The Arcade Building as it originally appeared when first built in the late 19th century. (Source: PreservationReady.org)
JAMESTOWN – The historic Arcade Building in Jamestown is one of the highlighted buildings on the 2018-2019 “Seven to Save” list that will be featured in a lecture by Frances Stern, Manager of Technical & Grant Programs for the Preservation League of New York State.
The lecture, titled “Road Map to Preservation” will be presented on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Jamestown.
The presentation will be accompanied by Christiana Limniatis, Director of Preservation Services for Preservation Buffalo Niagara.
The program, which is being co-sponsored by St. Luke’s, the Fenton Historical Society and the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation, will cover all aspects of historic preservation in NYS on a general level and would be useful to anyone who is interested in preserving old structures, whether they are commercial, residential, or utilized by a cultural group.
According to a study commissioned by the Gebbie Foundation in 2017, the Arcade Building is in fair to good condition structurally, in regard to foundation and walls. But, the study also found that there are multiple points of water infiltration throughout the building and the structural integrity of the various floors has become compromised. In addition, most windows are broken or missing.
As part of the study, costs were determined based on three scenarios: demolition, stabilization and renovation. The cost to stabilize the building was estimated cost of $1,455,000. The estimated cost for demolition was $1,708,000. The estimated cost for the renovations was $16,420,000.
Immediately following the lecture attendees will be invited upstairs for the unveiling of the travelling exhibition “Hidden in Plain Sight”, a series of stunning black and white photographs of the featured buildings done by Bruce Harvey Ph.D., consulting professional historian and documentation photographer based in Syracuse. The exhibit, which has been on display in the Preservation Leagues Albany Headquarters since November 2018, is now being shown at several venues over the next few months to reach more audiences across the state.
The Hidden in Plain Sight traveling exhibition is sponsored by Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, Gray Slate Partners, Consigli, PBDW Architects, Phoebe Powell Bender, Matthew Bender, Reverend Dr. Thomas F. Pike, and Michel & Caroline Rob Zaleski.
“It is part of the Fenton’s mission to educate our region about how the pragmatic and ongoing preservation of historic resources impacts and supports a community.” says Noah Goodling, Executive Director of the Fenton. ”We hope that this program will energize the citizens of Jamestown and help connect them to the resources they need to get involved in preserving our beautiful historic downtown.”
The Preservation League of New York State has highlighted NY’s threatened historic sites since 1999 through the Seven to Save list, which provides enhanced services from the League to bolster visibility and build support for preservation. Through the Seven to Save program, the League has worked with local stakeholders to avert demolition, develop plans for reuse, secure landmark designation, and foster greater public awareness of the value of New York’s unique and irreplaceable historic resources. Threats to dozens of at-risk buildings, landscapes, downtowns, and neighborhoods have been reduced, and in many cases, eliminated by the Seven to Save designation and subsequent actions.
Founded in 1974, the Preservation League has built a reputation for action and effectiveness. A leader in advocacy, economic development and educational programs across the state, their goal is to preserve historic buildings, districts, and landscapes, to “build a better New York, one community at a time.”
St. Luke’s is located at 410 North Main Street. The lecture will be held in the Undercroft, which is accessible via 4th Street. There is no charge for the event, which is open to the community. For more information, call 716-483-6405.
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