Sign In
NY Preservation League recognizes Canal Commons, Avon Opera House, barns documentary
East House officially christened in June Canal Commons, a 123-unit affordable and supportive housing community that was created from an abandoned warehouse in the city of Rochester. (File photo by Kevin Oklobzija)
East House officially christened in June Canal Commons, a 123-unit affordable and supportive housing community that was created from an abandoned warehouse in the city of Rochester. (File photo by Kevin Oklobzija)
NY Preservation League recognizes Canal Commons, Avon Opera House, barns documentary
Listen to this articleThree area projects — Canal Commons in the city of Rochester, the town of Avon Opera Hall and the documentary Still Standing by Churchbell Creative — have been recognized in the annual Excellence in Historic Preservation Award program by the Preservation League of New York State.
The awards shine a light on the people using historic preservation to enrich lives through exemplary restoration, indispensable publications, individual action and organizational distinction.
» Canal Commons is a $64 million affordable housing community located in the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood. East House spearheaded conversion of a long-vacant warehouse into 123 housing units for low-income tenants as well as community members experiencing chronic homelessness or are in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders.
East House was the developer and project sponsor. Other members of the project team included MM Development Advisors, Inc.; Plan Architectural Studio; Hamilton Stern Construction, LLC; Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.; Cannon, Heyman & Weiss, LLP and Knauf Shaw LLP; and Preservation Studios, LLC.
» Built in 1876, the Avon Opera House sits in the heart of downtown and the historic landmark now serves as the town hall, with the third-floor performance space available for events.
The project team included: Whitney East Inc.; Erie Electric; LMC Industrial Contractors, Inc.; NKB Architecture & Engineering; Drapery Industries, Inc.; Illuminated Integration; Logical Control Solutions; village of Avon; Avon Preservation & Historical Society; New York State Assemblymember Marjorie Byrnes; town of Avon Grant Committee; town of Avon; and Livingston County.
» “Still Standing: The Barns of J.T. Wells and Sons” examines the history, heritage and present-day plight of Western New York’s agriculturally and architecturally significant Wells barns.
The documentary, which aired on WXXI Public Media, was produced by Katie Andres and Jill Kuchman, co-owners of Churchbell Creative.
“The nominations that came in for this year’s awards were some of the strongest we’ve seen in the 40 years the league has run this statewide program,” Preservation League president Jay DiLorenzo said in a news release. “Our winners represent the many ways preservation can lift up communities, bring people together and celebrate the diversity of our built and cultural heritage.”
[email protected]/(585) 653-4020
l
