Announcing the 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award Winners
This annual award from the Preservation League of NYS recognizes the best examples of preservation happening across New York State
Now in its 40th year, the League's annual Excellence Awards program allows us to shine a light on the people who are using historic preservation to make all our lives better —through exemplary restoration projects, indispensable publications, individual action, and organizational distinction. This year’s Award winners will be recognized at a public reception in NYC on Friday, November 15. Event details can be found here.
“The nominations that came in for this year’s Awards were some of the strongest we’ve seen in the 40 years the League has run this statewide program,” said Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo. “Our winners represent the many ways preservation can lift up communities, bring people together, and celebrate the diversity of our built and cultural heritage.”
2024 Awardees
Reynold's Way, Elmira, Chemung County; Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, Kings County; Town of Avon Opera Hall Rehabilitation, Livingston County; Canal Commons, Rochester, Monroe County; Still Standing: The Barns of J.T. Wells and Sons, Pittsford, Monroe County; Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Restoration, New York County; Moyer Carriage Lofts, Syracuse, Onondaga County; Newburgh East End II, Orange County; Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church, Astoria, Queens County; Revive 65 Phila, Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County
Click here to find all posts about the 2024 Excellence Award winners.
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, the Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation.
Reynold's Way, Elmira, Chemung County
Located in the heart of Elmira's civic historic district, the Reynold's Way project is comprised of four very different buildings that had all been vacant for many years. Taken together, Reynold’s Way now houses 41 affordable apartments. "As one of many partners who brought this development to fruition, we are grateful that historic preservation projects such as this one provide much-needed supply to meet the demands of affordable housing," said Susan Bull, President and CEO of Arbor Housing and Development. "We are thankful for the team of partners who shared in the vision of transforming the buildings and giving residents a beautiful space to call home."
Photo credit: Molly Cagwin
Town of Avon Opera Hall Rehabilitation, Livingston County
The capstone of a comprehensive downtown revitalization initiative, the rehabilitation of the National Register-listed Opera Hall is a testament to how towns can reinvest in their historic streetscapes for contemporary and future uses. The Town of Avon plans to use the newly renovated space for community events, performances, and festivals.
Still Standing: The Barns of J.T. Wells and Sons, Pittsford, Monroe County
Strategically highlighting the history, heritage, and present-day plight of Western New York’s agriculturally and architecturally significant Wells barns, this television documentary, produced by Churchbell Creative, LLC. and offered for free to all NYS Public Television Stations courtesy of WXXI Public Media, creatively explores ways that remaining barns can regain their relevance through adaptive reuse while fostering community engagement in their preservation before these barns disappear from the landscape entirely due to development, decay, and obsolescence. Still Standing was produced by Katie Andres & Jill Kuchman, Co-Owners, Churchbell Creative, LLC.
Moyer Carriage Lofts, Syracuse, Onondaga County
Syracuse's iconic "factory with a house on the roof" was built in stages from 1882-1909. The building where luxury cars were once made has found new life thanks to a careful rehabilitation that has transformed the former factory into 128 affordable apartments — the largest affordable housing project in the city.
Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church, Astoria, Queens County
The restoration of the Art Deco masterpiece Most Precious Blood Church was a monumental 15-year effort aimed at preserving a historic landmark while ensuring its continued service to the community. Key aspects of the restoration included the complete renovation of the exterior facades, belfry, and roof, as well as the careful repair and preservation of the interior Art Deco elements. The team worked diligently to restore the iconic geometric stained glass windows, the monumental steel frames, and the intricate terrazzo flooring, all of which are critical to the church’s unique character. The aluminum pinnacle adorned with a stylized peacock screen—a symbol of Christian rebirth—was also restored, ensuring it continues to be a beacon of hope against the night sky. "It is incredibly rewarding to see our team’s hard work and dedication recognized by the Preservation League of NYS,” said Project Architect Carlo Zaskorski. “This award is a testament to our commitment to excellence in preservation, and it reflects the collaborative spirit and expertise that our firm brings to every project."
Photo credit: Noel Sutherland
Little Caribbean, Brooklyn, Kings County
CaribBEING is an organization working at the intersection of Caribbean culture, community and commerce. Since 2017, when CaribBeing organized to get the official designation of the "Little Caribbean" neighborhood in Flatbush, Brooklyn, they have organized to sustain local businesses and support systems to ensure that Caribbean and Caribbean-American communities in Brooklyn and beyond can continue to thrive. Little Caribbean is home to the largest Caribbean Diaspora community and residents have been making history here for decades. CaribBEING works to reinforce the fabric of small enterprises that make a neighborhood, and build links between entrepreneurs, larger funders, and developers to center well-being, arts and culture, commerce, and community. They do this through events, exhibits, tours, corporate partnerships, directories, maps, publicity and publications, and network building.
Canal Commons, Rochester, Monroe County
Canal Commons is a $64 million affordable housing project that has changed the Rochester, NY landscape. Located in the historic Susan B. Anthony neighborhood, Canal Commons was a long-vacant historic warehouse building, which has been converted into a 123-unit apartment building. The rehabilitation was made possible through incentives including Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Historic Tax Credits. In addition to providing high quality affordable housing, most Canal Commons apartments are reserved for residents who have experienced chronic homelessness or are in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. The creation of this supportive housing was made possible through the Empire State Housing Initiative (ESSHI) administered through the NYS Office of Mental Health. This project is a mixed-income development that serves families earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income. The project also participated in the NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program and in NYSERDA’s Multifamily New Construction Program, significantly improving the viability of the neighborhood and of Canal Street.
Photo credit: Tim Wilkes Photography
Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Restoration, New York County
A comprehensive restoration led by the team at Thomas A. Fenniman, Architect has ensured that this James Renwick Jr.-designed beacon will continue shining for many more years to come. The project included restoring brick, stone, windows, and doors. Site improvements at the Lighthouse include installation of a new metal spiral staircase, new electrical and LED accent lighting, resetting and installation of new and salvaged stone pavers and curb stones, and the installation of new recessed ground lighting and controls. The project was completed by the construction team of The LIRO Group and ICC Commonwealth.
Newburgh East End II, Orange County
Completed in 2023, East End II is RUPCO’s largest project to date. This $37-million scattered-site development includes 24 building sites spread across a 7-block radius located in New York State’s second-largest historic district. East End II includes the restoration of 10 vacant historic buildings and added new construction on 12 vacant lots – creating a total of 61 new, mixed-income homes plus a community space. The project includes ten apartments for formerly unhoused persons who now receive rental subsidy and case management services from an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) grant through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. In addition, RUPCO partnered with local nonprofit LYNC to adapt and reuse the former United Methodist Church as a commercial and community service hub called “Highpoint.”
Photo Credit: David Miller
Revive 65 Phila, Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County
Through a strategic grassroots campaign, Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation successfully preserved 65 Phila Street, which had fallen into severe neglect. After years of advocating against demolition and working with the city to enforce property maintenance codes, the Foundation acquired the building in May 2021 with the assistance of Mark Haworth, a long-time member of the Foundation. The Foundation undertook a comprehensive rehabilitation, including environmental remediation, structural stabilization, and exterior restoration. Through monetary and in-kind donations, the "Revive 65" campaign raised over $500,000. The project, completed in 2024, removed long-standing blight, increased property tax revenue, and demonstrated the community and economic benefits of historic preservation. The property is now on the market, with proceeds going to the Foundation’s Historic Property Redevelopment Fund.