The Little Brothel That Could: The Story of 72 Sycamore Street and Eliza Quirk

This guest blog post from Preservation Buffalo Niagara’s Preservation Planner Tabitha O’Connell shines a light on the Eliza Quirk House. PBN is working to restore the historic 1847 rowhouse in downtown Buffalo. In 2020, the League awarded PBN a Technical Assistance Grant to fund a Specialized Conservation Study focused on the building’s exterior brick, and they recently received a $500,000 Environmental Protection Fund grant from NYS to support the necessary rehabilitation work. PBN was also one of the League’s 2021 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award winners and we are excited to share this update from them about “the little brothel that could.”

Take a Tour of Universal Preservation Hall

For one of our final site visits of 2021, we drove up to Saratoga Springs to see the Excellence Award-winning Universal Preservation Hall for ourselves. UPH Director Teddy Foster and LTRW Architect Mark Thaler showed us around — and we took some video so you can check it out too!

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceJanuary 7, 20222021 Excellence Awards

Tour Great Camp Santanoni with Steven Engelhart

If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Great Camp Santanoni, we’ll let this video with Steven convince you to start planning your trip!

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceNovember 18, 20212021 Excellence Awards, Adirondacks

A Few Words About Steven Engelhart, A Great Leader and Mentor

In this guest blog post, Adirondack Architectural Heritage Education Programs Director Nolan Cool shares some thoughts on his colleague and mentor Steven Engelhart. Steven is one of this year’s Excellence in Historic Preservation Award winners and will be retiring from AARCH at the end of 2021.

ICYMI: The 2021 Excellence Awards Program

For the second year, the League brought our Excellence in Historic Preservation Awards online. Our 10 honorees were announced during a Zoom livestream on Tuesday, November 16. League President Jay DiLorenzo, League Board Chair Frank Sanchis, and League Board Member/Awards Committee Chair Charlotte Worthy hosted the program, which you can watch below if you missed it live!

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceNovember 18, 20212021 Excellence Awards

Excellence Award Spotlight: Central Presbyterian Church

What began as a triage approach to repairs ultimately became a comprehensive restoration effort.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards, NYC, Houses of Worship

Excellence Award Spotlight: @syracusehistory

“I’m thankful for all those who have trusted me with their stories and those who have opened their doors to my following – allowing access into places we would never see otherwise,” said David Haas. “With an engaged following whose love for Syracuse matches mine, I can truly say we are making a difference.”

Excellence Award Spotlight: Green-Wood's Historic Chapel

"Preservation is central to everything we do at Green-Wood, whether it's caring for the 478 acres of our living environment or ensuring the structures that mark the landscape are well maintained,” said Eric Barna, Green-Wood's Vice President of Operations.

Excellence Awards, Burial GroundsKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards, NYC

Excellence Award Spotlight: Whitcomb’s Garage Adaptive Reuse Project

“The adaptive reuse of Whitcomb’s Garage shows that preservation, revitalization, and community involvement are intertwined,” said Andrew Buchanan, Vice President of Whallonsburg Grange Hall. “It is an example for rural New York and beyond.”

Excellence Awards, People Saving PlacesKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards, Adirondacks

Excellence Award Spotlight: Preservation Buffalo Niagara

PBN’s diligence, perseverance, and dedication to creating an anti-racist preservation movement is what makes them an exceptional and unparalleled model for preservation in the future.

Excellence Awards, Preservation ColleaguesKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards, Western NY

Excellence Award Spotlight: Steven Engelhart

Steven Engelhart exemplifies the best qualities of a preservationist. He has been the most influential preservation advocate in New York’s Adirondack region in recent decades. With over 40 years of experience in the field of historic preservation, Steven has become a leading voice in preservation efforts throughout this underserved region and a readily identifiable leader in saving its treasured places.

Excellence Awards, People Saving PlacesKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards, Adirondacks

Excellence Award Spotlight: Arbor Gerard Block and the Carroll Street Warehouse Rehabilitation Project

“The creation of affordable housing and artist live/workspaces in such prominent downtown buildings will have positive effects on Elmira for years to come,” said Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards

Excellence Award Spotlight: SUNY Broome Culinary & Event Center

Thanks to a meticulous restoration, this historic building is serving an educational purpose once again as SUNY Broome’s state-of-the-art Culinary & Event Center.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards, Southern Tier

Excellence Award Spotlight: Proctors Collaborative

Proctors is being recognized this year for their dual restoration efforts on behalf of the Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany and Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards, Capital Region

Excellence Award Spotlight: Clinton Avenue Historic Apartments

The Clinton Avenue project involved the careful rehabilitation of 70 historic rowhouses spread across a one-mile span in the Clinton Avenue and Arbor Hill Historic Districts. These buildings now provide over 200 affordable housing units.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceNovember 17, 20212021 Excellence Awards, Capital Region

Announcing the 2021 Excellence Award Winners

This year’s award recipients represent the very best of what the League stands for and supports in historic preservation. It’s not every year that the Awards jury selects winners in each of our Award categories. But this year we celebrate projects, organizations, an individual, and a publication — all of which have profoundly impacted their local communities and are truly deserving of this statewide recognition.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceNovember 16, 2021Press Release, 2021 Excellence Awards, Excellence Award Winners

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Celebrating 50 years // 1974-2024