Tag: Preservation

PBN’s Holiday Gift Guide

The holidays are here, and with them comes the familiar question: What do you get for someone who already has everything? As consumerism shifts toward more intentional and meaningful choices, we invite you to give gifts that celebrate heritage, community, and the stories that shape Buffalo and beyond.

This year, Preservation Buffalo Niagara has curated a gift guide that blends history, architecture, and preservation into thoughtful presents that truly keep on giving.

Erie Canal Legacy: Architectural Treasures of the Empire State

Erie Canal Legacy

By Andy Olenick (Photographer) and Richard O. Reisem (Collaborator)

This beautifully photographed volume captures the architectural gems along the Erie Canal, showcasing the enduring legacy of one of New York State’s most transformative projects. It’s more than a book—it’s a journey through time, offering readers a chance to appreciate the structures that tell the story of the Empire State. Perfect for history buffs, architecture enthusiasts, or anyone who loves the canal’s role in shaping our region.

Changing Places: Remaking Institutional Buildings

By Lynda H. Schneekloth, Marcia F. Campagna, and Barbara A. Feuerstein

This insightful collection explores how institutional buildings evolve to meet new needs while honoring their original purpose. With essays and case studies, it’s a thoughtful examination of preservation and adaptation, making it an ideal gift for those interested in the intersection of architecture, community, and change.

Membership with Preservation Buffalo Niagara

PBN Membership, a gift that keeps on giving.

A Membership with Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) is more than just a present—it’s an investment in community, culture, and history.

  • Free tours of select architectural landmarks, including Louis Sullivan’s iconic Guaranty Building
  • Access to preservation tools, such as our vetted contractor list and planning resources
  • Connection to a growing network of people dedicated to protecting Buffalo’s architectural heritage

Every membership supports preservation efforts across Western New York, ensuring our historic neighborhoods and buildings continue to thrive. It’s a gift that strengthens community and celebrates the spirit of Buffalo.

Explore membership tiers and give the gift of preservation today.

All gifts, including the Individual tier membership, can be purchased here:

https://givebutter.com/2025-Holiday-Gift-Guide

 

The Vaux Barn Is A Local Landmark!

We have great news in our local landmark making efforts!

As of 2:37pm today on April 15th, 2025, the Vaux Barn Local Landmark has been APPROVED!!!! Thank you to the Buffalo Common Council for moving this forward. We are thrilled! You can read about our multi-year effort to complete this local landmark application here. 

Local landmarking is a special preservation tool because it ensures the Buffalo Preservation Board will oversee any exterior changes made therefore adding an important layer of protection to our most historic sites across Buffalo.

Buffalo has a long history of great architects coming to Buffalo and showing off their best work. Calvert Vaux came to Buffalo with Frederick Law Olmsted, and together, they designed the Olmsted Parks and Parkway System that we cherish today. Vaux has one remaining structure he designed left – this barn. We are thankful to the Buffalo Common Council for agreeing with us that it is indeed local landmark worthy. We are excited to see what the future holds for the Vaux Barn!

Bernice Radle, Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara.

Preservation Grant Opportunities Available Now

The National Trust provides grant funding for historically significant buildings! Numerous grant opportunities are currently available, and we’ll do our best to keep you informed.

Deadlines are quickly approaching for these grant opportunities:

February 14: African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund National Grant Program

February 24: Descendant and Family Stewardship Initiative

March 3: Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors

March 3: Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation

March 14: Conserving Black Modernism Grant Program

Save Our Sacred Sites Update: Attention Niagara Falls, NY !

As part of our ongoing Save Our Sacred Sites efforts, we know there are several Catholic Churches closing in Niagara Falls, NY. We also know there are many other Churches that are at risk and/or have recently closed.

We want to be a resource for you and your Church. While our tools are limited due to time and financial restraints, we want to help if we can. For example, once approved, our Local Landmark effort allows Churches to apply for important funding through NYS for repairs! We can do those local landmark applications for you – for a small fee to cover our costs of research and application.

So if you have a Church in your community that you want to see saved, please fill out this google form to let us know of the details and we will get back to you!

Also, if you didn’t catch it, we did a great lunch and learn with Monte Anderson, a Dallas-based Developer who has renovated several churches, and our Executive Director, Bernice Radle, on repurposing church spaces. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp6f7r0KLUY

Love,

Emily, Bernice, Laura, Constance, and the rest of the PBN team.