanent headquarters and future Preservation Resource Center, a community-focused hub dedicated to preservation education, technical assistance, workshops, research, and public programming.

Visitors will be able to see firsthand how historic preservation is bringing new life to this important Buffalo landmark. The project will preserve the building’s historic character while creating a vibrant community resource that will serve homeowners, neighborhood organizations, preservation advocates, students, and researchers for generations to come.

In addition to touring the building, Doors Open Buffalo visitors will have the opportunity to meet several organizations that share a commitment to Buffalo’s history, neighborhoods, and community pride. We are excited to welcome the following guest organizations:

Buffalo’s Badass Babes

Celebrating and sharing the stories of the remarkable women who have shaped Buffalo’s history and culture.

Central Terminal Restoration Corporation

Learn about the ongoing restoration and revitalization efforts at the iconic Buffalo Central Terminal, one of the city’s most recognized landmarks.

Buffalo Fire Historical Society

Discover Buffalo’s firefighting heritage through photographs, artifacts, and stories that preserve the legacy of the city’s fire service.

East Side Parkway Coalition

Explore the work being done to celebrate, protect, and reconnect Buffalo’s historic parkway system and strengthen neighborhoods across the East Side.

Whether you’re a lifelong Buffalonian, a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or simply curious about the future of one of downtown’s oldest buildings, we hope you’ll stop by 72 Sycamore Street during Doors Open Buffalo.

Come experience a rare opportunity to walk through Buffalo’s past while seeing preservation in action and imagining what the future holds for this extraordinary landmark.

Read More about 72 Sycamore here.

We look forward to welcoming you to the future home of Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s Preservation Resource Center at the historic Eliza Quirk House.

Funding Opportunity: Preserving Black Churches Grants Now Open!

The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is now accepting applications for its Preserving Black Churches grant program, a national initiative dedicated to protecting historically Black houses of worship and the stories they hold. Applications are due September 11, 2026.

Historically Black churches have long served as centers of faith, education, activism, and community leadership. Through this program, grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 are available to support preservation efforts, including capital projects, planning, capacity building, programming, interpretation, and long-term financial sustainability.

Eligible sites include historic Black churches and associated buildings or landscapes that are generally at least 50 years old, though younger sites may be considered if they demonstrate exceptional historical, cultural, or architectural significance. Local, state, or national landmark designation is not required for eligibility.

Since launching in 2023, the Preserving Black Churches program has awarded millions of dollars to support the stewardship of historic Black churches across the country, helping congregations and preservation organizations preserve these important community landmarks for future generations.

Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to review the program guidelines and eligibility requirements:

For Buffalo Niagara communities stewarding historic Black churches and religious landmarks, this program represents a significant opportunity to secure funding for preservation planning, rehabilitation work, and organizational capacity building. We encourage eligible congregations and community organizations to explore this funding opportunity.