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Seven to Save
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Historic
Wood Windows Named to
As home heating costs continue to skyrocket, the Preservation League wants to remind New York’s homeowners that their original wood windows, if properly weatherized and maintained, can be an efficient, long-lasting, and appealing part of their older homes. Due to their high quality of materials and craftsmanship, the original wood windows in many homes can remain structurally sound after decades of use. Unfortunately, many property owners are led to believe that their windows are beyond repair, or that they will reduce energy costs by installing replacements. “Each year thousands of historic wood windows are removed and sent to landfills across New York,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. “At the Preservation League we have been particularly concerned about this issue because original wood windows are such an important part of the appearance and character of a historic home. We want New Yorkers to have all of the facts before they opt for replacement.” Experts from The Association for Preservation Technology-Northeast Chapter (APT-NE) and the Historic Preservation Education Foundation agree that restoring original windows may be the best choice – for history, for homeowners, and for their household budgets. Kim Konrad Alvarez, a preservation consultant and Board member of APT-NE who has presented several window repair workshops, notes that, “While destroying an important part of a building’s history and taking up landfill space, the owner who opts for replacement windows will likely spend more money than successful repairs would have required.” According to James A. Cohen, an Albany architect and President of Historic Albany Foundation, the significance of windows in historic buildings is one of the most misunderstood issues of preservation and rehabilitation. “Removal of historic windows significantly compromises the architectural and visual integrity of a building,” said Cohen. “I am delighted that the Preservation League has put historic wood windows on their 2006 Seven to Save list.” Lorraine Weiss, Program Manager for Technical and Grant Programs at the Preservation League, cites a preservation brief from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, which recommends the retention and repair of original windows whenever possible. “The repair and weatherization of existing wooden windows is more practical than most people realize, and too many windows are unfortunately replaced because of a lack of awareness of techniques for evaluation, repair, and weatherization.” “This is an unusual addition to the Seven to Save list since it does not focus on one site or district in particular – instead, it addresses a statewide preservation issue,” explained DiLorenzo. “We hope that through this listing, we can provide information on many options for repair and restoration work which are well within the reach of most property owners.” 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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