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 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 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 MoreOn Friday, November 15, the League gathered with friends and supporters in NYC to celebrate our 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Awardees. The 2024 Award winners represent how historic preservation addresses critical issues, including providing affordable housing, boosting economic development, and uplifting underrepresented histories. Each Award winner has had a tremendous impact on their local community, but their work is relevant far beyond that.
Read MoreAdvocating for Wells Barns has been a passion project for Katie Andres for years. And a major part of her advocacy work took the form of the recently-released documentary Still Standing: The Barns of J.T. Wells & Sons. Along with her production partner Jill Kuchman, Katie worked to bring the story of Wells Barns to a broader audience. After Still Standing was named a 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award winner, we reached out to Katie to hear more about her experience in making the documentary and why she continues to advocate for Wells Barns.
Read MoreNow in its 40th year, the League's annual Excellence Awards program allows us to shine a light on the people who are using historic preservation to make all our lives better —through exemplary restoration projects, indispensable publications, individual action, and organizational distinction. This year’s Award winners will be recognized at a public reception in NYC on Friday, November 15. Event details can be found here.
Read MoreRestoration of the Opera Hall performance space was the final stage in bringing this historic structure back to life. The building is now a jewel in the center of town, creating a sense of community pride. Completing the performance hall renovation, preserving the building’s architectural character and history, was like putting the “cherry on the sundae.”
Read More“We are truly humbled and grateful to receive the Preservation League’s Excellence Award,” said Shelley Worrell, Founder of I AM CARIBBEING. “This recognition is a testament to the power of Little Caribbean and the importance of preserving our heritage. We look forward to continuing our mission to uplift and celebrate Caribbean culture, community and commerce in Brooklyn and beyond.”
Read MoreLocated in the heart of Elmira's civic historic district, the Reynold's Way project is comprised of four very different buildings that had all been vacant for many years. Taken together, Reynold’s Way now houses 41 affordable apartments. The work that was done to convert these four separate buildings into affordable housing celebrates the historic integrity of each building and supports the notion that everyone deserves quality living space. Susan Bull notes that, “We are able to serve people who are choosing to live in a community they love by bringing four spaces back to livable (and beautiful) condition. I’m proud to be a part of the affordable housing supply.”
Read MoreSaratoga Springs Preservation Foundation successfully preserved 65 Phila Street, a historic property built in 1851 and later modified to the Italianate style, which had fallen into severe neglect (before and after photos of the front facade shown above). After years of advocating against demolition and working with the city to enforce property maintenance codes, the Foundation acquired the building in May 2021 with the assistance of Mark Haworth, a long-time member of the Foundation. The Foundation undertook a comprehensive rehabilitation, including environmental remediation, structural stabilization, and exterior restoration. Through monetary and in-kind donations, the "Revive 65" campaign raised over $500,000. The project, completed in 2024, removed long-standing blight, increased property tax revenue, and demonstrated the community and economic benefits of historic preservation. The property is now on the market, with proceeds going to the Foundation’s Historic Property Redevelopment Fund.
Read MoreCanal Commons is a $64 million affordable housing project that has changed the Rochester, NY landscape. Located in the historic Susan B. Anthony neighborhood, Canal Commons was a long-vacant historic warehouse building, which has been converted into a 123-unit apartment building. The rehabilitation was made possible through incentives including Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Historic Tax Credits. In addition to providing high quality affordable housing, most Canal Commons apartments are reserved for residents who have experienced chronic homelessness or are in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. The creation of this supportive housing was made possible through the Empire State Housing Initiative (ESSHI) administered through the NYS Office of Mental Health. This project is a mixed-income development that serves families earning up to 60% of the Area Median Income. The project also participated in the NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program and in NYSERDA’s Multifamily New Construction Program, significantly improving the viability of the neighborhood and of Canal Street.
Read MoreCompleted in 2023, East End II is RUPCO’s largest project to date. This $37-million scattered-site development includes 24 building sites spread across a 7-block radius located in New York State’s second-largest historic district. East End II includes the restoration of 10 vacant historic buildings and added new construction on 12 vacant lots – creating a total of 61 new, mixed-income homes plus a community space.
Read MoreStill Standing: The Barns of J.T. Wells & Sons strategically highlights the history, heritage, and present-day plight of Western New York’s agriculturally and architecturally significant Wells barns. This television documentary, produced by Churchbell Creative, LLC., creatively explores ways that remaining barns can regain their relevance through adaptive reuse while fostering community engagement in their preservation before these barns disappear from the landscape entirely due to development, decay, and obsolescence.
Read MoreVacant for many years, the sprawling Moyer Factory complex on Syracuse’s Northside has undergone an incredible transformation into 128 units of affordable housing, including 50 designed for tenants requiring supportive housing. The rebranded Moyer Carriage Lofts is the largest public housing project in the City of Syracuse. The League is thrilled to recognize this this project and the team who made it happen with a 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award.
Read MoreThe restoration of Most Precious Blood Church, an Art Deco masterpiece located in Astoria, New York, was a monumental effort aimed at preserving a historic landmark while ensuring its continued service to the community. Built in 1932, the church is one of the earliest examples of Art Deco ecclesiastical architecture in the US. Renowned architects Henry J. McGill and Talbot Hamlin masterfully blended Art Deco aesthetics with influences from Celtic architecture, creating a distinctive and timeless design.
Read MoreThe Roosevelt Island Lighthouse restoration was completed in 2022 after a years-long project initiated by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. The project included restoring brick, stone, windows, and doors. Site improvements at the Lighthouse include installation of a new metal spiral staircase, new electrical and LED accent lighting, resetting and installation of new and salvaged stone pavers and curb stones, and the installation of new recessed ground lighting and controls. The project was completed by the construction team of The LIRO Group and ICC Commonwealth.
Read MoreEarlier this week, we celebrated our 2023 Excellence in Historic Preservation Awardees with our first in-person Awards ceremony since 2019. It was a sold out crowd, with winners coming from all over the state and other supporters joining us to honor their great work. As League President Jay DiLorenzo said during his opening remarks, winners of the Excellence Award always inspire us — and I think everyone left Monday night’s event feeling that same inspiration.
Read MoreLet’s take a look at the anatomy of an Excellence Award-winning project. The Nash Lofts in Buffalo was treated as a single rehabilitation project, but the building is actually comprised of 4 separate structures that were cobbled together over the years. Years of vacancy and damage made this a difficult project — the complicated nature of the building made it even more so. The team who decided to tackle the project did a remarkable job bringing this anchor property back to active use.
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