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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.

Honoring a Life of Preservation: Tom Yots Receives the Legacy Award

We are proud to present our Legacy Award to Tom Yots, a tireless advocate, educator, and leader in the field of historic preservation. With decades of dedicated service—both professionally and as a volunteer—Tom has made an indelible impact on the communities he’s served and the preservation movement as a whole.

For Tom, historic buildings are far more than structures; they are storytellers. “Historic buildings are a tangible reminder of a community’s past,” he says. “Their preservation allows us to tell our stories visually and even to be able to touch our history.” This philosophy has guided his work from day one, and it’s inspired generations of preservationists to follow in his footsteps.

Tom has worn many hats in his career: city historian, preservation commission chair, founding board member, and later Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN), and founder of Preservation Studios. His portfolio is as diverse as it is impactful, including standout projects like Carolyn’s House—a transitional home for homeless women and children—and the restoration of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.

But above all, Tom sees himself as an educator. The sign that has sat on his desk for years reads: “So many to educate, so little time.” This motto captures his deep commitment to spreading the message of preservation. “The more that people know about the benefits and rewards of historic preservation,” Tom says, “the more they will want to be a part of it.”

Through every role and every project, Tom Yots has shown what it means to preserve not just buildings, but the stories, people, and purpose behind them. We are honored to recognize his lifelong passion and contributions with this year’s Legacy Award.

“Tom has been a part of my life forever – from the time I was little and I would wander over to the Marshall House that he and Lulu owned… to when he was Executive Director here at PBN, and now today. We spent so much time on saving Trico, dozens of training events together, and he and his firm worked heavily with PBN on several Niagara Falls efforts. Tom has dedicated his life to preservation and community! He is deserving of this award and of this honor.” Bernice Radle, Executive Director, Preservation Buffalo Niagara

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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 Hamlin Park Gem: A Story of the Beautiful Beverly

Nestled in Buffalo’s historic Hamlin Park neighborhood, this home stands as a testament to resilience, preservation, and a deep commitment to architectural heritage. Purchased as a fixer-upper in the summer of 2022, the house came with its fair share of challenges—worn floors, painted-over wood trim, and deteriorating plaster. However, the Christmas Blizzard of 2022 brought a far greater test of perseverance.

In addition to the blizzard’s immediate damages, hidden structural issues soon came to light—unsupported beams, a leaking roof (marketed as new but far from it), and makeshift plumbing that required urgent intervention. Despite these setbacks, the homeowners, Saira Siddiqui and Matthew Felski, remained committed to preserving their home’s historic character while ensuring modern functionality.

Working closely with a contractor specializing in historic restoration and the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), they undertook a series of critical improvements:

• Energy Efficiency: Installed a high-efficiency furnace and replaced basement windows to reduce energy costs while maintaining the home’s historic charm.
• Flooring Restoration: Stripped away decades of vinyl to reveal original oak flooring on the staircase and second floor, while adding new hardwood where needed.
• Custom Craftsmanship: Designed and installed custom tilework for the entryways, blending historic style with modern durability.
• Woodwork Revival: Painstakingly stripped paint from trim work in three upstairs rooms, revealing and restoring the original wood to its former glory.
• Structural Integrity: Completed a full roof replacement, reinforced structural supports, and executed a complete tear-off and restoration of the front porch, ensuring it met historic preservation standards.

A note from Saira Siddiqui: – I need to give a shout-out to Francis Stern at SHPO, who was so patient with us and answered SO MANY of my questions over the years. She saw the project before the blizzard and has always made it easy for us to utilize tax credit resources.

For their remarkable dedication to preserving a piece of Western New York’s history in the face of adversity, we proudly present this family with the 2025 Preservation Award for Residential Project.

“Congratulations to Saira Siddiqui and Matthew Felski, Co-Owners, for transforming a disaster into a triumph, proving that even the toughest challenges can lead to lasting beauty and historic preservation. We are so proud of the work you both have done on the Beautiful Beverly!” – Emily Jarnot, Preservation Planner, Preservation Buffalo Niagara

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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.

Honoring Emerging Preservationist: Hallie Wright

Hallie Wright’s journey into the world of historic preservation didn’t start in a classroom—it began at the age of fifteen, volunteering at Buffalo’s iconic Central Terminal. As a teenager, she was captivated by the Terminal’s grandeur and potential, and she quickly became immersed in the work of advocating for its future. That early spark ignited a passion that has since evolved into a meaningful career dedicated to protecting Western New York’s built heritage.

A native of Western New York, Hallie’s deep-rooted connection to the region informs everything she does. After completing her undergraduate studies, she enrolled in the University at Buffalo’s Master of Urban Planning program, where she also earned an advanced certificate in Historic Preservation. Her academic focus sharpened her understanding of the field while reinforcing her belief in preservation as a tool for community revitalization and resilience.

Today, Hallie works as a Preservation Planner with Preservation Studios, a firm known for its expertise in Historic Tax Credit projects and the adaptive reuse of historic buildings. In her role, Hallie is involved in complex planning processes, documentation, and strategic efforts to secure funding for the restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties across the region.

Yet Hallie’s contributions extend well beyond her professional responsibilities. She is committed to ensuring that preservation is accessible and inclusive, particularly for homeowners who may not be familiar with the tools available to them. As part of that mission, she helps organize and lead a pro bono Historic Tax Credit workshop for homeowners throughout Western New York. These workshops provide practical, hands-on guidance for individuals looking to reinvest in their historic homes, making preservation more approachable and achievable.

In addition, Hallie serves as a Historian on the Town of Amherst’s Historic Preservation Committee, where she plays a key advisory role in identifying and protecting local landmarks and cultural resources. Her work ensures that Amherst’s history is not only remembered but actively incorporated into the town’s planning and future development.

Hallie Wright represents the best of the next generation of preservationists: thoughtful, passionate, and deeply committed to place. Her ability to bridge grassroots advocacy with technical expertise makes her a powerful voice for historic preservation in Western New York and beyond.

We are thrilled to recognize Hallie with the 2025 Emerging Preservationist Award—an honor that celebrates her tireless efforts, her growing impact, and the bright future she’s helping to shape for our region’s historic places.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Hallie on our monthly Historic Tax Credit Workshops, and she brings so much passion and professionalism to the industry. I’m super proud of her!” – Emily Jarnot, Preservation Planner, Preservation Buffalo Niagara

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.

Revitalizing Broadway-Fillmore: Central Terminal Neighborhood Association’s Community-Driven Success

The Central Terminal Neighborhood Association (CTNA) has become a powerful force in preserving and revitalizing Buffalo’s historic Broadway-Fillmore district. In 2022, a dedicated group of residents reestablished the block club to strengthen community solidarity, reclaim neglected spaces, and shape the neighborhood’s future. That same year, CTNA, working alongside over two dozen residents, created the Broadway-Fillmore 2032 Plan – a resident-driven blueprint for restoration.

In just two years, CTNA has achieved remarkable progress in preserving and enhancing the neighborhood’s historic character:

• Restored the historic tree canopy by planting 118 new street trees.
• Made streets safer and more accessible by successfully pushing for bicycle lanes on Paderewski and Memorial Drive.
• Ensured new development enhanced Broadway-Fillmore’s character by advocating for substantial design improvements to the Playter Street Gardens project.
• Protected Buffalo’s cherished architectural and cultural icons by securing landmark status for St. Stanislaus and St. John Kanty.
• Supported local businesses, including a new halal food store, ensuring Broadway-Fillmore remains a thriving place for working-class and immigrant families.
• Launched the “Bring Back Our Library!” campaign to restore a critical community resource.

The block club also envisioned a new public square, Frank X. Schwab Square, across eight vacant lots on Peckham Street, transforming underutilized land into a dynamic gathering space. Designed by the great-great-grandson of former Buffalo Mayor Frank X. Schwab, the project is already taking shape with newly planted trees and a community garden. Future plans include walking paths and public seating. If you would like to learn more about CTNA’s vision of the Broadway-Filmore neighborhood, please visit: Broadway-Fillmore-2032.pdf

For their visionary efforts to preserve the heart and history of this neighborhood, we proudly honor the Central Terminal Neighborhood Association with the 2025 Preservation Award for Preservation Advocacy. Their commitment to community-driven preservation ensures that Broadway-Fillmore’s best days are still ahead.

Congratulations to the entire CTNA community for this extraordinary achievement.

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