We had a great meeting on Tuesday, if you missed it, here are the meeting notes. The next meeting is Tuesday, June 12, 7-8:30pm. Please attend and bring a neighbor!
Community Council Meeting #13 – Meeting Notes
Tuesday, April 10, 2012, St. John’s-Grace Church,51 Colonial Circle
Welcome/introductions 7:00 p.m.
PART 1: OPERATIONS
Project Progress Update
Funding Update:
Ken reported Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) has contracted with CBCA for National Register nomination services. Funding is PreserveNY ($7,500), Common Council members LoCurto ($5,000) and Rivera ($3,000), Baird Foundation ($5,000), Ken’s offer of a $4,500 no-interest loan, only if needed and D-B Trust ($5,000), which Ken and Rev. Dougharty had contacted last summer. PBN has declined to apply on our behalf to the Oishei Foundation for funding. Alma will complete an application from St. John’s Grace Church. Sen. Grisanti, Assembly Member Ryan and Sen. Kennedy will be asked for funding too. We will call on Sen. Kennedy to welcome him to RANHDI.
Project Work and Schedule:
Alma reported field work and resources descriptions completed: 2,244 buildings and objects surveyed, with 1,971 deemed “contributing” to the character of the district. More than 1,700 owners. CBCA Architectural Historian Jennifer Walkowski is finalizing initial phase of research, beginning writing. RANHDI residents Cynthia VanNessat the Historical Society and realtor and volunteer Lidia Invernizzi at the Library have greatly helped.
The name is Elmwood Historic District (West). That has been its historical name during its development between the Civil War and World War II. No one has researched before how this area of the city came to be. It is a a fascinating story that will be told at the minimum for the nomination and also deserves further telling over time. CBCA’s Meagan Baco is producing maps with assistance from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).
We are on schedule for late May draft submission to SHPO, which will recommend the listing of the district to the State Register of Historic Places by the State Board for Historic Preservation at its September meeting. That Board’s positive action will qualify historic homeowners for the state tax credit. As is the normal process, the SHPO will hold a public meeting to hear comments, likely in late July. They will notify all property owners by letter of the proposed district’s coming before the Board, and will ask for comments. The nomination will then go to the National Park Service for listing in the National Register, likely in 2013.
Political/Business:
Ken reported Elmwood Village Association has not changed its stance on RANHDI. They have a search underway for a new Executive Director. Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is very supportive.
Clint reported legislation is being drafted to extend the state tax credit program to 2019. He will recommend that all census tracts in the City of Buffalo be declared eligible. Tony reported that Nadine Marreo is the new City Hall historic preservation compliance person.
Ken stated that it is time to meet again with State Senator Grisanti. Tony reminded the group that Sen. Kennedy now represents some of RANHDI.Almareported that Sean Ryan remains interested in helping with a community meeting (see above).
Elmwood Bidwell Farmers Market:
RANHDI can have one Saturday each month. Signed up are May 26- Alma Brown, June 23 available, July 28 – Connie Gerbush, August 25 – Ken Rogers, September 22 – available, and October 27 – available. These are an opportunity to help people learn about and access the tax credit program.
Finances:
The account balance is about $650. The account is dormant for now.
PART 2: ISSUES 7:45 p.m.
Issues #1 – Community Sponsorships:
Ken reported that St. John’s-Grace Church has renewed its commitment to RANHDI for another year. This is greatly appreciated by all, as has been the Church’s leadership and allowing themselves to be our home.
ISSUE #2 – Tax Credit Workshop for Homeowners:
Alma is working with Assembly Member Ryan, who is very interested in being a sponsor, on presenting with Darren Dowdell as host, a tax credit access workshop. The event will likely take place on a Thursday evening in late May.
PART 3: NEXT STEPS AND FOLLOW-THROUGH
Richmond Avenue Street Lights:
Tony reported that the City bid the project to upgrade streetlights to an “Olmsted” fixture betweenSymphony CircletoFerry Circle.
Street Trees:
Ken reported on communications with city forester Andy Raab who has a plan for improving the city’s street trees over time.
The Community council will meet bi-monthly unless otherwise necessary.
NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 7:00 PM at St. John’s-Grace Church
ADJOURN 8:15 p.m.
