Erie County Executive Chris Collins recently announced that the County will be offering a one-time challenge grant of $500,000 to the Martin House Restoration Corporation on the condition that the group is able to raise $1 million in private sector donations.
"The Darwin Martin House is an historic architectural gem that attracts thousands of outside visitors to our region," said Collins. "It is a vehicle for us to promote cultural tourism, a key economic driver leading Erie County on the road to a bright future. Success in raising private sector funds is key to this project coming to completion and I'm confident this challenge grant from the County will help raise some of the necessary funding to finish the restorations. It's a win-win investment in our future."
The funding for this challenge grant will come from the 2010 fund balance. It will go towards the final stages of the interior restoration of the Darwin Martin House, which includes refurbishing the house's mill work. Currently, there is about 8.5 miles of wood trim that needs to be worked on, and the Martin House Restoration Corporation would like to finish as much of the interior as possible before the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual conference takes place in October. In order to finish the rest of the interior restoration, they will need to raise $6 million.
"We are extremely gratified by Erie County's long -term support of the Martin House and the continuing assistance that is currently being offered by County Executive Collins," said Mary Roberts, Executive Director of the Martin House Restoration Corporation. "The restoration of the Martin House is at a critical juncture with a wonderful opportunity awaiting us when the National Trust's Preservation Conference comes to town later this year. This funding opportunity will help us put our best foot forward as we welcome the world to Buffalo in October."
Photo: Elena Cala Buscarino for BRO
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"The Darwin Martin House is an historic architectural gem that attracts thousands of outside visitors to our region," said Collins. "It is a vehicle for us to promote cultural tourism, a key economic driver leading Erie County on the road to a bright future. Success in raising private sector funds is key to this project coming to completion and I'm confident this challenge grant from the County will help raise some of the necessary funding to finish the restorations. It's a win-win investment in our future."
The funding for this challenge grant will come from the 2010 fund balance. It will go towards the final stages of the interior restoration of the Darwin Martin House, which includes refurbishing the house's mill work. Currently, there is about 8.5 miles of wood trim that needs to be worked on, and the Martin House Restoration Corporation would like to finish as much of the interior as possible before the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual conference takes place in October. In order to finish the rest of the interior restoration, they will need to raise $6 million.
"We are extremely gratified by Erie County's long -term support of the Martin House and the continuing assistance that is currently being offered by County Executive Collins," said Mary Roberts, Executive Director of the Martin House Restoration Corporation. "The restoration of the Martin House is at a critical juncture with a wonderful opportunity awaiting us when the National Trust's Preservation Conference comes to town later this year. This funding opportunity will help us put our best foot forward as we welcome the world to Buffalo in October."
Photo: Elena Cala Buscarino for BRO
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I do love the DMH, but, at this point, I have you join the throngs who are calling out the disproportionate amount of money this site has received. Imagine if we took $1mm and used it to stabilize other significant, at-risk structures, provided $1mm to fund the arts, etc. I don't hold it against the DMH, but I hope they do what they can to help other struggling entities around town; otherwise, I fear Collins will only succeed in creating a divide among the community.
Public and private funding has been pretty much 50/50