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Buffalo Preservation Board
* The Buffalo Preservation Board is an agency of the City of Buffalo. It is administered by the City of Buffalo Office of Stategic Planning located at 901 City Hall, Buffalo, NY 14202. The following information is provided as a service of Preservation Buffalo Niagara. Questions or requests for further information should be forwarded to the Buffalo Preservation Board at (716) 851-5029 or mbrozek@city-buffalo.com.
The Buffalo Preservation Board was created with the main purpose of preserving and protecting buildings, sites, and districts that are of historic and cultural value to the people of the City of Buffalo. The Buffalo Preservation Board is a New York State Certified Local Government (CLG) and maintains its certification through the New York State Historic Preservation Office.
According to Chapter 337 of the Buffalo City Charter, the Board has the authority to approve or disapprove certificates for alteration, restoration, renovation, relocation, demolition or site improvement of local landmarks or properties within local historic districts if such work affects the exterior of the structure. New construction in local historic districts is also reviewed. As per Chapter 103 of the Buffalo City Charter, all demolition applications are also reviewed.
The Board refers to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Related Guidelines when reviewing applications.
Buffalo also has many buildings, sites, and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as individual National Historic Landmarks. The Buffalo Preservation Board does not review alterations to these properties, unless they are also local landmarks or within local historic districts. These properties, may however, be eligible for Federal Historic Rehabilation Tax Credits or New York State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits and other advantages.
The role of the Buffalo Preservation Board also includes these additional duties:
- To conduct an ongoing survey and inventory of historically and architecturally significant properties, structures and areas that exemplify the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the nation, state or city.
- To develop appropriate standards and guidelines to assist property owners in preservation, restoration, rehabilitation and reconstruction of landmarks, and properties within historic districts and the design of contemporary structures within historic districts.
- To prepare and update preservation plans to guide the preservation and future development of landmarks, landmark sites and historic districts.
- To recommend nominations for landmarks, landmark sites and historic districts to the National Register of Historic Places and review and comment on any National Register nominations submitted to the Preservation Board. Anyone may prepare a local landmark nomination. An application should be prepared and submitted, and several steps will occur before City of Buffalo Common Council designates a property as a local landmark.
- To increase public awareness and broaden knowledge of the value of historic architecture and cultural preservation within the city.
Buffalo Preservation Board Procedure for Certificate Review
Below is a general guide for understanding the procedure for obtaining a certificate from the Buffalo Preservation Board. Click here for a more detailed procedural chart.
- File building permit application at 301 City Hall, online.
- Determine whether your property is a landmark or located within a historic district. You may call the Buffalo Preservation Board Office at 851-5029 or see historic district maps below.
- Consult with staff to ensure project will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. (This step is optional, but recommended).
- Complete Preservation Board and SEQR applications and submit all necessary information and payment to 901 City Hall. See links to applications below.
Buffalo Preservation Board Application
Preservation Board staff will contact you to explain the process for review. You may be asked to provide further information, it may be possible to approve your project at the staff level (if you are proposing a small repair or an in-kind replacement), or your project may be scheduled to be reviewed at an upcoming Preservation Board meeting.
Meetings
The Buffalo Preservation Board meets every other Thursday at 3:00pm in 901 City Hall to review. Click here for a schedule of upcoming meetings.
Buffalo Preservation Board Members
The Buffalo Preservation Board is comprised of eleven members who have demonstrated an interest in the history or architecture of the City of Buffalo. The Mayor appoints six members, the Common Council President appoints three, and the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier and the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society each appoint one member.
Buffalo Historic Districts
Allentown- Certified Local Preservation District
Allentown- National Register Historic District
West Village- Certified Local Preservation District
West Village- National Register Historic District
Hamlin Park Local Preservation District
500 Block of Main Street Certified Local Preservation District
Linwood Certified Local Preservation District
Delaware Local and National Register Historic District
Cobblestone Local Preservation District
Theatre Certified Local Preservation District
Joseph Ellicott Certidfied Local Preservation District
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