For more than 20 years, Ann-Isabel Friedman directed the Sacred Sites Program at The New York Landmarks Conservancy (NYLC) in New York City, acting as a tireless advocate for historic religious properties. Throughout her distinguished career, she provided an indispensable source of financial support, technical assistance, and educational programming for hundreds of religious spaces – not only in New York City, but throughout the State.
Read MoreThe restoration of Untermyer Park and Gardens by the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy began in 2011 with a single gardener and an annual visitation of about 5,000 people. In 2025, Untermyer now employs 11 gardeners and welcomes approximately 350,000 visitors annually. Located on 43 acres in Yonkers, it is one of the few important public gardens nationally that is free of charge to the public. The Conservancy works in a public-private partnership with the City of Yonkers, which owns the garden.
Read MoreThe Cities We Need: Essential Stories of Everyday Places is an expressive book of prose and photographs that reveals the powerful ways our everyday places support our shared belonging.
In this webinar, author Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani shares images and excerpts from the book.
Read More“Receiving this statewide recognition is truly an honor and feels like a meaningful milestone after 25 years in the historic trades,” said Steve Swiat. “This represents not only personal accomplishment, but also the privilege I’ve had to contribute to preserving history across New York State. Having the opportunity to work on some of the state’s most remarkable historic homes have been both rewarding and humbling, and this recognition affirms the value of that work.”
Read More“Our annual Excellence Awards are always a highlight because of how clearly they demonstrate the impact preservation can have in communities both big and small,” said Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo. “Reinvigorating old buildings and stewarding places of cultural importance is a way to build a stronger society and support the people who call these places home.”
Read MoreIn this webinar, author A'Lelia Bundles shares photographs and highlights that went into her new book Joy Goddess, a thoroughly researched biography of the author's great-grandmother A’Lelia Walker. The League's Director of Communications Katy Peace moderated the Q&A following A'Lelia's presentation.
Read MoreThe Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts are thrilled to announce the 2025 Preserve New York and Technical Assistance grant recipients. At its 2025 meeting, an independent panel selected 31 applicants in 20 counties to receive support totaling $347,500.
Read MoreOn August 21, League Director of Preservation Caitlin Meives joined the Eastside Parkways Coalition in Buffalo to share more information with the community about the League’s designation of the former Humboldt Parkways as one of our current Seven to Save. WGRZ News Channel 2 was there to learn more…
Read MorePreservation League of NYS presentation: 2025-2026 Seven to Save statewide distinction for the Full Restoration of Humboldt Parkway.
When: Thursday, August 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Delavan Grider Community Center, 877 East Delavan Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14215
Read MorePreservation League of New York State President Jay DiLorenzo said, “Historic rehabilitation tax credits have proven transformational for communities and Main Streets throughout New York State. Reusing our existing buildings creates local construction jobs, provides space for small businesses, creates much-needed housing, and keeps demolition debris out of our landfills. Enhancements to the New York State program spearheaded by Governor Hochul means that even more communities will benefit from this powerful economic development tool.”
Read MoreIn honor of Bastille Day, Village Preservation has released their latest interactive StoryMap, “French Flats: the 19th Century Innovation that Changed the Way We Live.” Beautifully illustrated with contemporary and historic photos, it shows how an idea imported from Europe utterly transformed New York after the Civil War, with the effects still very much with us today.
Read MoreOn Monday, May 19, the League was proud to present Roberta Brandes Gratz with our 2025 Pillar of New York Award, recognizing her decades of work in support of preservation issues in New York. Many thanks to the hundreds of people who gathered with us in the Rainbow Room to honor Roberta and her incredible contribution to the field of preservation. Thanks to the generosity of the people in the room (and a few from afar), the 2025 Pillar Awards raised over $300,000 to support the League’s statewide work.
Read MoreCheck out this 6-minute documentary to learn more about the Seven to Save-listed New York Amsterdam News!
Read MoreOn June 2, The Preservation League of NYS sent a letter to the entire New York State Congressional Delegation to stress the importance of the Historic Preservation Fund. Along with our Preservation Colleagues, the League is determined that our elected representatives in Congress understand the importance of the Historic Preservation Fund and related programs in communities across New York State. You can find that letter here.
But we also need YOU to raise your voice for preservation and contact your elected representatives.
Read MoreThe Preservation League of NYS has officially opened nominations for their 2025 Excellence in Historic Preservation Awards. The League's annual Excellence Awards program shines a light on the people who are using historic preservation to make our world better — through exemplary restoration projects, indispensable publications, individual action, and organizational distinction. New in 2025: The Preservation Trades Award, honoring individuals or teams that demonstrate exceptional skill, commitment, and creativity in traditional trades practices.
Read MoreIn our Trade Stories video series, we shined a light on what a career in the preservation trades looks like and the tradespeople who do the physical work of repairing and restoring our historic structures. In this webinar, we take a deeper dive into the industry and perceptions surrounding who trades careers are for.
Read MoreHighlights from the 2025 American Historic Trades Summit in Chicago courtesy of the League’s Director of Preservation Caitlin Meives.
Read MoreMeet this year's recipients: Jack Christie (SUNY Alfred State), Sophie Hass (Columbia University), and Elizabeth Kostina (Columbia University).
Read MoreOn Saturday, March 29, League President Jay DiLorenzo took part in Historic District Council’s 2025 conference, “Challenges and Opportunities for Historic Affordable Housing.” Jay spoke as part of the panel exploring Challenges and Opportunities for Historic Affordable Housing, alongside Mark Ginsberg, Founding Partner of Curtis + Ginsberg Architects, Jenna Breines, Director of Real Estate Development at West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, Inc (WSFSSH), and panel moderator Mariana Mogilevich, Editor-in-Chief of Urban Omnibus at the Architectural League of New York.
Read MoreSeven to Save Spotlight: Lower River Street Buildings in Troy. 213-223 River Street are vacant, but make up part of an intact historic streetscape in Troy’s bustling downtown — buildings on both sides are in active use.
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