February 2004 Update
Breckenridge Street Church: We are pleased to announce that the Preservation Coalition has been awarded
grants from the New York State Council on the Arts and from the National Trust for
Historic Preservation. The grants from these prestigious organizations will be used
to support the emerging programs of the Architectural Conservation Fund and for a
plan to preserve the historic Breckenridge Street Church. The Architectural Conservation
Fund will enable the Coalition to implement strategies in the real estate market
that further historic preservation. The Breckenridge Church is the oldest building
in Buffalo built for religious purposes and is associated with the abolition movement
and the Underground Railroad.
Preservation Coalition initiatives are proving successful:
- Erie Canal Harbor:
The Erie Canal Harbor, only after the Coalition's intervention, is now being designed
to provide an historical experience.The project still remains under our watchful
eye.
- Buffalo State Hospital:
New York State has begun and continues the repair and maintenance of H.H. Richardson's
Buffalo State Hospital, as a result of the lawsuit brought by the Coalition. This
is not the first time the Coalition has brought pressure on government agencies to
repair or preserve landmarks; if necessary, count on us to do it again. Demolition
of the Squier Mansion on Main Street was stopped. The owner has made the building
attractive for sale.
Asbury Delaware Methodist Church: The restoration and adaptive reuse of the former Asbury Delaware Methodist
Church by Righteous Babe Records is evident from all over downtown. The Coalition
will literally bask in the glow of our early advocacy for the towering Asbury Church
as our new offices are now located across the street at 340 Delaware Avenue.
Scott Field: Working
at our new location is our new Executive Director Scott Field. Scott has twenty plus
years of experience in historic preservation and community development. Expect that
experience to hone the efficiency and effectiveness of Coalition programs.
The Preservation Coalition of Erie
County consistently and persistently provides the critical work needed to protect
and promote Buffalo's historic built environment. With your support the Coalition
will continue advancing our mission for the benefit of residents, visitors and future
generations.