Excellence in Historic Preservation Awards - 1999

The rehabilitation of 33 19th-century row houses in Newburgh for affordable housing. A guide to the Old Croton Aqueduct trailway. A three-decade-long commitment to protecting historic resources in the North Country. These were just a few of the Award-winning projects honored by the Preservation League on May 10, 1999 at Christie's in Rockefeller Plaza. Descriptions of each of the Awards are below.

• By highlighting the best preservation projects in New York State, the League recognizes the dedication and skill of the advocates, architects and the craftspeople that make preservation happen.
• These statewide awards also serve as case studies for neighborhood revitalization, adaptive use, building restoration and architectural excellence.
• The Preservation League awards program is supported by a generous grant from the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation.

The League celebrates projects, individuals and organizations that are doing exemplary work through its Excellence in Historic Preservation Awards.

AWARDS

Friends of Terra Cotta and Columbia University 
New York Architectural Terra Cotta Company Archive Project.  
The archiving of  the records from 6,248 Architectural Terra Cotta Company proposals chronicled and made accessible valuable information for public use and research.

Lander Street Partners
Phase One of Lander Street Houses Project
Phase One of this project completed the careful rehabilitation of thirty-three 19th century row houses in Newburgh that created 64 apartments for low-income families.

Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct
Old Croton Trailway State Park Guide
The beautiful and easy-to-use guide introduces trail users to the natural and historic resources along the scenic footpath connecting the historic river towns of the lower Hudson Valley.

Essex Community Heritage Organization (ECHO)
Thirty years of Historic Preservation Efforts in Essex
The organization's stewardship of the historic resources in Essex began in 1969 when local citizens sought to revitalize their community. Since then, ECHO has created affordable housing, provided technical assistance and training, and revitalized of public buildings among many other projects and programs.   

Graycliff Conservancy
Commitment to Restore Frank Lloyd Wright’s Graycliff
Graycliff Conservancy sprung from a grass roots community reaction to a threatened, Frank Lloyd Wright-designed landmark in Derby, near Buffalo. In less than two years, the all-volunteer organization raised funds to purchase the building, complete a historic structure report, and begin restoration.

NYS Senator John A. DeFrancisco and Assemblymember Peter J. Abbate, Jr. 
Sponsorship of the 1997 Real Property Tax Incentive for Historic Buildings
This law enables local governments to provide a freeze on any increase in property taxes triggered by the substantial rehabilitation of a historic building. Senator DeFrancisco's and Assemblyman Abbate's efforts were sustained over several years and legislative sessions, and their belief in the usefulness of this law never wavered. The law has since been adopted by over a dozen communities, and many others are researching the possibility of adopting the law.

Margot Gayle
Dedication to the Protection and Promotion of Cast Iron Architecture
Margot Gayle has been tireless in her efforts to increase public awareness of the beauty and significance of cast iron architecture. Through her publications and personal involvement in many projects, she has heightened the recognition of cast iron architecture by architectural historians across the state. Her enthusiasm to educate others and her love of architecture is still clearly evident even beyond her 90th birthday.

Clem Labine
Vision in Launching Publications that have Significantly Raised Public Awareness of Historic Preservation
Brooklyn native Clem Labine is the founder of Old House Journal and the founder and current publisher of Traditional Building. Both publications have brought historic preservation into mainstream America, while providing information on restoration techniques, architectural styles, and hard-to-find sources for rehabilitation products.