Technical Assistance Grants - 2023 — Preservation League of NYS

Preservation efforts across 13 counties were selected to receive funding totaling over $66,000

The Preservation League of New York State and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts are thrilled to announce the recipients of their 2023 Technical Assistance Grants. During this grant cycle, 19 projects representing 13 counties across the state have been selected by an independent panel of preservation professionals. A total of $66,576 was awarded.

“Technical Assistance Grants often provide the pivotal seed funding needed to jumpstart more comprehensive preservation work in the future,” said Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo. “The League is proud to support so many worthwhile projects across the state through this partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts. And we are equally grateful for additional funding from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation on Long Island and the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, which allows TAG funding to go further. Congratulations to all of the grantees – the League is excited to see how these projects progress and look forward to continuing to assist however we can.”

SCROLL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR’S TAG RECIPIENTS, OR JUMP TO A SPECIFIC COUNTY:

Delaware County

John Burroughs' Woodchuck Lodge, Limited Condition Assessment, $4,000

Woodchuck Lodge was built in 1861 by Curtis Burroughs, an older brother of literary naturalist John Burroughs. John leased the property in 1910 and spent the last ten summers of his life there, through his death in 1921. Some of his best writing was completed here. He named the four-bedroom farmhouse Woodchuck Lodge to recognize the cordon of woodchucks, a bane to farmers, who lived among the farm fields throughout the area. For unnumbered generations prior to Ezra Bartram's claimed ownership of the land that became the Burroughs homestead, it was the customary forested land of the Munsee-speaking Esopus (Lenape), now Stockbridge-Munsee, and their Haudenosaunee and Mohican neighbors.

Woodchuck Lodge serves as a site for school programs focused on local history, environmental awareness as espoused in Burroughs' writings, programs that often entail walks, interactive exchanges, lively discussions, and arts and crafts, and tours to further the public's understanding of the historical significance of John Burroughs and the historical collections housed in the museum. This is especially important for residents of the local Roxbury and Delaware County communities. Significant restoration and preservation work was completed in 1978-1979 and in 2004-2005. However, with the passage of time, more work is needed to restore and preserve the farmhouse to its early 1900s period. Given its present condition, time is of the essence. The Limited Condition Assessment funded through this Technical Assistance Grant will allow for the preparation of a Preservation Plan by Crawford and Stearns, Preservation Architects, of Syracuse, NY.

Dutchess County

Innisfree Garden, Limited Condition Assessment, $4,000

“We are honored to be the first historic landscape to receive a Technical Assistance Grant from the Preservation League, and its partners” said Kate Kerin, Innisfree’s Landscape Curator. “Support from such an important force for good in New York State means a great deal, and funding for this project now will enhance our stewardship efforts for years to come.”

Supported in part by this $4,000 TAG award, Charles Birnbaum, President & CEO of The Cultural Landscape Foundation, will create a white paper that captures Innisfree Garden’s design and stewardship agenda, providing critical clarity and consistency for decision-making. It builds on work Innisfree and Birnbaum began in 2015 and continued most recently in July 2023. Birnbaum’s white paper—tentatively titled “Overarching Values and Treatment Guidelines for Managing Change”—will guide stewardship efforts before, during, and after Innisfree’s Cultural Landscape Report, the benchmark planning process that informs preservation, management, and interpretation of historic resources.

Erie County

Juneteenth of Buffalo, Accessibility Study, $4,000

“This Accessibility Study will help Juneteenth improve our HQ building and give us the ability to welcome the entire community, including the physically challenged, to our volunteer meetings, educational workshops, and festival planning activities,” said Juneteenth Board Member Ron Draffin.

Juneteenth of Buffalo is headquartered in a historic former bank building at 1517 Genesee Street. Built in 1923, the building lacks modern accessibility features. This report will assist Juneteenth leaders in addressing accessibility issues so everyone in the community will be able to enter the building safely and enjoy all that the Juneteenth Festival organization has to offer. The report, which will be completed by Buffalo-based Clinton Brown Company Architecture pc, will provide the much-needed professional expertise to review the existing conditions to determine the best options for accessibility improvements. Improved accessibility will enable the Juneteenth Festival to fulfill its mission to be open, welcoming, and accessible to all while respecting the historic character of the building.

Ukrainian Cultural Center "Dnipro" in Buffalo, Accessibility Study, $4,000

The Ukrainian Cultural Center "Dnipro" fills a very unique space in the rich cultural heritage of Buffalo and all of Western New York. The building was built in 1914 by a German fraternal organization, and purchased in 1955 by Ukrainian immigrants that had just fled the horrors of World War 2, and the subsequent communist occupation of their homeland. After the purchase at a City of Buffalo foreclosure auction the all-volunteer workforce completely renovated the 4-story, 40,000 square foot building.

The current use of the building is to consolidate the Ukrainian American community, and to present a gateway between "everything Ukrainian" and the people of western New York. The "Dnipro" building is home to a Federal Credit Union, a Saturday School for children 5-16, a youth scouting organization, a children's art class, a children's traditional dance class, and a ladies choir. There are several different venues inside the building for the presentation of a range of arts and cultural programming. The building itself is architecturally and historically significant. Ukrainian paintings, art, and artifacts from time periods over the past 1000 years adorn the massive wall space.

The immediate neighborhood at Genesee and Jefferson has seen significant disinvestment over the past several decades. However, the leadership of the Ukrainian Center is actively working with neighboring residents, business owners, faith-based organizations and other non-profits to improve the local quality of life for all neighbors. The building currently has no elevator, making it very difficult for elderly or handicapped individuals to access the space. There is an existing elevator shaft; but no working elevator for the past 60+ years. This Technical Assistance Grant will fund an Accessibility Study allowing an architect to evaluate various options. Daniel J. Sullivan Registered Architect will complete the Study.

Hamilton County

Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, Limited Condition Assessment, $4,000

“We so appreciate being awarded this grant,” said Joanna Pine, Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts Board Chair. “This will help us ensure that the space we occupy is safe for our staff, as well as our community.”

The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts (ALCA) building was originally Fuller’s Garage, built in 1921. The ALCA building is over 100 years old and was built during the time of transportation corridors transitioning from horses to automobiles. The ALCA building has been modified over time and needs extensive physical repairs as well as modifications for accessibility and energy conservation. The purpose of the Limited Condition Assessment Report will be to identify problems and needs and to provide recommendations for their correction. Crawford & Stearns, Architects and Preservation Planners, will be providing these services.

Livingston County

Dansville Area Historical Society, Electrical Analysis, $416

“Dansville Area Historical Society is honored to have received this grant,” said Jim Helfrich, president of DAHS. “Our museum is housed in an 1872 historic building, and for quite some time we have put on hold updating our electrical system. We now are ready to move ahead with new exhibit areas and lighting projects in the museum, and receiving the Technical Assistance Grant allows us to do just that.”

The 2023 Technical Assistance Grant awarded to DAHS will fund a full analysis of all electrical components currently in the three-story museum. The resulting report by project consultant Marlow R. Henry will guide the DAHS Board of Directors in prioritizing and carrying out needed work that assures the Museum serves the Dansville community for many generations. Lighting, humidity control, and proper electrical service in all rooms will be part of the focus for the work that will follow the analysis.

Monroe County

The Hochstein School, Limited Condition Assessment, $4,000

“We are deeply grateful to the Preservation League of NYS for providing this opportunity to update The Hochstein School’s Facilities Master Plan through a facilities assessment process led by Jennifer Ahrens, Principal Architect of Bero Architecture,” said Hilary Respass, President & Executive Director of The Hochstein School. “Ms. Ahrens was the architect for Hochstein’s highly successful 2022 renovation of its historic Performance Hall. We are grateful to have the opportunity to draw on her expertise as we plan for the preservation and sustainability of our high use facilities located in Downtown Rochester.”

This TAG grant will fund a critical building assessment/engineering study to be led by Bero Architecture. The survey will assess the conditions of the building and provide essential insights into its care and maintenance for the next period of organizational growth and strengthening.

New York County

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance, Specialized Conservation Study, $4,000

“We are thrilled to have been selected as recipients of the Technical Assistance Grant from the Preservation League of NYS,” said Melissa Kiewiet, Executive Director of the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance. “Receiving this funding will support our current research as it pertains to reinterpreting the entirety of the Museum and its grounds more precisely, allowing us to offer a complete historically accurate account of everyone who lived and worked on the site.”

The Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance (DFMA), through support from the Preservation League of NYS, has hired Jeffrey E. Klee, an architectural historian with MCWB Architects, to investigate the Museum's basement flooring. The basement kitchen is undergoing reinterpretation and capital improvements beginning in the Fall of 2024, which will advance the preservation of the historic site while making the site ADA-compliant. Replacing the current flooring with historically accurate materials will further enrich DFM's reinterpretation and support the reinterpretation project co-occurring. Through the Technical Assistance Grant, DFMA and MCBA Architects will examine the floor in the basement that has long been covered with loose wooden planks, leading to the discovery of the original floor covering, allowing us to maintain the integrity of the space by reincorporating historically accurate building materials authentic to the site. Additionally, the report will complete the needs of the design phase of the capital project and inform our reinterpretation over the next two years.

New York Studio School, Limited Condition Assessment, $4,000

“New York Studio School is grateful to receive this award from the Preservation League in support of this critical roof project,” said Graham Nickson, Dean of the School. “Our students work in remarkable skylit spaces that have been the site of art making for more than a century. It’s our honor to be stewards of this National Historic Landmark, once the original home of the Whitney Museum of American Art, and to preserve it for many generations to come.”

The School occupies a complex comprised of eight buildings—four 19th-century rowhouses on West 8th Street and four stable blocks on MacDougal Alley—that were assembled together in the early 20th century by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. The Preservation League’s grant will help fund a conditions survey of the School’s roof conducted by the preservation architect Jonathan Raible. This survey will lay the groundwork for a planned 2025 roof replacement project, funded in part by a Save America’s Treasures grant from the National Park Service.

Niagara County

Niagara County Historical Society, Limited Condition Assessment, $2,240

The significance of the Col. William Bond House is its proximity to the Erie Canal "Flight of Five" locks, both of which were begun in 1823. Bond came to Lockport expecting to make money when the canal opened. This 1824 National Register home is the first brick home in the city and has twelve rooms furnished mostly in the Empire Style. Its unique collection of art, historic furnishings, and textiles need to be protected from damage. It is open year-round for tours, small group meetings, and special events. A key focus area of the organizational strategic plan is to prioritize ongoing maintenance of all facilities to mitigate against the necessity and expense of emergency repairs. As part of our mission to promote the cultural heritage related to the Erie Canal and the rich history of Niagara County we want to continue to offer educational opportunities, museum tours and to protect and maintain the art, furnishings and textiles at this location. The consultant from Bero Architecture will access the building and survey the windows to assess their condition, identify appropriate repairs and study interior storm window options. Additionally, they will survey the exiting building envelope and make recommendations to improve the building energy efficiency.

Oneida County

“I am pleased that the Remsen-Steuben Historical Society and the Remsen Performing and Visual Arts Center have received Technical Assistance Grants through a partnership between the Preservation League of New York State and New York State Council on the Arts,” said NYS Senator Joseph A. Griffo. “This funding will help both grant recipients enhance and preserve historic and cultural sites in the community and region.”

Remsen Performing and Visual Arts Center, Engineering/Structural Analysis, $2,880

“We are honored that our historic building will be preserved thanks to the knowledge acquired through this TAG grant,” said Peter Rashford, Remsen Arts Center Vice President.

Formerly the First Baptist Church of Remsen, the historic Main Street building had been abandoned in 2005. When it was threatened with demolition in 2010, a group of local citizens banded together to save the building in the hopes of turning it into a nonprofit arts center. They have preserved the historic integrity of the building while creating a charming modern venue for performing and visual arts programming. Since opening their doors to the public in 2011, the Remsen Performing and Visual Arts Center, Inc has hosted numerous concerts, art shows, and workshops, plus offers the facility for public uses including meetings, weddings, and much more. The Center provides opportunities for artists and musicians to study, display their artwork, and to perform in a supportive setting.

The building has numerous age-related defects. Their TAG-funded Engineering/Structural Analysis report will provide the information required to understand the 1893 building’s rehabilitation needs and set priorities moving forward. Project consultant Robert A.W. Heins A.I.A., Architect will complete the report.

Remsen-Steuben Historical Society, Engineering/Structural Analysis, $4,000

“Our community and society members are honored to be chosen as a recipient of this important grant,” said Susan Bartholomew, Remsen-Steuben Historical Society Treasurer. “This grant will provide funding to ensure the Stone Meetinghouse continues its 192-year history of serving our community.”

Locally known as The Stone Meetinghouse, the building has served the community for the last 192 years. It houses the archives of multiple organizations, a small museum, sanctuary type auditorium, genealogical records, and the largest Welsh library in the country. The structure has suffered water damage and potential structural integrity issues. The assessment will include engineering/structural analysis prepared by project consultants from Bell & Spina, Architect-Planners, PC. The roof may be at the end of its useful life and in need of historically appropriate replacement or repair. This Technical Assistance Grant will provide the society the support needed to continue community programs and preservation initiatives.

Queens County

Sculpture Center, Limited Condition Assessment, $4,000

“The Preservation League of New York State has played a pivotal role in the investment of important historical and cultural spaces that enrich communities throughout the state, and we are honored to partner with them this year as a recipient of a Technical Assistance Grant,” said Sohrab Mohebbi, Director of SculptureCenter. “This grant will lay a critical foundation for the long-term stabilization of our distinctive 116-year building and secure our role as one of New York’s most adventurous contemporary art and commissioning spaces. This grant comes at a pivotal moment of growth for our organization, and it is imperative that we plan for our future now.”

The Technical Assistance Grant will support a limited condition assessment representing the critical first step in SculptureCenter’s building preservation efforts. Housed in a former trolley repair shop originally built in 1907, SculptureCenter has become increasingly vulnerable to significant flooding due to the effects of climate change and the rapid development of its neighborhood of Long Island City, Queens. Partnering with geotechnical engineering and land development consultants at Langan, the assessment will outline key immediate and long-term recommendations that will address urgent issues around flood prevention and mitigation, waterproofing, and securing our building envelope. The grant will provide a more comprehensive survey of the building’s current conditions, enable the organization to better understand the full scope of its capital needs, and better prioritize future preservation projects that ensure the longevity and historic integrity of the building.

Suffolk County

CEED- Center for Environmental Education and Discovery, LiDAR Assessment, $4,000

“The board of representatives, staff, and the Brookhaven Hamlet community are thrilled to be moving forward on the planning for restoration and renovation of the Washington Lodge with this LiDAR study to assist architectural and engineering planning,” said Sally Wellinger, CEED Executive Director.

The LiDAR assessment will allow CEED to document the complexities and strange interstitial spaces of the Lodge, develop accurate 3-D model/as-built conditions with a non-intrusive testing method that will save time and labor. The project will prioritize features most worthy of retaining and retrofitting, and how to maximize and balance protection of the structure, historic preservation, and public access. The assessment will be completed by PKAD Architecture & Design. This project follows an earlier Conditions Report, funded through a Preserve New York grant from the Preservation League.

Southold Historical Museum, Engineering/Structural Analysis, $1,200

“We are honored to be awarded this Technical Assistance Grant from the Preservation League of NYS. It is critical that we have a detailed understanding of this significant structure, which is used to house our archival collection,” said Deanna Witte-Walker, Southold Historical Museum Executive Director.

The Prince Building is home to Southold Historical Museum's Administrative Center, Archives, Museum Gift Shop, and the Treasure Exchange shop. The shops are open year-round. The structure was built in 1874 for Henry Wells Prince (1839-1925) and G. Frank Hommel. Hommel occupied the west side of the building, where he ran a shoe store. Prince occupied the east, where he ran a successful dry goods business. The building was twice home to the United States Post Office - first in 1893 and again from 1932 through the 1950s.

The structural assessment is to determine the load bearing capacity of the Museum’s archival research and meeting room on the second floor, which houses several heavy cabinets and furniture. The room is used by the public for research and as a meeting space. The second floor is also above the public access gift shop and treasury exchange area. The goal of the project is to ensure the safety of the public who access the building on a regular basis. The report will be completed by DiLandro Andrews Engineering, PLLC.

Three Village Historical Society, MEP (Mechanical / Electrical / Plumbing) Analysis, $4,000

“We feel a deep honor in taking on the role of history's stewards, actively caring for the circa 1800 Bayles-Swezey House with hearts wide open,” said Mari Irizarry, Director of Three Village Historical Society. “As custodians of heritage, we stand united, grateful for the chance to safeguard the past and contribute to a lasting legacy that transcends generations.”

On May 14, 1998, the Three Village Historical Society (TVHS) purchased its headquarters building from the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities. This structure is a two-story, 2,500-square-foot farmhouse built around 1800, originally belonging to Ebenezer Bayles and later to Stephen Swezey. It is used by the Society for housing archives and special collections, and for exhibits, tours, workshops, and community events. Yet, the organization faces a crisis: the building is suffering the effects of a deteriorating infrastructure. The current HVAC system includes a low efficiency gas-fired, forced-air system; a non-working AC; and no humidification control, leading to the deterioration of some parts of the collection. The climate challenges within this early 19th century building are compounded by aged windows that cannot keep moisture out. In addition, the collections are not protected by any fire suppression system. As stewards of the numerous precious items in its collections – and of this historic house itself – TVHS has a duty to seek strategies for improving the building and its environment. Through the Technical Assistance Grant, TVHS will work with Steward Preservation Services (SPS) to determine the best strategies for prioritizing and operationalizing remedies, with an eye towards better fulfilling their mission and saving their historic home.

Ulster County

D&H Canal Historical Society, Engineering/Structural Analysis, $3,840

According to D&HCHS Executive Director Jack Braunlein, “This funding will enable us to document the composition of the mortar in the construction of these locks as a first step in their restoration and will further provide evidence in our ongoing research to document the origin of ‘Rosendale Cement.’”

Mortar from two of the original, 1825 era Delaware & Hudson Canal locks in High Falls, NY will be analyzed by technicians at Highbridge Materials Consulting in Pleasantville, NY. It is believed that these locks were constructed with the natural hydraulic cement discovered in High Falls in 1825 by a D&H Canal Company geologist, subsequently referred to as “Rosendale Cement.” This extremely durable cement, which sets underwater, led to an industry that supplied over half of North America’s cement needs in the second half of the 19th century. The data this analysis will yield will allow the D&HCHS to restore these locks properly – some of the stones of old lock 17 in High Falls’ Grady Park have recently fallen out of their historic locations.

Reher Center for Immigrant Culture & History, Accessibility Study, $4,000

“I am excited to work with the Reher Center on developing an approach to increase access to this important community and New York State project,” said Accessibility Study Lead Architect Marilyn Kaplan of Preservation Architecture. “The lack of physical access has limited the impact of the Center’s tremendous successes over the last several years. Having a clear direction will facilitate the implementation of accessibility upgrades and thus the opportunity to expand programming for all in support of the Center’s important mission.”

Since 2004, much work has been undertaken to stabilize and restore portions of the Reher Center’s historic late 19th-century building. More recently, the loft above the oven room of 99 Broadway was retrofitted to serve as a public gallery with bathrooms, a visitor center, and an office. Opening in May 2022, this coincided with the completion of an updated historic structure report by Preservation Architect Marilyn Kaplan, who has a long relationship with the Reher Center. That report was funded in part by a 2021 Preserve New York Grant from the Preservation League. The report outlines a clear vision for further phased programmatic development within the existing footprint of the Center while protecting the historic building fabric as a key interpretation tool.

An obstacle to fulfilling the Center's mission of fostering belonging is accessibility for those who are differently abled. Though an induction loop hearing system has been installed in our new gallery to make our programs and classes accessible to those with hearing impairments, no areas of our historic buildings are currently accessible to those with mobility impairments. Access to our gallery is via a temporary 14-step staircase. The sloping topography of the site and the conflicting interior floor heights between the historic retail space and oven room make the Center prohibitive to wheelchair users. No doorway is at grade. Kaplan's 2022 report outlines possible design solutions to making these two interpretive spaces accessible. This accessibility study will allow Kaplan to study these options in greater detail, their feasibility, and consider how they fit within the longer vision for the Center.

Wyoming County

Silver Lake Institute, Limited Condition Assessment, $4,000

“The Silver Lake Institute is so appreciative of the New York State Council on the Arts and the Preservation League of New York State, and we will use the TAG funds for the ongoing preservation of historic Stoody Hall,” said Kris Schultz, Vice President of the Silver Lake Institute Board of Trustees. “This funding will allow the Silver Lake Institute to engage InSite Architecture, an award-winning architectural design firm that specializes in historic preservation, to complete a much-needed building condition report of this 19th century treasure.”

Stoody Hall was constructed in 1892 as the local headquarters for the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Many temperance and women’s rights events were held at this location during the Third Great Awakening period. This location, on the grounds of the original Silver Lake Assembly, was a very popular lakeside Methodist tent camp that brought thousands of visitors to experience spiritual, political, cultural and arts education. 132 years later, Stoody Hall is still used by the nonprofit Silver Lake Institute to host community events in the summer, most of which are free of charge.

The Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) program is a partnership between the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the Preservation League of New York State, made possible by NYSCA with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional generous support is provided by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation for projects on Long Island, and the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area for the projects within the National Heritage Area boundary. The TAG program supports arts centers, historic sites, music halls, theaters, libraries, and other cultural nonprofit or municipal entities that steward historic buildings throughout New York State.

With the announcement of the 2023 awards, support provided by TAG since its launch in 2012 totals $668,680. These grants have directly advanced the efforts of 210 preservation projects.

“Through this program with the Preservation League of New York State, we are proud to provide critical support to these key cultural anchors, who will continue to enrich and strengthen their communities for generations to come,” added Katherine Nicholls, Chair of the New York State Council on the Arts. “On behalf of our staff and Council, I applaud all of this year’s TAG recipients and thank them for their ongoing work across the state.”

“TAG provides an avenue for us of evaluating and funding different projects that are important to our partners. Congratulations to all the recipients!”, said Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Executive Director Scott Keller. “We are continually impressed with both the quantity and quality of the applications for this program.”

"The Robert David Lion Gardiner's partnership with the Preservation League of New York State offers our historic stewards an opportunity to secure professional services and assessments for historic preservation and conservation,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. “We are delighted with this collaboration with the Preservation League and NYSCA, which was begun in 2016 and will hopefully go well into the future."

About the Preservation League of New York State

Since its founding in 1974, the Preservation League of NYS has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. Our goal has been to preserve our historic buildings, districts, and landscapes and to build a better New York, one community at a time. The League empowers all New Yorkers to use historic preservation to enrich their communities, protect their heritage, and build a sustainable future. We lead advocacy, economic development, and education programs across the state.

Connect with us at preservenys.org, facebook.com/preservenys, twitter.com/preservenys, youtube.com/c/PreservationLeague and instagram.com/preservenys.

About the New York State Council on the Arts

The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award $127 million in FY 2024. The Council on the Arts further advances New York's creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, Twitter @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.

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Technical Assistance Grants - 2023