Two Rochester-area Municipalities Receive Preservation Grants

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Properties like these along Main Street in the Village of LeRoy would be eligible for preservation tax incentives if a National Register nomination is successful.

• The former Holley High School would be eligible for preservation tax incentives if a National Register nomination is successful.

ALBANY, NY (10/28/2014)(readMedia)-- The Preservation League of New York State will announce Preserve New York grants to two Rochester-area municipalities on Wednesday, October 29.

The Village of Holley will receive a $5,000 Preserve New York grant to complete a State and National Register of Historic Places nomination for an historic district to approximately 40 properties located on and near Holley's downtown Public Square.

The project, to be completed by Bero Architecture, will enhance this Erie Canal community's revitalization efforts, especially opportunities to rehabilitate the vacant 1931 Holley High School designed by Rochester architect Carl Ade. Located in the heart of the downtown, this handsome Classical Revival building could benefit from access to state and federal tax credits that would come with the listing of the proposed historic district.

"The Preservation League of New York State's support will be indispensible in leading the way to a formalized appreciation of the Village of Holley's collection of historic buildings, but this funding will also make many of these historic buildings eligible for state and federal tax credits," said Wayne Goodman, Executive Director The Landmark Society of Western New York. "The former Holley High School, a listing on the Landmark Society's Five to Revive list, will be eligible for these historic rehabilitation tax credits, making a potential reuse project more viable for investors. This Preserve New York grant is a prime example of how historic preservation and community revitalization go hand-in-hand. We certainly appreciate the Preservation League's dedication to New York State's irreplaceable heritage."

The Village of LeRoy will receive a grant of $4,000 to support the cost of completing a State and National Register of Historic Places nomination for a historic district in downtown LeRoy. This area along NYS Route 5 includes the Town Hall, designed by famed Rochester architect Claude Bragdon, and about 50 two-to-four story commercial and public buildings.

The firm Preservation Studios will complete the project which will support the Council's Main Street revitalization programs and open doors to state and federal tax credit use.

"On behalf of the Main Street Revitalization Committee, I would like to thank the Preservation League of New York State for awarding us a Preserve New York grant," said Jennifer Keys, committee chair person. "A successful National Register nomination will allow for economic development by creating funding opportunities and bringing incentives for property owners to invest in their properties while preserving the centuries-old architectural integrity of the Village and highlighting the significance of our historic structures."

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 2014 awards, the total support provided by Preserve New York since its launch in 1993 is over $1.9 million to 307 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, 2014 meeting, the Preserve New York grant program panel selected 15 applicants in 12 counties around the state to share $100,000 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 LeRoy Business Council and the Village of Holley with timely funding from Preserve New York."

Organizations and municipalities receiving grant awards in 2014 are: Albany County: Westerlo Public Library; Chautauqua County: Chautauqua County Historical Society; Columbia County: Town of Livingston; Erie County (2): Elmwood Village Association; Village of Springville; Essex County (2): Fort Ticonderoga Association, Inc.; Town of Westport; Genesee County: LeRoy Business Council; Greene County: Town of Lexington; Montgomery County (2): Village of Fultonville; Village of St. Johnsville; Orleans County: Village of Holley; St. Lawrence County: Town of Russell; Steuben County: Town of Campbell; Sullivan County: Town of Delaware, Hamlet of Callicoon.

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.