Old Custom House Named to Seven to Save List

CONTACTS

Preservation League of New York State Jay DiLorenzo 518-462-5658

City of Niagara Falls Thomas DeSantis 716-286-4477

ALBANY, January 13, 2005 – The Preservation League of New York State has named The Old U.S. Custom House at 2245 Whirlpool Street in Niagara Falls one of New York State’s Seven to Save, the nonprofit group’s annual list of the Empire State’s most threatened historic places.

Built in 1863, this limestone structure near the bridge to Canada functioned as a Custom House for most of its life, with short periods of commercial use. Due to the location of two railroad bridges across the Niagara River to Canada, this location was the gateway to the west and one of the most important nineteenth century ports of entry. At one time, imports across the river here were second in value only to imports at New York City.

After moving through a series of owners, the building has been abandoned for seven years. It has steadily deteriorated due to water damage. The City of Niagara Falls acquired the property – a local, State and National landmark – in 2003 with plans to return the Old Custom House to active use as part of the planned International Intermodal Transportation Center.

“As the saying goes, everything old is new again,” said Tania Werbizky, Director of Technical and Grant Programs for the Preservation League of New York State. “Mayor Vincenzo Anello and other local leaders had the vision to integrate this nineteenth century transportation building into proposals to address the future transportation and commerce needs of Niagara County, but significant deterioration and a lack of funding threatens to derail their plans.
The Preservation League stands ready to assist with visibility, strategies for fundraising, and review of the design for the Center.”

According to Mayor Anello, “The Old Custom House is an important link to the Empire State’s transportation and cross-border history, and with added publicity and attention, we have an opportunity to secure our shared heritage in a way that will truly benefit the resource as well as the community.”

The City of Niagara Falls Railway Station proposal seeks to relocate Amtrak’s passenger terminal and to establish border inspection facilities within a consolidated intermodal facility adjacent to the Whirlpool-Rapids Bridge and North Main Street. “The re-use of the Old Custom House as part of this facility provides a unique opportunity for Niagara Falls and Western New York to significantly improve international rail travel between the United States and Canada,” said Thomas DeSantis, Senior Planner with the City of Niagara Falls. “Further, restoration of the Old Custom House will serve as a catalyst for revitalization of the city’s Main Street Business District.”

In addition to the Old Custom House, the Seven to Save list for 2005 includes:

• Hudson Area Library, Hudson, Columbia County
• The Herkimer County 1834 Jail, Herkimer County
• The Iron Block, Watertown, Jefferson County
• Todd Shipyards Graving Dock, Brooklyn, Kings County
• St. Thomas the Apostle Church, New York County
• The Guastavino Tile House, Bay Shore, Suffolk County

A complete description of Seven to Save designees can be found on the League’s web site at www.preservenys.org .

Since 1999, publicity surrounding the Seven to Save designation has led to the stabilization of St. Joseph’s Church in Albany; the rehabilitation of the Oswego City Public Library, the adaptive re-use of the former Niagara Falls High School as a cultural and arts center, and prevented the demolition of the Conger Goodyear House on Long Island.

The Preservation League of New York State, founded in 1974, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection of New York’s diverse and rich heritage of historic buildings, districts and landscapes. From its headquarters in Albany, it provides a unified voice for historic preservation. By leading a statewide movement and sharing information and expertise, the Preservation League of New York State promotes historic preservation as a tool to revitalize the Empire State’s neighborhoods and communities.

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