Buffalo needs to do better when it comes to safeguarding its historic architectural treasures, as we can plainly see by our recent actions, or inactions. With the recent news that we stand to lose two significant Cobblestone buildings due to demolition by neglect, the question arises, “If we can’t save the low hanging fruit, what are our chances of saving anything?”
If that sounds like a bit of doom and gloom, then it is. For years, we’ve been rallying around the historic significance of The Cobblestone District. Developer Sam Savarino did a great job preserving a number of buildings along Mississippi Street, which many people thought would demonstrate the value and the importance of the preservation effort. But alas, it turns out that the winds of fate and fortune would blow cold and hard, until we reached this critical crossroad.
As the Cobblestone buildings get stuck in the crosshairs, Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) has released their 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, outlining new strategies to advance the Buffalo-Niagara Region through preservation. Moving forward, PBN plans to reform traditional preservation practices, address their inequities, and expand their reach.
It’s time to get serious about preservation in Buffalo, before we lose even more of our authentic identity.
The new strategic preservation plan acknowledges the important role that the built environment has on its immediate neighborhood and the WNY community as a whole.
“We will demonstrate that historic preservation can be fully representative and that saving historic resources of all kinds can celebrate the region’s diverse history, catalyze economic development, support environmental sustainability, advance social justice, and contribute to community health and wellbeing.” – PBN
PBN’s plan includes three guiding principles to serve as a framework for decision-making and planning for the next three years:
1. PBN believes it has a role to play in creating a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and accessible community. All its programs, policies, and projects will be aligned to meet these objectives.
2. PBN’s current board members, staff, funders, and partners are ready for the organization to make a proactive shift in its focus and priorities. PBN commits itself to getting the right people in the room and will devote a considerable amount of time and resources toward developing relationships and building out and diversifying its base of support, both financial and otherwise.
3. To be effective, attract funding, and sustain its work long-term, PBN will align its efforts around a prioritized set of strategic focus areas and a defined service area concentrated in Niagara and Erie Counties.
Margie Pawloski, Chair of the Board of Trustees said, “After a year-long strategic planning process, we are tremendously proud to debut the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan for Preservation Buffalo Niagara. I am certain this plan will serve as a comprehensive and powerful guide in preservation work across Western New York for the next three years!”
“This plan does not change PBN’s mission or vision,” said Interim Executive Director Corey Fabian-Barrett. “Rather, the new plan hones and sharpens our focus to better tackle the challenges facing our communities and enable our team to carry out our mission and vision more effectively. We’re excited to explore the best paths forward for people across our region.”
The full 2023-2026 Strategic Plan is available to view on the PBN website.