Remington Lofts on the Canal in North Tonawanda to be honored

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Remington Lofts in North Tonawanda - photo Michael Argento

ALBANY, NY (04/27/2015)(readMedia)-- The Preservation League of New York State has selected the Remington Lofts on the Canal in North Tonawanda 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.

"A crumbling, century-old factory has been transformed into high-end residential lofts and commercial space which now boasts 79 apartments, a restaurant, a salon and cosmetology school, and indoor parking," said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. "The Remington Lofts project has been a key part of the revitalization of North Tonawanda. New York State has a remarkable variety of buildings that currently stand as symbols of the decline of upstate industry. Projects like Remington Lofts provide a model for other communities across the state, and encourage municipalities to embrace and promote their industrial heritage."

The project team included developer The Kissling Interests, LLC; architects Carmina Wood Morris, PC; R&P Oak Hill Development, LLC; Lumber City Development Corporation; and the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency. The project utilized historic and brownfield tax credits, a payment in lieu of taxes program, and "Restore NY" funds.

The Remington Lofts on the Canal complex includes over 170,000 square feet of space on the Erie Barge Canal waterfront, comprised of six different buildings constructed between 1895 and 1948. From 1925 to the 1970s, this North Tonawanda site was occupied by the Remington-Rand Corporation, an American manufacturer of office equipment. From the mid-1970s, tenants included a chemical company, building contractors, warehousing, and furniture and cabinetry makers – then the property sat underutilized and decaying.

"Buffalo and its neighbor, North Tonawanda, were once the cities of great buildings, invention and innovation," said Tony Kissling, managing member of the Kissling Interests, LLC. "Now, with a thriving waterfront, great roads, great infrastructure, and world class architecture together with a dedicated and talented work force, they will soon become the'Legacy City' in the United States. There is more construction activity going on now than the last 40 years put together."

The awards will be presented at the Preservation League's Awards Ceremony in New York City at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13th at the historic New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44th Street.

The complete list of award winners is: Daniel Conkling House – Rensselaerville, Albany County; Lafayette Lofts – Buffalo; The Tishman Building – Buffalo; DePaul Carriage Factory Apartments – Rochester; El Barrio's Artspace PS 109 - New York; Pier A Restoration and Adaptive Reuse - New York; Remington Lofts on the Canal - North Tonawanda, Niagara County; and Rye Meeting House: Sustainable Preservation, Ecology and Conservation – Westchester County.

"With our annual awards program, the Preservation League explores not just the present, but the future of historic preservation. Many of the 2015 award winners provide valuable examples for others 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 Remington Lofts on the Canal and to commend The Kissling Interests for their leadership."

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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.