Grants will foster preservation in Buffalo, North Tonawanda neighborhoods

Related Media

Owners of homes like these in North Tonawanda's Lumber Baron neighborhood could benefit from the Historic Homeowner Tax Credit if a National Register nomination is successful.

• Owners of homes like these in Buffalo's Elmwood East neighborhood could benefit from the Historic Homeowner Tax Credit if a National Register nomination is successful.

ALBANY, NY (11/05/2015)(readMedia)-- The Preservation League of New York State recently announced two Preserve New York grants in the Buffalo area.

A Preserve New York grant of $8.500 will support the cost of preparing a nomination for Buffalo's Elmwood East neighborhood to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

The Elmwood neighborhood in Buffalo was subdivided into two potential National Register Historic Districts in 2011: the Elmwood Historic District – West and the Elmwood Historic District – East. The Elmwood Historic District – West project received $7,500 in Preserve New York funding in 2011. This State and National Register designation created one of the largest historic districts in New York State and inspired widespread use of the New York State Historic Homeowner Tax Credit.

The effort to nominate the Elmwood Historic District – East will build off the success of the earlier district nomination and unite the two sides of Elmwood Avenue, which share a similar development history and architectural character. The area was built up between c.1890 and 1930, and includes distinctive residential examples of Queen Anne, Shingle Style and Colonial Revival design.

Clinton Brown Company Architecture of Buffalo prepared the National Register nomination for the Elmwood Historic District – West, and will follow up by completing the nomination for the Elmwood Historic District – East. The Landmark Society of Western New York is sponsoring this project in cooperation with Preservation Buffalo Niagara.

"The Landmark Society is excited to be a part of the Elmwood Historic District – East nomination," said Larry Francer, the organization's Associate Director of Preservation. "It is an excellent project which will benefit the neighborhood immensely. When we learned that there was a need for a sponsor, we were pleased to provide assistance."

The City of North Tonawanda will receive a grant of $3,200 to nominate the Lumber Baron neighborhood to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

North Tonawanda was a hub for lumber distribution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Niagara River served as a conduit for lumber from the Great Lakes and the "Lumber Baron" neighborhood borders the river. This neighborhood is primarily made up of single family homes with a community cultural center and is situated within an eligible census tract for the New York State Historic Homeowner Tax Credit.

As part of its strategic plan, the city is seeking to encourage economic development and neighborhood stabilization. Homeowners in the prospective district are eager to use the preservation tax credits and the city believes that this incentive will reinforce homeownership and community stability. Kiersten Minnick of Buffalo will complete the project.

"The City of North Tonawanda is proud of its heritage as the world's largest lumber port," said Michael Zimmerman, Executive Director, Lumber City Development Corporation. "The Lumber Baron district will preserve this heritage and allow the community to build on its historic assets. The City is excited to work with the Preservation League of New York State on this important project."

The Preserve New York Grant Program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. "With the announcement of the 2015 awards, the total support provided by Preserve New York since its launch in 1993 is just over $2 million to 320 projects statewide," said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. "Preserve New York has a strong track record of bolstering local preservation efforts and delivering a strong return on investment."

"At its August, 2015 meeting, the Preserve New York grant program panel selected 14 applicants in 11 counties around the state to share $114,990 in funding," said Erin Tobin, the League's Director of Preservation. "As always, the competition for these funds was intense. The Preservation League is delighted to help advance the preservation of Buffalo's Elmwood East neighborhood and the Lumber Baron neighborhood in North Tonawanda with timely funding from Preserve New York."

Organizations and municipalities receiving grant awards in 2015 are: Albany County: City of Albany Department of Development and Planning; Cayuga County: Seward House Museum, Auburn; Chautauqua County: Jamestown Renaissance Corporation; Chemung County: Elmira Downtown Development, Inc. (EDD); Erie County: Landmark Society of Western New York; Monroe County (2): Town of Greece, Department of Development Services; Maplewood Neighborhood Association, Rochester; Montgomery County (2): Montgomery County Department of History and Archives; Village of Palatine Bridge; Niagara County: City of North Tonawanda; Schenectady County: Vale Cemetery Association, Schenectady; Schoharie County: Village of Schoharie; Suffolk County (2): Higher Ground Inter-Cultural & Heritage Associates, Brookhaven; Sylvester Manor Educational Farm, Shelter Island.

For more information on the Preserve New York Grant Program, please call 518-462-5658 x 10 or visit the League's website at www.preservenys.org.