1/02/2010

Buffalo and the National Register

If you're looking for an authoritative list of Buffalo's National Register properties, look no further - wiki project National Register of Historic Places in Buffalo, New York. The site is maintained by Ted Hull who reached out recently while looking for some East Side pics.
Ted grew up in Tonawanda and finished a program at UB in geography. He left the area in 1986 and completed his Masters at the University of Washington in the same field. He has worked at the National Archives since 1990 as an archivist. In a telephone conversation with Ted this afternoon he described himself as one of about 100 volunteers doing this work on a national basis - here: wiki project National Register of Historic Places. The wiki is peer reviewed.
As for my interest in Buffalo, I am a native of the city of Tonawanda. In junior high, I developed an interest in history and genealogy. My mothers family settled on the old East Side in the 1840s and lived in that area for over 100 years. From that, I have had an interest in historic buildings and the changing urban landscape. In 2008, I "discovered" the Wikipedia National Register of Historic Places project and have contributed well over 1,000 "stub" articles and over 100 photos to that effort. These have included sites in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Ted updates the Buffalo wiki on a regular basis, most recently two weeks ago, with data sifted from this site maintained by New York State's Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation. Ted also maintains the Niagara County wiki.
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4 comments:

M Rodgers said...

Excellent collection site. As we know, there are more structures that could and should be on the Register, and could and should be rehabilitated. Hopefully, our system of code enforcement will propel us to greater preservation the right way.

Anonymous said...

"our system of code enforcement"?!? you must be joking.

Here's what I see as Buffalo's "system of code enforcement."

1. Citizen complains about obvious and legitimate violation of building code leading inevitably to structural damage to building.

2. Inspector writes violation with overly long 'call back' period for property.

3. Call back is never made.

4. Citizen complains again.

etc. etc.


Some months before the Livery debacle I complained about the building and stated that I feared this was another case of demolition by neglect. The response from Inspections was categorical that this was not going to be the case.


Maybe I have just encountered exceptionally poor inspectors, I know there are others who do their jobs as best they can within the parameters of politics and Housing Court.


I've lost track of the number of unpermitted and inappropriate modifications that have been allowed to stand to properties in the Allentown Preservation District.

jerome said...

Somebody please get the Statler on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mark said...

in 2007 during an artspace neighborhood tour i was telling you briefly about my dad's co-worker at the archives who reads your blog religiously...that is him.