Awards go to Kenmore, Clinton Ave., others
The Historic Albany Foundation (HAF) honored the owners of both single-family homes and renovation projects that relied on millions of dollars of tax credits at its annual preservation awards in September.
The awards ceremony was held in the Kenmore Ballroom at 76 North Pearl St., where owner Redburn Development was recognized for adaptive reuse with tax credits.
Capital Repertory Theatre, also honored by the Preservation League of NYS recently, was recognized for adaptive reuse financed by tax credits as well. Home Leasing was a third taxcredit merit award winner for its $34 million investment in 70 buildings along Clinton Avenue and Ten Broeck Street. The project resulted in 210 affordable housing and mixed-income residential units made up of three studios, 123 one bedrooms, 68 two bedrooms, and 16 three bedrooms.
Additional winners:
368 Madison Ave. in Hudson Park South Historic District was originally built as a three-story brick building with a groundfloor commercial space with a residence above. Many Albanians recognized the boarded-up exterior as the former home of the “Bottoms Up Grill.” In 2018, Mark Parisi bought the debilitated building and hired Albany Artisans to do the work.
Historic Cherry Hill, 523½ South Pearl St., was recognized for another phase of restoration work that has been going on since 2000. This phase was a restoration of the site’s historic interiors; installation of a VESDA fire detection system; and critical “building envelope” repairs that will preserve the structure and protect the restored interiors. HAF recognized not only the work, but the nonprofit’s ongoing stewardship of the one-time family home of Philip and Maria Van Rensselaer.
The owners of 261 State St., David Hinchen and Duane Barker, received a merit award for the rehabilitation of the building, which had been vacant for 20 years when they bought it in March, 2020. The work was not only the make the building livable again, but to restore its original look through salvage and matching.
73 Dove St., in Historic Center Square, is a two-story wood framed building on a stone foundation built in 1845, with a ground-level commercial space and a residence above. Kelly McMurray and Chris St. Cyr bought the building in 2018 with the intention of relocating their design studio 2 Communique. HAF recognized the effort with a
Preservation Initiative Award for Sensitive Reuse of Neighborhood Commercial Building.
Fran and Jordan Stern were honored for a historically sensitive renovation of 24 Ramsey Place.
Mary Ann Hess toured 13 Catherine St., across from the Schuyler Mansion, without knowing anything about its age or history, she just liked the look of it and the price. The pandemic made the renovation work much harder, and Hess faced supply shortages and had to learn a lot of things on her own. She reused everything she could and dedicated herself to keeping the circa-1804 character of the house she calls “Little Blue.” Hess also learned along the way she is not the first Hess in the house. It was once owned by a Catherine Hess. HAF honored Mary Ann Hess with a certificate of recognition for renovation.
Kim Talavera-Brown and Wendall Brown were acknowledged for the renovation work they did on 17 Ten Broeck St. They bought it in 2014 and finished in 2020. They used state and federal historic preservation tax credits for the work, which cost between $80,000 and $90,000.
Rhea Stathatos and York Funding LLC were recognized for the renovation work done to 166 Washington Ave.
Carpenter Julian Richards received the Architectural Parts Warehouse Award for his use of salvaged materials available for sale at the warehouse in his projects.
Kelsea Adams, nominated by the staff at Albany Artisans, where she works, was recognized with the Katherine Onefur
Young Preservationist Award.