Q&A with Still Standing Co-Producer Katie Andres

Advocating 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.

Excellence Awards, Voices of PreservationKaty PeaceOctober 8, 20242024 Excellence Awards, barns

Announcing the 2024 Excellence in Historic Preservation Award Winners

Now 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.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, Press Release

Excellence Award Spotlight: Avon Opera Hall

Restoration 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.”

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, Western NY, Opera Houses

Excellence Award Spotlight: Little Caribbean

“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.”

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, brooklyn, NYC

Excellence Award Spotlight: Reynold's Way

Located 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.”

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, Affordable Housing, Southern Tier

Excellence Award Spotlight: Revive 65 Phila

Saratoga 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.

Excellence Award Spotlight: Canal Commons

Canal 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.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, roch, affor

Excellence Award Spotlight: RUPCO's Newburgh East End II

Completed 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.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 2024Newburgh, 2024 Excellence Awards, Affordable Housing

Excellence Award Spotlight: Still Standing: The Barns of J.T. Wells & Sons

Still 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.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, Barns, Western NY

Excellence Award Spotlight: Moyer Carriage Lofts

Vacant 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.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, Affordable Housing, Syracuse, adaptive reuse

Excellence Award Spotlight: Most Precious Blood Roman Catholic Church

The 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.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, Sacred Sites

Excellence Award Spotlight: Roosevelt Island Lighthouse

The 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.

Excellence AwardsKaty PeaceSeptember 10, 20242024 Excellence Awards, NYC, lighthouse

Notes From the Field

Info

Action

Celebrating 50 years // 1974-2024