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Neighborhood Preservation Collaborative

June 9, 2005 - Council Chambers


Home Owner Assistance – Harvey Garrett

The regular maintenance and repair costs associated with owning the older homes in the City of Buffalo are always expensive. However, these expenses are even more burdensome for low-income homeowners, especially those in preservation districts where architectural guidelines may prohibit certain cost-effective options. The distinctive character of windows, doors, fascia and other decorative elements is sometimes sacrificed in favor of economic functionality when the repair and replacement costs of vintage elements far exceeds that of their modern counterparts. Other homeowners in Preservation Districts who are unable to afford these additional costs may allow their homes to deteriorate to a point at which repair is no longer an option.

It is our goal to identify funding sources and cooperate with other service providers to assist low-income homeowners with historically appropriate repairs. By providing this “gap funding” it is hoped that the frequency of inappropriate alterations and demolition by neglect will diminish. In addition to financial assistance, we will provide practical advice and guidelines that will help homeowners identify cost-effective methods of preserving the historical distinction of their homes. For example, workshops on paint maintenance, landscaping and various other issues could give homeowners the sills and insight necessary to care for their architecturally significant homes without incurring additional expenses.

Neighborhood Awareness – Tim Tielman

Partnering with residents of historic neighborhoods for the promotion, identification and outreach of heritage sites is paramount to the Preservation Movement in Buffalo, NY. Through effective, open communication, we will foster partnerships that had been previously neglected.

This committee will combine the efforts and talents of our residents with existing preservation organizations and other groups to succeed. The current Preservation Districts in the City need to be promoted to their best potential. This committee will work with neighborhoods to identify the stories behind the scenes and other historic morsels to add flavor to future tourism endeavors and to allow each community to embrace its own history.

The Neighborhood Awareness Committee also will attempt to identify additional sites to be earmarked for recognition, while encouraging teams of citizens and preservationists to devise proactive solutions for their protection.

Evaluations - Scot Fisher

In order to prevent demolition by neglect, it is essential to identify structural issues with our historic buildings as quickly as possible. In all Preservation Districts, the current inspection procedure is to wait for citizen complaint based upon a simple visual inspection of the exterior of the building. By the time the building shows such obvious defects, the structural problems may be beyond repair.

It is far easier to achieve code compliance the sooner any problems are addressed. This committee will take an active role to identify historically significant properties in need of repair and the develop procedures to regularly inspect them so that any building code violations are discovered when they are far less expensive to remedy. This Committee will also establish a dialogue with each building owner and provide assistance, if necessary, to protect each building if it falls into disrepair.

This committee will also team with the adaptive reuse committee to assist building owners in finding creative solutions for properties that can no longer be used as originally intended. With the early and immediate focus the Evaluations Committee will provide, we can eliminate the notion of demolition by neglect in our City.

Comparative Research – Marilyn Rodgers

The Comparative Research Committee will communicate with successful preservation organizations and consider models throughout the United States. Research and evaluation of select and successful preservation initiatives will provide a benchmark for the future of all preservation districts throughout Buffalo.

Subjects of exploration include

• Materials in development or recently launched that preserve the historic, as well as structural integrity of an architectural jewel for future generations
  

• Funding programs form single buildings to entire neighborhoods

• Tourism development

• Partnering processes with other organizations, such as the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning.

Comparative Research will work closely with other committees in both providing necessary information and creating reports from investigations of other initiatives. Dialogue already has opened with the Historic Charleston Foundation, Landmark Society in Rochester, NY and the Chattanooga, TN Preservation League.

Adaptive Reuse – Richard Baer

This committee will investigate the adaptive reuse of existing, vacant or underutilized historic properties into new residential, commercial and combined spaces. We have seen examples of adapting historic structures, even utilizing damaged or near-rubble walls, into ready made, rich interiors while benefiting from century old craftsmanship. Old buildings preserve local culture and identity and create a sense of belonging. In a way, through this recycling, human resource energy is embodied along with material energy. Adaptive Reuse joins the past to be a part of the future, creating important connections through time.

Therefore, this committee will serve as a think-tank to review these models and develop processes, concepts and strategies for the beneficial conversion of existing structures. By effectively shedding our habits of tearing down old buildings and starting over, we can proactively utilize architectural residue from the past as a repository of vast physical, human and cultural energy. And thus, it will provide the City of Buffalo with new residential and commercial opportunities that also preserves one of its greatest assets – its architecture.

Marketing & Development – Dennis Galucki

Marketing our City’s architecture, neighborhoods and park system is imperative to ensure pride in ownership, community and preservation. Many of our existing preservation organizations already provide service through tours, newsletters and other types of presentations. This committee will continue and enhance those efforts by communicating the activities of each group, identifying new landmarks and areas to promote and pooling resources when appropriate.

It will be important for this Committee, in particular, to work with all other committees, particularly Comparative Research and Neighborhood Awareness. This Committee can utilize the experience of successful campaigns form other cities to create a strong image to attract positive attention here. In addition, the educational outreach to those outside of Western New York can and should be provided to those residents living in and around the properties being marketed. Ultimately, this committee can improve Buffalo’s image both here and abroad by promoting both uplifting and nostalgic assets that too few people currently appreciate.

Legal & Professional Research - Richard Lippes

This Committee has been designated to take advantage of the professional and intellectual expertise of local, national and international specialists who may be called upon to assist Housing Court, the Preservation Board and even individual property on technical preservation issues. It will endeavor to identify the best people to address each issue that arises. In addition, it will critically evaluate both the substance and the best policies for our community, based on our own needs and limitations.

This committee will research and evaluate legal and professional tools for historic preservation, so that it can advise Preservation Board and other entities regarding methods and procedures that will not only protect our unique urban fabric but also promote democratic and equitable solutions. It also will work with other committees to address the legality of new programs and efforts, compare our existing legislation with that of other communities and determine whether legislative reform is necessary.

Architectural Salvage – Chris Brown

While demolition should never be the first strategy when dealing with any building in need of repair, it has become a practical reality in our City. If demolitions must take place, one of the three things can happen to the architectural elements within these structures: they are either destroyed and land-filled; salvaged by either demolition companies or completely unregulated third parties to be sold to the highest bidder; or salvaged by a local organization to be used on another property in the City of Buffalo. The aim of this committee is to avoid the first two alternatives and ensure the third.

With the current number of scheduled demolitions, for which there has been no architectural salvage, this committee merits the consideration of the Collaborative. If salvaged elements from Buffalo unique 19^th Century housing stock can be reinstalled into other City homes, which require period elements for restoration, this recycling can motivate all residents to enhance their homes and property values while providing the extra lift for neighborhoods and overall housing stock.

This committee will first define its role to ensure that its goal can be attained without encouraging demolition and will then seek to create the challenging process necessary to remove significant elements safely before demolition, protect them for future reuse and ultimately transfer them to appropriate properties.