2024 Preservation Merit Awards Ceremony & Annual Meeting
Wednesday, September 25, 2024 • 5:30-7PM
at the Cathedral of All Saints, 62 South Swan Street

Join us to celebrate the best in local preservation!

Since 1976, Historic Albany Foundation has given annual awards for projects, individuals and organizations that demonstrate excellence in and a commitment to preservation. We are thrilled to recognize these individuals and groups for their strong commitment to Albany’s historic architecture, often in the face of serious challenges. We recognize a variety of projects and people each year, from large vacant building restorations to smaller projects that made the choice to repair and restore rather than gut and replace.

This year, we celebrate fourteen projects and three individuals. We are thrilled to recognize two award winning projects that were on Historic Albany Foundation’s Endangered Historic Resources List for over a decade and are now saved! Award winning projects are in the Center Square/Hudson Park, South End/Groesbeckville, Mansion, Washington Park, Washington Avenue Corridor Historic Districts, and newly minted Steamboat Square Historic District in the South End Neighborhood, as well as in the not yet listed Pine Hills and Delaware Area Neighborhoods. The Turner Farm in Loudonville is now an individually listed landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

Schedule of Events
5:30-6PM Light Charcuterie & Sweets Reception
6-6:10PM Historic Albany Foundation's Annual Meeting
6:10-7PM Award Ceremony

Tickets

Congratulations to the
Class of 2024!

Preservation Merit Awards
475 Loudon Road
5 Madison Place
20 Rensselaer Street
48 Second Avenue
50 Second Avenue

Preservation Initiative Awards
30 Cuyler Avenue
Fire Alarm Signal Building, 25 Delaware Avenue
The Woman's Club of Albany, 725 Madison Avenue
41 South Pine Avenue
355 State Street

Certificates of Recognition
60 Chestnut Street
The Black Chamber of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue

Main Street Award
Hattie's Albany, 121 Madison Avenue

Stewardship Award
University at Albany, College of Nanotechnology, Science & Engineering, 135 Western Avenue

Architectural Parts Warehouse Award
Jan Haeck & Kreshnik Kastrati

Katherine Onufer Young Preservationist Award
Sam Wells

Lifetime Achievement Award
Marilyn Kaplan

CATEGORIES OF AWARDS

Preservation Merit Award winning projects are outstanding examples of restoration, rehabilitation or adaptive reuse that inspire other preservation efforts and serve as a model for best practices. These projects often utilize incentives the New York State and Federal Rehabilitation tax credits. Most must overcome several challenges such as vacancy, severe deterioration, development or demolition pressure, or financial hardship.

Preservation Initiative Award winning projects are commendable preservation efforts in which property owners consistently chose to use historic building materials and techniques which are often more time-consuming/labor intensive methods, or to spend more money to be true to the historic character and maintain the architectural integrity of the property.

The Stewardship Award provides recognition typically to an organization for continued efforts in maintaining and restoring a historic structure or landscape (i.e. cemetery, park conservancy) through financial, organizational or physical challenges.

The Main Street Award gives recognition for downtown or “Main Street” revitalization efforts. These projects “bucks the trend” of commercial activities moving to the suburbs and takes the perceived substantial risk of (re)locating in the city core or at the key Main Street locations in struggling neighborhoods.

Certificates of Recognition acknowledges individuals, organizations or businesses who have made a noteworthy contribution to local preservation efforts.

The Sustainable Cities Award applauds the implementation of important urban planning concepts such as successful building reuse, maintaining/recreating density in downtown, and sustainable/green efforts which are not restoration or rehabilitation projects, but are clearly in line with preservation ideals and Historic Albany’s advocacy efforts.

The Katherine Onufer Young Preservationist Award recognizes the efforts of a person 40 or younger who has made a substantial impact on the community and preservation in Albany in general.

The Architectural Parts Warehouse Award recognizes an individual who is dedicated to reusing salvaged architectural parts in restoration and reuse projects. They take the time and effort required to restore, rework, and retrofit old house parts into new uses. Their dedication to retaining the charm, style and workmanship of these old pieces is to be applauded. This person is an exemplary role model for architectural restoration and the use of salvaged materials and Historic Albany Foundation commends their work in this area.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the long-term efforts of an individual who has made a substantial impact on the community and preservation in Albany.