Author: Robert Creenan
On May 30, Preservation Buffalo Niagara will be hosting their annual award ceremony and luncheon at Kleinhans Music Hall. This event is for organizations that work on restoring famous buildings in the Buffalo area. There are 13 winners this year. Here is a brief summary of the recipients:
Boston Valley Terra Cotta: An Orchard Park-based company whose first major restoration project was the Buffalo Guaranty Building in 1981. Their other projects include restoring the 1896 Beaux-Arts building in New York City, the dome of the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton, and rebuilding the Power House of the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora. The firm consistently works by strict preservation standards, which leads to them being chosen for jobs for their superior quality.
Buffalo Rising: Buffalo Rising’s mission is to cover stories about urban development, redevelopment, preservation, activism, grassroots movements, the environment, events, culturals, urbanism, and small business in order to promote an improved quality of life in the city. Buffalo Rising has been highlighting preservation efforts by individuals, groups, and developers that have transformed the region.
Mark Poloncarz, Jack Quinn, Flynn Battaglia, Picone Construction, Grove Roofing, Morris Masonry, Jens Glass for The Old Buffalo Post Office: This 1901 Gothic Revival building was the former home to the Buffalo Post Office. When it moved out in 1963, nearly 20 years went by before it’s next tenant, the city campus for Erie Community College, took over. Proper restoration began in 2010 in order to preserve the original, ornate design. This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
First Street Group and Ellicott Development Company for The Giacomo/United Office Building in Niagara Falls: Constructed in 1929, this was the last great skyscraper built in Niagara Falls and served as the headquarters for the United Hotel Company. It was abandoned in 1980 and left vacant for 15 years before being converted by Ellicott Development into The Giacomo, a luxury thirty-eight-room hotels with twenty-four apartments.
Tzetzo Companies, Silvestri Architects, Superior Construction for Kronenberg Building: The Kronenberg Building was build in 1884, and restored to it’s appearance from the 1930’s when it was known as Fish and Kronenberg Plumbing and Heating. It’s refurbished design has 12,000 square feet of retail space on the first floor and office space on the second floor. The Kroenberg Building is a cornerstone of Hamburg’s National Register Historic Downtown District.
WNY Land Conservancy, Friends of Mill Road, Town of East Aurora for Mill Road Scenic Overlook: Land along Mill Road in East Aurora was often the target of land developers, who wanted to capitalize on the views near a valley. The Closs family, who has owned land near the valley since 1828, formed the Friends of Mill Road, along with the Sievenpiper family. They recently completed a $650,000 fundraiser to establish the 60-acre Mill Road Scenic Overlook, which is now owned by the Town of East Aurora, and the Land Conservancy owns a conservation easement on the property, which will protect it perpetually.
Richard Taczkowski, David A. Willett, and Senator Dale Volker for Schoolhouse #8, North Collins: Fifteen years ago, councilman Taczkowski proposed that the former one-room schoolhouse be restored and be turned into a museum, but the town historical society had other concerns and the building inspector recommended giving it to firefighters for training. Eventually, the Friends of Schoolhouse #8 group formed and gained ownership of the property and began restoring it. The main building was moved to North Collins library in 2007 where it remains to this day as it celebrates it’s 155th anniversary.
The Kissling Interests, Carmina Wood Morris Architects, and Peyton Barlow Co. Inc. for West Huron Lofts: Originally known as the “Lake Hotel,” this 1896 building (right) contained three light wells that allowed natural light to flow throughout the whole building. It operated as a hotel for 75 years, then as a boarding house before being abandoned. The main rehabilitation projects done on it were replacing the windows, repairing the roof, restoring the buildings interior, and restoring the central stairway. The former boarding rooms were restructured into eight spacious lofts, three of which are on two levels.
Anne Beha Associates, Catherine Faust, and HHL Architects for Westminster Presbyterian Church: First built in 1859, the Westminster Presbyterian Church has constantly evolved to meet the needs of it’s community and congregation. Renovations to the church were done frequently, in 1902, 1954, 1962, and 1992. Additions include ninety gold religious symbols by Tiffany Studios, improvements to acoustics, heating, electricity, adding an elevator, and providing user-friendly entries through parking lots.
Buffalo Zoological Society, Foit Albert Associates, and Peyton Barlow Co. Inc. for the Buffalo Zoo Heritage Farm: The Buffalo Zoo Heritage Farm is located at the Children’s Zoo, where it sets visitors in a mid-1800’s farm. One of the zoo’s most popular attractions since it opened in 2009, it’s supported by a grant from the Environmental Protection Fund and contributions from Delta Sonic and the Benderson family. The barn is relocated from along the Erie Canal in Martinsville and placed alongside a WPA-era shed barn.
Joan Bozer, a lifetime achievement award in Preservation Spirit: A nine-term Erie County Legislator from 1978 to 1995, Joan Bozer has advanced many ideas to make the city of Buffalo more livable. She was cofounder of Working for Downtown, saved the St. Mary of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church from being demolished and had it turned into the King Urban Life Center and Charter School, and helped convert the old post office into the ECC city campus. Bozer has also worked with the WNY Sustainable Energy Association and the Olmstead Parks Conservancy.
Jack Quinan: Quinan is recognized as one of the leading scholars on Frank Lloyd Wright, having taught at the University at Buffalo since 1975. He organized the Martin House Restoration Corporation to restore the deteriorating Darwin Martin House and served as senior curator of it. Quinan has authored several books about Wright and was a founding member of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. Quinan is leaving UB for Boulder, Colorado, having been honored as a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor.
Thomas Eoannou, Michael G. Cristiano, Flexlume Corporation, and Swiatek Painting for The North Park Theatre: Originally owned by Shea’s and called called Shea’s North Park, this theatre was built in 1920 and contained 1,200 seats in front of a single screen. But as time went by and multiplexes became for common, fewer patrons came to see films there and it’s former patron, Dipson Theaters, stopped showing films there. But new owners, Thomas Eoannou and Michael G. Cristiano helped bring investors back to the theatre and restored it back to it’s former glory.