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We are excited to celebrate the people behind this year’s most inspiring preservation projects at the 2025 Preservation Awards. Join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM  at The Caz (2221 Seneca Street) to celebrate the region’s most impactful preservation projects at Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Please note: The Caz will stay open until 8:30 PM for the Afterparty! Enjoy great company and live music for an extra hour — Thank you, Jake!!

For more information on the Preservation Awards, please click here.
To purchase tickets for the Preservation Awards, please click here.

It Takes a Village: The Preservation Journey of The Turtle

The Native American Center for the Living Arts — affectionately known as “The Turtle”—stands as a powerful symbol of Indigenous culture and heritage. Completed in 1981 and designed by Northern Arapaho architect Dennis Sun Rhodes-Hinono’ei / Northern Arapaho: Wind River Nation, The Turtle was built to celebrate Indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere through art, history, and culture.

Its unique architectural design is deeply symbolic: inspired by the Haudenosaunee Creation Story, where the world rests on the back of an ancient sea turtle, the building’s striking features include large “eye” porthole windows gazing toward the Niagara River Rapids and a geodesic dome crowned with an eagle-shaped skylight over a circular 250-seat theater. The Turtle is a rare and powerful example of postmodern architecture that blends symbolism with function, making it not only a cultural landmark but also a significant architectural treasure.

However, after 30 years shuttered and under minimal maintenance, the building faced severe deterioration. Enter Friends of the Niagara Turtle, a passionate community group dedicated to “Reawaken the Turtle.” By December 2024, they had secured 63 architectural drawings documenting the building’s original construction and initiated an economic analysis to chart a path forward for restoration and revitalization.

The building’s cultural and historical significance was formally recognized in September 2024 when the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) declared The Turtle eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Further elevating its status, in May 2025, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named The Turtle one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

For their tireless dedication to preserving and revitalizing this living symbol of Indigenous culture and architectural heritage, we proudly present Friends of the Niagara Turtle with the 2025 Preservation Award for Neighborhood Preservation Organization.

Congratulations to everyone who made this happen! Your hard work doesn’t just save a building—it helps keep an important cultural story alive, bringing strength and pride to our whole City.

Please follow the Friends of the Niagara Turtle’s journey to Re-Awaken the Turtle: https://niagaraturtle.org/about-us

 

 

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We are excited to celebrate the people behind this year’s most inspiring preservation projects at the 2025 Preservation Awards. Join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM  at The Caz (2221 Seneca Street) to celebrate the region’s most impactful preservation projects at Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Please note: The Caz will stay open until 8:30 PM for the Afterparty! Enjoy great company and live music for an extra hour — Thank you, Jake!!

For more information on the Preservation Awards, please click here.
To purchase tickets for the Preservation Awards, please click here.

The Revival of Trinity Episcopal Church in Middleport

At the heart of Middleport, New York, stands Trinity Episcopal Church, a testament to faith, resilience, and the enduring power of community. Established in 1865 as the Middleport Mission, the congregation broke ground on its now-iconic brick, Gothic-style church in the spring of 1869, on land generously donated by Mrs. Avery DeLano. The first services were held in the church’s finished basement on Christmas Day, 1869, with the full structure completed by the spring of 1872, just as the congregation gathered the final funds needed to add its distinctive tower.

A defining feature of Trinity Episcopal is its Barkhoff Church Organ, installed in 1906 by the Barkhoff Church Organ Co. of Ohio for $1,200 – a piece of history that still fills the sanctuary with rich, resonant tones more than a century later.

However, like many historic buildings, Trinity Episcopal faced significant challenges after years of vacancy, including deteriorating masonry, damaged windows, a leaking roof, and outdated plumbing and electrical systems. Recognizing the importance of this local landmark, Hellner Development took on the formidable task of restoring the church, completing the work in just three months in September.

Their efforts included:

• Masonry Restoration – Repairing and preserving the brickwork that defines the church’s Gothic style.
• Window Restoration – Protecting the character and craftsmanship of the original stained glass.
• New Roof and Plaster Repair – Ensuring the structural integrity and longevity of the building.
• Organ and Systems Upgrades – Breathing new life into the 1906 pipe organ and modernizing electrical and plumbing systems.
• Exact Reproduction Front Doors – Honoring the church’s original design with faithfully recreated doors.

For its exceptional restoration and continued role as a place of faith and community, we are proud to honor Trinity Episcopal Church with the 2025 Preservation Award for Sacred Site.

Congratulations to Hellner Development, the Casanovas, and all those who have brought this beautiful piece of Middleport’s history back to life.

 

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We are excited to celebrate the people behind this year’s most inspiring preservation projects at the 2025 Preservation Awards. Join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM  at The Caz (2221 Seneca Street) to celebrate the region’s most impactful preservation projects at Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Please note: The Caz will stay open until 8:30 PM for the Afterparty! Enjoy great company and live music for an extra hour — Thank you, Jake!!

For more information on the Preservation Awards, please click here.
To purchase tickets for the Preservation Awards, please click here.

Restoring the Historic Front Doors of a 125-Year-Old Home

Preservation often starts with an unexpected spark. For Seth Amman & Gaia Bistulfi, that moment came with an attempted break-in in November 2023. What began as a stressful event quickly evolved into an opportunity to celebrate the craftsmanship and history of their 125-year-old home, culminating in a remarkable front door restoration that truly honors the past.

They partnered with local craftsman John Gulick and his skilled team on Buffalo’s West Side. The restoration process began with meticulous documentation of the original doors, capturing every design detail to ensure historical accuracy. This close study revealed a key piece of the doors’ story: the originals were crafted from solid mahogany, a wood known for its durability, rich color, and beautiful grain. This discovery set the tone for the project, inspiring a vision for new doors that would remain true to the home’s historic character while incorporating modern enhancements for lasting beauty and function.

Over the next three months, John Gulick’s team skillfully recreated the doors, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary improvements:

• Solid Mahogany Construction – Faithfully recreating the original design, ensuring strength and longevity.
• Modern Weather Stripping and Air Sealing – Enhancing energy efficiency without compromising the historic aesthetic.
• Insulated Glass for Arched Windows – Providing better temperature protection while preserving the iconic look.
• UV-Resistant Natural Sealer – Protecting the stunning grain and deep coloration of the mahogany, ensuring it will endure for decades to come.

The newly crafted doors were installed in March 2024, complete with refinished trim and repairs to the surrounding plaster and lath. The final result is a stunning tribute to the home’s history, revealing intricate details previously obscured by layers of paint and years of wear.

For their commitment to preserving the craftsmanship and architectural heritage of Western New York, we are proud to honor Seth Amman & Gaia Bistulfi, with the 2025 Preservation Award for Preservation Craft.

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We are excited to celebrate the people behind this year’s most inspiring preservation projects at the 2025 Preservation Awards. Join us on Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM  at The Caz (2221 Seneca Street) to celebrate the region’s most impactful preservation projects at Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s largest fundraiser of the year.

Please note: The Caz will stay open until 8:30 PM for the Afterparty! Enjoy great company and live music for an extra hour — Thank you, Jake!!

For more information on the Preservation Awards, please click here.
To purchase tickets for the Preservation Awards, please click here.

Reviving a Landmark: The Monroe

The Monroe stands as a striking example of how a historic building can find new life while honoring its past. Originally constructed in 1920 by the Monroe Motor Car Company, this distinctive structure once embodied the spirit of Buffalo’s bustling “Automobile Row” – a stretch of Main Street that symbolized the rise of America’s car culture in the early 20th century.

After its early days as a Monroe dealership, the building was purchased by Ford and transformed into one of just 11 prototype “all-in-one” service and sales dealerships, reflecting a bold, forward-looking approach to automotive retail. In 1934, it transitioned to independent ownership, serving as a dealership until 1968 before becoming the flagship retail location for the iconic Record Theatre.

However, the building’s unique architectural character was hidden for decades beneath bright yellow corrugated metal installed by former owner Lenny Silver. Fortunately, this modern covering protected much of the historic detailing beneath, preserving the structure’s integrity for a future restoration.

Following Mr. Silver’s passing, a dedicated group of preservation professionals, including real estate attorneys, planners, and preservation consultants, recognized the building’s potential and approached Silver’s estate. They purchased the building in December 2019, just before the world was upended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite significant challenges – including material and labor shortages – this determined group pressed on, starting construction in late 2022 and completing the restoration in December 2024.

Today, The Monroe proudly reflects its original 1920 appearance, thanks to a meticulous restoration effort that leveraged historic tax credits and adhered to the strict standards of both the Buffalo Preservation Board and the National Park Service’s Department of Interior Standards. The building now includes:

• 17 Affordable Apartments – Preserving housing affordability for median-income renters under a regulatory agreement with New York State.
• 10,000 Square Feet of Fully-Leased Commercial Space – A significant achievement at a time when many storefronts remain vacant across the city.

For their dedication to saving this piece of Buffalo’s automotive past, we are proud to honor The Monroe with the 2025 Preservation Award for Commercial Project.

Congratulations to the entire team for this outstanding achievement – a true testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and perseverance. From car sales to vinyl records to a fresh start in a new century, The Monroe’s journey is a reminder that sometimes, even the most iconic buildings just need a little tune-up to get back on the road.

Please visit The Monroe Building, Buffalo NY for more information on rentals!

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