Holy Rosary Apartments in Rochester Wins Statewide Preservation Award

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ALBANY, NY (04/29/2014)(readMedia)-- The Preservation League of New York State has selected the Holy Rosary Apartments in Rochester to receive an award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.

The League's statewide awards program honors notable achievements in retaining, promoting and reusing New York State's irreplaceable architectural heritage.

"Some neighbors might have been prepared for the worst when the last Mass was celebrated at the Holy Rosary Church in 2008. But now, the church and Catholic School complex provides affordable housing and community space, and has provided a catalyst for revitalization of the surrounding area," said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. "With construction dates from the 1890s through the 1940s, the church, rectory and associated buildings offered a variety of preservation challenges. We are pleased that the developer sought and followed advice from the State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that the project was eligible for Rehabilitation Tax Credits. The project team is to be commended for undertaking the entire complex of assorted building styles."

Contributing to the success of this project were Developer: Providence Housing Development Corporation, Rochester; Architect: Joe Gibbons, SWBR Architects, Rochester; Historic Preservation Consulting: Preservation Studios, Buffalo; Contractor: LECESSE Construction, West Henrietta; Civil Engineers: Stantec Consulting, Rochester; and M/E/P Engineers: M/E Engineering, Rochester. Major funding support was provided by Enterprise Community Partners; First Niagara; New York State Housing Trust Fund; and City HOME of Rochester. The project utilized 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credits; the New York State Commercial Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program, and Federal Historic Tax Credits.

At the time of its construction, the Holy Rosary Church in the Northwest neighborhood was described as an example of the Spanish Mission style, likely because of details such as the red tile roof, the Mujedar rose window and the arcaded pergola. But much as these elements – a blend of Christian and Moorish styles – created a house of worship that was more than the sum of its parts, so the redevelopment of the Holy Rosary complex of buildings has revitalized the community surrounding it.

"Holy Rosary Apartments is a unique complex in our community and we are so pleased to be a recipient of this state-level honor," said E. Joseph Gibbons, AIA, SWBR Principal. "The team took great care to preserve the beauty of the space and integrated the old with the new, while being able to help many of our community members and give them a home."

The awards will be presented at the Preservation League's Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony in New York City at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14th at the historic New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44th Street.

The complete list of award winners is: Altamont Free Library Train Station Renovation, Altamont; Academy Lofts, Albany; Williamsburgh Savings Bank, Brooklyn; Holy Rosary Apartments, Rochester; New York City Hall Renovation, New York; Donald Judd Home & Studio, New York; and Warburton Lofts at Philipse Manor Hall Historic District, Yonkers. St. Mark's Historic Landmark Fund in New York will be honored for Organizational Excellence.

"As we mark our 40th Anniversary in 2014, the Preservation League is looking forward to exploring not just the past, but the future of historic preservation. Many of the 2014 award winners provide valuable examples for other practitioners by incorporating energy efficiency techniques, adaptive reuse strategies and Federal and State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits," said DiLorenzo. "Each year, we are impressed by the number and variety of laudable nominations, and this year was no exception. We are delighted to celebrate the renovation of the Holy Rosary Church and School and to commend Providence Housing Development Corporation for their stewardship."

The Preservation League's Excellence in Historic Preservation awards program is funded by a generous grant from the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation.

The Preservation League of New York State invests in people and projects that champion the essential role of preservation in community revitalization, sustainable economic growth, and the protection of our historic buildings and landscapes. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs all across the state.