The Landmark Society’s Preservation Grant Fund committee recently awarded a second round of grants for the 2014-15 fiscal year. The Preservation Grant Fund provides resources for preliminary design and planning studies to help make positive improvements to at-risk buildings. Awards have been earmarked for the following sites:

A $2,500 grant to the Citizens Advocating Memorial Preservation (CAMP), a local citizen group formed to stop plans to demolish The Cattaraugus County Memorial & Historical Building in Little Valley, NY. The Cattaraugus County Legislature has been considering demolition of this unique building, which is a rare example of a war memorial executed as a building, not just a monument (let us know if you know of other war memorial buildings in upstate NY). Landmark Society staff have been advising local advocates who want to see alternative options explored before jumping to demolition. Once the home of the county’s history museum and Board of Elections, the building has been vacant for a number of years. Although some basic maintenance and repairs are needed, the interior remains remarkably intact.

The grant funds will be used to develop a preliminary preservation plan for the 100 year old building dedicated to Civil War Veterans. The work will be performed by Clinton Brown Company, which specializes in renewing historic buildings.

A $1500 grant to the Lyons Main Street Program (LMSP), a designated Main Street program in the Western Erie Canal Alliance (WECA) Main Street Program. Supported by the Town, Village and community, the program is striving to preserve and restore the many historic buildings in the core of the Main Street area. Funds will be used to produce a feasibility study and architectural services for a downtown commercial building on Canal Street. The work will be performed by In. Site: Architecture.

The Preservation Grant Fund committee will consider applications again after the conclusion of the current fiscal year, in July, 2015.