WOW, what a turnout Thursday October 29th at the Enhancing Main Street: Making Upper Floors Work Again program in the Village of Mt. Morris, New York (.pdf).

Approximately 90 attendees from 11 counties were represented! The program, provided by the Preservation League of New York State , has also been offered as part of The Landmark Society of Western New York’s Annual Preservation Conference (insert link to a save the date/more info coming soon page on LSWNY website?).

Cheers to the Livingston County Development Corporation , the Alliance for Business Growth , and the Empire State Development Corporation, as well as the Livingston County Planning Department , and the Association of Village Boards of Livingston County for their support and understanding of the business of historic preservation!

It was particularly exciting to hear the latest on the increased potential for historic preservation and rehabilitation projects with the enhanced tax credits program that will go into effect in NYS in 2010 ).

There was also some interesting buzz around a project recently completed by a group of concerned and, clearly organized, citizens in Perry, NY. The project discussion came up during the closing question and answer session and I hope to hear more about that initiative at The Landmark Society’s Annual Preservation Conference in Palmyra, NY in April 2010.

Historic preservation promotes job creation and serves as an effective economic engine for a more diverse, and subsequently, more stable, economy…something our upstate NY communities need! In fact, according to the 2008 National Trust for Historic preservation report, “Economic Development: A Vision for the Obama Administration”, historic preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings produces a greater number of both temporary and permanent jobs. For every $1 million spent to rehabilitate a building, there are five more temporary construction jobs and 4.7 more permanent jobs created than with new construction projects alone.

Judging from the turnout, and the projects shared, this is something our upstate NY communities understand, are committed to and are working diligently towards!

Maranne McDade Clay
Landmark Society of Western New York