Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) is proud to announce the launch of the "Save Our Sacred Sites" initiative. This campaign is dedicated to raising funds to submit local landmark applications for churches within the City of Buffalo that are at risk of closure by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.
The time to take action is now. See below for the preservation campaign details and to select the church (or churches) that you want to help!
Campaign Details:
We (PBN) aim to achieve two key objectives for each church at risk. You can read the list of churches and their historic status here.
- Local Landmark Application: We have 15 at-risk churches without local landmark status. Securing local landmark status will ensure preservation oversight and provide potential tax incentives. Due to time constraints from the Catholic Diocese, we are unable to quickly apply for grants therefore, we are seeking donations to cover this huge undertaking. Your contribution is critical to making this application happen.
- Determination of Eligibility (DOE) Submission: Applying to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) so these churches can potentially access historic preservation tax credits, and other preservation grants in the future. Each local landmark application that is submitted will also get a DOE submittal if needed. Your donation will cover this step.
Note: To be clear: we are a non-profit organization and have no connection with the Catholic Diocese.
Why Does This Matter?
Achieving local landmark status provides crucial protection for our cherished sacred sites. This designation:
- Ensures Oversight: The preservation board must review any significant changes to the building.
- Offers Tax Incentives: Future owners can benefit from tax incentives, making preservation more feasible.
- Enables Further Funding: Opens doors to additional grants and historic preservation tax credits.
How YOU can help:
If the closures impact you or want to help preserve these historic sites, consider donating to our local landmark fund today. Your contributions will support the local landmark application fees, research and documentation efforts, community hearings, communication, and needed preservation initiatives to get the application approved.
Once we reach the funding goal outlined below, we will draft and submit the local landmark application to the City of Buffalo. This ensures critical preservation oversight for the future of these buildings.
Costs and Resources
Each church application requires a $2,500 commitment or more depending on time and research. Here is the breakdown of timing and fees. We are committed to keeping these as low as possible.
- Application Fee from the City of Buffalo: $500 per application
- Staff Time: 30-50 hours, costing $1,000 to $2,000 per application (including community meetings, research, application preparation, communication with everyone, etc...)
- Additional Researchers: Due to the time crunch and small team size, additional researchers will incur extra costs.
Note: While local landmarking is not guaranteed, it is likely to succeed. To learn more about the local landmark process, click here.
Timeframe
Each local landmark application involves:
- Four Meetings: Two at the preservation board and two at the Common Council level.
- Completion Time: 2-3 months, depending on local politics, meeting scheduling, research, and funding.
- SHPO DOE Timing: If adequately funded, we will also submit a DOE application for each church that is not already determined eligible with the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). This review process takes 30-60 days. Note: Approval from SHPO is not guaranteed, but they are prepared to review our applications.
Contact Us
For media inquiries, further information on donations, or to volunteer, please email us at info@pbnsaves.org
DONATE BELOW TODAY!!!