The Preservation League was honored to be recognized by our colleagues at the Albany County Historical Association (ACHA) during their "Raise the Roof" Gala on Thursday, November 7. The League was awarded alongside the New York State Library, and the Rapp Road Historical Association, in recognition of their work to promote the rich and diverse history and culture of our region, and more broadly, all of New York State.
Read MoreThe League’s annual grant from the Donald Stephen Gratz Preservation Services Fund was awarded to the Landmarks Society of Greater Utica. The $12,000 grant will fund restoration of the portico at the Miller-Conkling-Kernan Residence at 3 Rutger Park. This 1830 Greek Revival mansion was designed by noted Albany architect Phillip Hooker. Because of its architectural significance and its association with several prominent historical figures, the house is a designated National Historic Landmark (NHL) — one of only two NHLs in Utica.
Read MoreThis Call for Nominations will result in the listing of seven at-risk sites. Sites selected for the Seven to Save program will receive enhanced attention from the Preservation League’s experienced advocacy and technical assistance staff from January 2025 through December 2026.
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 MoreThe Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are thrilled to announce the 2024 Preserve New York grant recipients. At its 2024 meeting, an independent panel selected 21 applicants in 17 counties to receive support totaling $264,388.
“Projects funded through Preserve New York often mark the beginning of bigger preservation efforts, and the League takes tremendous pride in helping to jumpstart this important work,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “We can’t wait to see how this year’s grantees tackle these projects and look forward to continuing to be a resource into the future. We are grateful for the continued partnership of the New York State Council on the Arts, as well as the additional support from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, which makes these grants possible.”
Read Morehe Preservation League of NYS is thrilled to share that three capital projects will receive funding from the newly launched Preservation Opportunity Fund. As Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo said when the grant program was first announced in February, “We have seen a clear need from nonprofits across the state for more grant funding specifically for capital improvement projects. Through our new Preservation Opportunity Fund, we hope to meet some of that need.”
Read MoreKaitlyn Robitaille has nearly ten years fundraising experience, having worked at nonprofit organizations including the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the New Britain Museum of American Art and most recently, Project SAGE, a domestic violence prevention agency in northwestern Connecticut. Kaitlyn has an MA degree from Trinity College in American Studies, a BA degree in history from SUNY New Paltz, and an AAS degree from Dutchess Community College in early childhood education. Kaitlyn lives in Poughkeepsie New York with her husband, daughter, and many pets.
Read MoreSince 2019, the League has been awarding cash scholarships to the best and brightest preservation students studying in NYS. The Zabar Family Scholarship Program was established by former League Trustee Lori Zabar and continues to award students in her memory. This year’s applicants were extremely strong, inspiring a lively discussion among our scholarship jury. The three students receiving scholarships this year truly rose to the top, and we are honored to support them. Get to know this year’s Zabar scholars: Lorraine Colbert (City College), Cecelia Halle (Columbia), and Siena Leone-Getten (Pratt Institute).
Read MoreThe Preservation League of New York State is thrilled to be starting its 50th Anniversary year with a brand-new grant opportunity for New York nonprofits. Organizations with an ownership interest in, or a long-term lease of, a historic property requiring preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation, are invited to apply for the inaugural year of funding for the League’s new capital grant program.
Read MoreThe Preservation League of New York State and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts are thrilled to announce the recipients of their 2023 Technical Assistance Grants. During this grant cycle, 19 projects representing 13 counties across the state have been selected by an independent panel of preservation professionals. A total of $66,576 was awarded.
Read MoreThe League’s annual Pillar of New York Awards allows us to recognize those who have demonstrated remarkable commitment to preserving and celebrating New York State’s rich history. This year’s honorees are no different. We hope you will join us in the Rainbow Room on March 14 as we celebrate four remarkable preservationists – Peggy King Jorde, Richard J. Moylan, and Melissa Auf der Maur & Tony Stone.
Read MoreGrants from NYSCA will fund Preserve New York and Technical Assistance Grants and provide general operating support for the League in 2024.
Read More“The 2023 Excellence Award winners span the state, from Olean to Brooklyn,” said Preservation League President Jay DiLorenzo. “They represent how historic preservation addresses critical issues, from climate action to affordable housing, from spurring economic development to uplifting underrepresented histories. We are honored to recognize the incredible work each Award winner has done for their communities and beyond”
Read MoreCaitlin Meives most recently served as the Director of Preservation at The Landmark Society of Western New York, a regional historic preservation nonprofit based in Rochester that serves a nine-county area.
Read MoreIn the early morning hours of Friday, September 22, plant-like humanoid creatures appeared in the vicinity of Penn Station, drawing attention to proposed demolitions haunting the neighborhood. The Keepers, part of a performance art intervention created by Ed Woodham, have shown up in various gentrifying locations over the past decade. The Keepers appear when life is out of balance with nature. Their presence is a response to the gentrification and rapid mass development of urban areas where the importance of mixed-use districts, the area’s history, and the natural environment has been ignored.
Read MoreThe Keepers is a performance art intervention created by longtime NYC cultural provocateur, Ed Woodham – scheduled for Friday, September 22 in three different locations around the Penn Station neighborhood (The Church of St. John the Baptist, Gimbel’s Skybridge, and the demolished Hotel Pennsylvania). The Keepers September activation has been commissioned by the Preservation League of NYS as part of a New York State Council on the Arts-funded project drawing attention to the League’s Seven to Save endangered historic sites across the state through artistic interventions. The Penn Station Neighborhood, which is threatened with needless and large-scale demolition, was identified as a Seven to Save in 2022. This project is organized in partnership with the Empire Station Coalition.
Read MoreThe League was saddened to hear of the passing of Joan Davidson this past weekend. Joan’s impact was felt far and wide, through her philanthropy at the J.M. Kaplan Fund and the Furthermore Foundation, her involvement in important advocacy in the Hudson Valley and New York City, and her annual Shad Party at Midwood, her home in the Hudson Valley. Joan had served on the League’s Trustees Council since 2011, but her importance to the Preservation League and our programs is much deeper than that. Over the years, Joan played a vital role in supporting some of the Preservation League’s most important programs and initiatives.
Read MoreThe Preservation League of NYS and their program partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) are thrilled to announce the 2023 Preserve New York grant recipients. At its 2023 meeting, an independent panel selected 19 applicants in 17 counties to receive support totaling $279,936.
Read MoreThe League was thrilled to receive a record number of applications for the 2023 Zabar Family Scholarship. Established by former League Trustee Lori Zabar, the Zabar Scholarship has been supporting three students every year since 2019. Thanks to an outpouring of support following the passing of Lori Zabar early last year, the League was able to increase this year’s scholarships to $2,500. The three students receiving scholarships this year truly represent the future of our field, and we are honored to support them.
Read MoreUnderstanding and Advancing the Preservation Trades provides an overview of the current status of these professions in the Northeast, and offers a wealth of insights from tradespeople, educators, workforce development professionals, and preservation specialists. Together, these perspectives inform a variety of recommended actions suitable for individual practitioners, businesses, nonprofits, training programs, and other stakeholders who aim to strengthen the preservation trades workforce.
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