Fall 2017 Newsletter www.preservationbuffaloniagara.org supported rehabilitation project, $1.25 returns to the US Treasury. Twenty-four states have customized historic rehabilitation with their own state-level programs. New York has both a commercial program that mirrors the federal program, as well as a homeowner program to help people invest in their historic houses. The following are just a few examples of works in progress where abandoned or under-utilized structures in and around Western New York are set to be revived. Northland Corridor This 50-acre factory complex is bounded by Fillmore Avenue, East Delavan Avenue, Grider Street, and East Ferry Street. Many of Industrial campus at 683 Northland Avenue the factories within this area have been dormant since the 1980s. The neighborhood where this complex Historic Preservation: is located was largely shaped by the Buffalo Belt Line, which covers a 15- A Vital Economic Engine for mile radius around the city. This rail line was where factories (such as Western New York the Trico Plant #2 and Pierce-Arrow rotecting and utilizing our historic credits have created a whopping 6,000 Factory Complex) took advantage of Pbuilding stock is key to Western new jobs, which generated $17 million their product trading and shipping New York’s quality of life, has strong in State and local tax receipts, and through the city’s railroad service. environmental benefits, and is critical over $500 million in total investments Although some of the Northland to helping us build community t h roug h 2017. factories are still active, they are through an accurate and shared sense Historic Tax Credits have become largely underutilized, having of history. However, in recent years, one of Western New York’s most changed ownership multiple times investments in our historic buildings important assets in recent times. In just since the 1970’s. The 1.5 square mile have emerged as something more: the past decade alone, it has become neighborhood surrounding the a cultural economic driver for the an effective way to improve the local complex was one of many across the region. economy while encouraging private city that was once reliant on the jobs Investments in our historic building investment and promoting small provided by nearby factories. stock have become a much-needed job business growth, all while keeping tax The Northland Corridor project creator and economic development rates stable. Far from being a drain on will be centered on 683 Northland, engine, not just in the city of Buffalo, public resources, Historic Tax Credits which is still used for minor storage but throughout Western New York. bring a high return on investment. For space. Following a 2014 brownfield Just the projects involving historic tax every dollar invested in a tax credit- continued on page 3 Historic Preservation for WNY cover story Preservation Award Winners 6 Tax Credit Spotlight 10 Letter from the Executive Director 2 Anatomy of Successful Preservation 7 Advocacy Snapshot 11 The Fight to Save Willert Park 5 Meet the Crew! 9 Tours & Events 12 Preservation Buffalo Niagara Fall 2017 Preservation Buffalo Niagara 617 Main Street, Suite 201 Letter from the Executive Director Buffalo, NY 14203 (716) 852-3300 www.preservationbuffaloniagara.org Dear Friends, Mission Preservation Buffalo Niagara In their seminal 1978 work “Seeing Buffalo”, Maggie Headrick and provides leadership in identifying, Celia Ehrlich wrote: “In recent years the efforts of many individuals protecting, and promoting the unique architecture and historic legacy of and organizations have brought a new awareness that preserving and Western New York communities. renovating older buildings of high quality makes sense both economically and artistically. Neighborhoods as well as individual buildings are being Board of Trustees refurbished in keeping with their original style and being used effectively for new purposes. Care is being taken to see that Buffalo continues as an E. Frits Abell Patrick Brown architectural museum and a lively and diverse city.” Jason Lloyd Clement Peter Flynn These words were written nearly 40 years ago, but we know that the hard Marjorie Gillies David Kinyon work to see this idea through continues. Thanks to our members, PBN has Thomas Knab been highly engaged this year in a number of initiatives to advance this noble Margie Pawloski cause. One of which is bringing back this quarterly newsletter, which hasn’t Terrence Robinson Eric Stenclik been published in many years! Inside this issue you will learn more about Ramona Whitaker how historic preservation is one of the leading causes of Buffalo’s renaissance and how we are working to increase the reach of preservation across our Life Trustees & Technical Advisors region; the importance of the Willert Park housing complex on Spring Street Richard Baer in Buffalo; and some brief notes on issues we are engaged in on behalf of our R. Maura Cohen members. You will also find information on upcoming events and tours, an Gary Costello introduction to our staff, and a new feature: Meet a Docent. Each quarter we Peter Filim Frank Kowsky plan to introduce you to another one of our amazing volunteer docents who Martin Wachaldo make all of our tour work possible. Staff Since it is fall, you will also see a gentle reminder about Annual Giving. As you may know, we receive less than 10% of our budget from public sources, Jessie Fisher, relying almost entirely on our membership and philanthropic donations to do Executive Director the work that we do. If you want to support our work and see it expand, we Bradley J. Bethel Jr., Communications Manager hope that you will consider giving a gift this year. Olivia Cammisa-Frost, Membership & Education Director We at PBN are so honored to do this work on behalf of our members, and we Christiana Limniatis, hope that by bringing this newsletter back, you will feel more connected with Director of Preservation Services the day to day activities of the organization. We genuinely enjoy hearing from you and interacting with you at our events, and we hope that you will Docents continue to keep us informed of what’s happening in your community and Marla Bujnicki how we can help. Ron Eaton Cathy Gervase Geoff Gorsuch Sincerely, Peter Grace Gretchan Grobe Alex Herlovitch Drew Kinder Greg Lodinsky Toni Loudon Harry Meyer Jessie Fisher Katie Moriarty Margie Pawloski Executive Director Cindy Pearson Denise Prince Laurie Seier Rich Smyth Shannon Sutton Phyllis Weyer 2 Preservation Buffalo Niagara Fall 2017 Historic Preservation for WNY Gallery or just stay in a fine historic decommissioned. Since then, PUSH continued from page 1 hotel, all to the benefit our entire (People United for Sustainable region. Housing) Buffalo has sought to revive study, the building will be “And the best has yet to come as the building as a community-oriented rehabilitated as a new business and we move forward on the reuse of the facility. Plans include senior housing training incubator, catering to job and rest of the buildings. However, we are and a community performance career development for surrounding finding during our discussions with theatre. residents. potential developer partners who we According to Jennifer Kaminsky The plan is to generate long-term need to finish our work that Phase 2 of PUSH Buffalo, “PUSH and reinvestment in the surrounding will probably be infeasible without its development entity Buffalo neighborhood, addressing long- the federal Historic Preservation Neighborhood Stabilization held concerns about unemployment Tax Credit program continuing. Company, Inc. led a multi-year on Buffalo’s East Side. According to The continuation of the Historic planning process into the reuse of David A. Stebbins, Vice President Preservation Tax Credit program is School 77. The community wanted of the Buffalo Urban Development crucial to the reuse of the remaining affordable housing for seniors and Corporation: 300,000 square feet of this property space for youth programs, arts, and “This project will bring much and the strong economic development culture.” needed investment and good paying and community development impact jobs to an economically distressed that will result from this success.” Improving Access to the Benefits of area of our community.” Historic Preservation Buffalo Public School #77 It is clear that historic preservation Buffalo Public School #77 was built is an important component of building in 1927. Located in the North Prospect healthy and vibrant communities Hill neighborhood, it was designed in Western New York. What is also by Ernest Crimi using bricked clear, unfortunately, is that these Neoclassical architecture. benefits are not reaching across all The building was designed neighborhoods and all communities. according to early 20th Century PBN is committed to working to ensure requirements for public schools in that historic preservation makes a New York State. With a maximum positive impact on all Western New enrollment of 1,100 students, Yorkers. Our 2017/2018 Advocacy and School #77 was used as an English- Technical Services agenda includes: speaking facility for Buffalo’s Italian 1. Advocacy around the Historic immigrants and Italian Americans Tax Credit Improvement Act (H.R. that were predominant in the North 1158/S. 425): This bill will improve Prospect Hill neighborhood at the access to historic tax credits, H.H. Richardson Complex Towers time. It was also used temporarily as an important financing tool, to a science lecture facility, to coincide neighborhood commercial centers Richardson Complex with the opening of the Buffalo and our rural towns and village According to Monica Pellegrino Museum of Science at then-Humboldt centers; Faix, former Executive Director of the Park in 1929. 2. New York State Tax Credit Richardson Center Corporation: In 2007, School #77 was Advocacy: The New York State “Simply put, reuse of the continued on page 4 Richardson Olmsted Campus was made possible by the Historic Preservation Tax Credits.