Preservation League Announces Buffalo Preserve New York Grants

ALBANY, NY (10/17/2011)(readMedia)-- The Preservation League of New York State will announce two grants to Buffalo-based organizations at a reception for New York State preservationists on the opening day of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference. The grants will be announced on Wednesday, October 19 at 9:00 p.m. in the Georgian Room of the Statler Towers on Niagara Square in Buffalo.

The two selected projects exemplify the city's diverse neighborhoods, distinctive architecture and deep engagement of community residents and leaders, and both will position Buffalo property owners to take advantage of New York State's Historic Homeownership Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program.

The League will make a grant of $4,000 toward the cost of completing a State and National Register of Historic Places nomination for a Hamlin Park Historic District on Buffalo's East Side. As a result of this project, some 400 one-and two-family homes built between c.1912-1920 will become eligible for the state's Rehabilitation Tax Credit for Homeowners. The nomination will be prepared by a team of municipal, professional and not-for profit stakeholders including neighborhood volunteers.

The League will also make a grant of $7,500 toward the cost of completing a State and National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Richmond Ashland Historic District on Buffalo's West Side. With 1,600 properties, the area promises to be the largest historic district in Western New York when it is listed. The area was developed between c.1890 and1930, and includes distinctive residential examples of Queen Anne, Shingle Style and Colonial Revival design. Preservation Buffalo Niagara is collaborating with many involved groups and individuals including a neighborhood based community council, municipal officials, a religious institution and a local foundation on this ambitious project. As a result, many Buffalo homeowners will be able to apply for tax credits for work they do on their historic homes.

The Preserve New York Grant Program is a partnership program of the Preservation League and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). "Preserve New York has a strong track record of bolstering local preservation efforts and delivering a strong return on investment," said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. "Since 1993, Preserve New York has provided over $1.6 million in direct support to 265 projects across the state, leveraging over $20.3 million in additional project support and over $500,000 in donated labor, services and materials.

"At its August, 2011 meeting, the Preserve New York grant program panel selected 15 projects in 13 counties around the state to share $90,444 in funding," said Tania Werbizky, the League's Regional Director of Technical and Grant Programs in western New York. "As always, the competition for these funds was intense. The Preservation League is delighted to help advance the preservation efforts of the Hamlin Park Community and Taxpayers Association and Preservation Buffalo Niagara with these grants."

Organizations and municipalities receiving grant awards in 2011 are: Albany County: Delaware Avenue Neighborhood Association; Cattaraugus County: Randolph Area Community Development Corporation; Chautauqua County: Fenton History Center; Chemung County: Near Westside Neighborhood Association, Inc.; Erie County (2): Preservation Buffalo Niagara; Hamlin Park Community and Taxpayers Association, Inc.; Essex County: Town of Crown Point; Kings County: Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG); Monroe County: The South Wedge Planning Committee, Inc.; Montgomery County (2): City of Amsterdam; Village of Fort Plain; Sullivan County: Roscoe-Rockland Chamber of Commerce; Tompkins County: City of Ithaca Planning & Development Department; Wayne County: Cracker Box Palace, Inc.; Wyoming County: Warsaw Historical Society.

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

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CONTACTS:

For the Preservation League

Tania Werbizky

Regional Director of Technical and Grant Programs, Western New York

518-369-0081, twerbizky@preservenys.org

For Hamlin Park Community and Taxpayers Association

Stephanie Barber, President

716-566-8148, sabarb@hotmail.com

For Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN)

Henry McCartney, Executive Director

716-852-3300, director@p-b-n.org