2025 Five to Revive
Launched in 2013, The Landmark Society’s Five to Revive list calls attention to sites across our region in need of rehabilitation. Through this list, the organization strives to facilitate investment and to protect our area’s architectural heritage, working with owners, developers, investors, and other partners to create connections and reactivate buildings within their communities. These sites can serve as catalytic projects for surrounding neighborhoods, inspiring communities to reinvigorate and reinterpret their historic assets while leading the way for preservation advocacy and vitality.
We invite you to learn more about the 2025 Five to Revive below.
Bellona Mill
Hamlet of Bellona, Yates County
The hamlet of Bellona in Yates County, with a population of just over 100 individuals, remains the home of a large stone mill dating to 1828. Standing on the banks of Kashong Creek, from which its stones were quarried, the building was originally a grain mill. Now, the structure is unused, although a new roof was added within the past few years and has prevented the building from falling into complete disrepair. The site is a rare, intact example of the many stone mills originally found throughout the Finger Lakes region.
In November of 2024, community members became concerned over potential threats to the mill; there was discussion of selling and leveling the structure to make way for a new business. When this concern was publicized, there was intense public outcry to defend the site, calling for the redevelopment of this historic landmark. In response, the owner has decided against selling the building, and he has stated that he is open to a potential business partner to assist in adapting the site. The building provides a great opportunity for historically sensitive rehabilitation and could serve as a hotel, winery, events venue, or other attraction with the increasing development of tourism in the Finger Lakes. Located just a five-minute drive away from the shores of Seneca Lake, the Bellona mill stands out as a unique example of the region’s architectural past.
Mid-Century Modern Round Banks
Monroe County
Rochester was home to approximately 14 mid-century modern round banks built between 1968 and 1974. Characterized by traditional mid-century modern features, including large windows, flat roofs, and clean lines, the banks are credited to architecture firm Pioch & Mellen and were originally built for Columbia Bank. Approximately half of these buildings have been demolished, with one location in Brockport currently set to be torn down to make way for a Chick-Fil-A. Despite this, many of these unique structures hold strong redevelopment potential. Notable examples include a location in Corning, NY, which was successfully transformed into “The Crystal Bucket KFC,” and another in Greece, NY, repurposed as a nail salon. Additionally, several of these buildings continue to operate as bank branches for various financial institutions.
With many round bank buildings already demolished and another slated for removal, it is crucial to emphasize the historic significance of mid-century modern architecture. As we enter an era where structures built within our own lifetimes are gaining historic importance, awareness and preservation of these architectural icons becomes increasingly vital.
Wells College
Village of Aurora, Cayuga County
After 156 years of operation, Wells College on the shores of Cayuga Lake announced its closure and listing for sale this past year. The college is home to many National Register buildings, including an 1852 Tuscan villa, 1858 Gothic Revival home, and the 1890 brick main building. The 1968 Brutalist library has also been designated as a local historic landmark.
Unfortunately, as part of the closure Wells College decided against turning on the heat in many of its buildings this winter, and they also turned off all water and drained the pipes, creating potential for mildew and rot as well as damage to structures and artifacts. There is no way of knowing the true damage until the end of winter, but we encourage better care of the site, both by its current trustees and future owner. The college’s historically significant architecture has made it a key landmark for the town of Aurora.
The campus is currently up for sale by CBRE of Syracuse, and Cayuga County has assessed the campus at $8.5 million. Nearby colleges have been notified, and there appears to be some initial interest for use as a boarding school, while other ideas are being circulated among advocate groups. For now, the duty to protect the college’s significant physical assets falls to the college’s trustees, and their decisions will impact the local community. The economies of small college towns, especially those in primarily rural areas, are highly tied to the activities of the college and its students. Better care and rehabilitation of this historic campus could stimulate the local economy by providing jobs and generating business.
Cox Building
City of Rochester, Monroe County
Downtown Rochester’s historic Cox Building has been a site of contention for many years. Built in 1888, the Romanesque style building was listed on the National Register in 1984. It was originally constructed as a shoe factory and served mostly manufacturing purposes throughout the 20th century. The building even survived the biggest fire in Rochester’s history, which destroyed several neighboring properties, in 1904.
The seven-story building has since fallen into disrepair, but its location in the heart of downtown provides a key opportunity for development. The conversion of industrial spaces into commercial or residential sites has proven popular and successful in many Rust Belt cities, including at Fairport’s Cannery development and in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. The restoration of the Cox Building, especially its beautiful Romanesque exterior, would reinvigorate the area.
Traditional Neighborhood Commercial Corridors
Thematic Listing
Often developed in the early to mid-20th century, traditional neighborhood commercial corridors are similar to traditional Main Streets, but smaller in scale and distributed throughout the urban environment. These centers are characterized by mixed-use commercial and residential buildings that directly front the street and are commonly two stories in height. They provide a setting for critical functions of healthy communities by fostering population density, enhancing walkability, and acting as incubators for small local businesses. Barber shops, florists, professional offices, restaurants, delicatessens, bookstores, hardware store, the local pub – all of these and more can be found on the commercial corner or the central blocks of our neighborhoods. As a bonus, many of these structures are architectural gems that help define and enhance neighborhood identity.
But the viability of traditional neighborhood commercial areas cannot be taken for granted. They face a range of pressures, such as ongoing prioritization of parking, a lack of residential upgrading needed to compete in a competitive market, and digital threats to brick and mortar retail. Many simply lack fundamental maintenance and upkeep, either entirely or that is sympathetic and appropriate to their historic character. For decades, these streets served as the beating heart of their communities. Now, the health of these unique, historic, urban resources is critical to the livability of the neighborhoods that surround them.
