May is Preservation Month, and at Preservation Buffalo Niagara, it is one of our favorite times of the year because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate not only the buildings we love, but the people, neighborhoods, and stories that make Buffalo and Niagara such special places to live.
Preservation is often thought of as something tied only to the past, but for us, it is very much about the present and the future. It is about helping neighborhoods remain strong, making reinvestment possible, and ensuring that the places that define our communities continue to serve the people who live in them today.
This May, we have a full calendar of events that bring people closer to that work. From our Guaranty Building Tours to Jane’s Walk at 72 Sycamore, to the Preservation Awards and other special programs throughout the month, Preservation Month is our chance to open doors, tell stories, and invite people to experience preservation firsthand. These events are always some of our favorites because they remind us how many people care deeply about this city and want to be part of shaping its future.
For our members, many of these events come with discounted pricing, which is just one of the many ways membership helps connect people more directly to our work. But whether you are a longtime member or someone just learning about PBN for the first time, Preservation Month is a great reminder that preservation is happening every single day, far beyond tours and events. Calendar – Preservation Buffalo Niagara
Every week, we work with homeowners trying to navigate Historic Tax Credit applications, business owners looking to restore a commercial storefront, churches searching for a path forward for a historic campus, and neighborhoods fighting for Local Landmark designation. We help connect people to contractors, guide them through project planning, and advocate for buildings that might otherwise be lost. Sometimes that work is highly visible, and sometimes it happens quietly behind the scenes, but it is all part of making preservation practical and accessible.
Historic Tax Credits – Preservation Buffalo Niagara
Advocacy is also a major part of what we do. Right now, we are actively pushing for two important preservation bills in New York State: the White Elephant bill and the return of the refundable Historic Tax Credit for homeowners. These tools matter because they help make preservation financially possible. Too often, we see historic buildings threatened not because people do not care, but because the numbers simply do not work. Strong policy can change that. It can mean the difference between demolition and rehabilitation, between vacancy and investment.
Revitalizing New York’s Largest Historic Landmarks: Why the White Elephant Tax Credit Matters – Preservation Buffalo Niagara
We are also seeing the long-term impact of this work across Buffalo. With the recent addition of the South Buffalo historic district, more than 60,000 residents now live within local and national historic districts in the city. That is significant because historic districts do more than recognize architectural character. They help stabilize neighborhoods, protect property values, encourage reinvestment, and create stronger places for people to live. Preservation is not just about protecting beautiful buildings. It is about supporting the economic and social health of entire communities.
One thing we are especially proud of at PBN is that 92 cents of every dollar donated goes directly into the work itself. That means supporting projects, helping neighborhoods, advocating for policy, and creating real outcomes for the people and places we serve. It is important to us that when people invest in preservation, they know that their investment is making a direct impact.
As we head into Preservation Month, we hope you will join us. Come to a tour, attend an event, celebrate at the Preservation Awards, or simply reach out if you have a project you are trying to move forward. This work belongs to all of us, and every person who gets involved helps make preservation stronger. Buffalo’s future depends on the choices we make today. Preservation is one of the best tools we have to shape that future thoughtfully, sustainably, and with respect for the communities that already exist here.
If you believe in that work, we hope you will become a member of Preservation Buffalo Niagara and help us keep building that future together.
Membership – Preservation Buffalo Niagara