Restoration of The Franklin Building in Watertown to be honored

ALBANY, NY – May 2, 2011 – The Preservation League of New York State has selected the restoration of The Franklin Building in Watertown, Jefferson County, to receive an award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.

The League’s statewide awards program honors notable achievements in retaining, promoting and reusing New York State’s irreplaceable architectural heritage.

“This project presents an excellent case study for one of the League’s signature programs in New York State – Enhancing Main Street: Making Upper Floors Work Again,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. “By assembling a team of experts in the fields of historic preservation, project development, financing and New York State building codes, Neighbors of Watertown ably demonstrates that once-vacant floors above street-level commercial space can offer attractive housing options.”
Contributing to the success of this project were Neighbors of Watertown, Inc.; The Watertown Local Development Corporation; Crawford & Stearns / Architects and Preservation Planners; and Con Tech Building Systems, Inc.. Project funding sources included The National Development Council; NYS Homes and Community Renewal; NYS Housing Trust Fund Corporation; City of Watertown; National Grid; Watertown Local Development Corporation; and Neighbors of Watertown, Inc.

The Franklin Building was constructed circa 1905 as the Franklin Arcade, a retail venture extending from Watertown’s Public Square through to Franklin Street. It was acquired by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) c. 1919 and substantially remodeled with the addition of a gymnasium, swimming pool, activity spaces and sleeping rooms.

By 2003, however, The Franklin Building was failing structurally, and had been a blight on downtown Watertown for a number of years. A major wall at the Franklin Street gym wing was now rotting and collapsing, and water infiltration at the Public Square portion resulted in floor heaving, mold growth and plaster failure. According to Gary Beasley, Executive Director of Neighbors of Watertown (NOW), “We worked with Watertown Local Development Corp., municipal officials, contractors and the architect to clean out water-soaked debris, brace the second floor, and prove to the community that the building was sound enough to proceed. Now, with 16 apartments and 9,000 square feet of retail space, this successful rehabilitation is a point of pride for Watertown and all of the North Country. We are truly honored to receive this award on behalf of the public-minded developers, municipal leaders, state agencies, architects, designers and contractors who worked together to reverse decades of decline and contribute to the revitalization of our community.”

The award will be presented at the Preservation League’s Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony in New York City at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 12th at the historic New York Yacht Club, 37 West 44th Street.

The complete list of award winners is: The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Interior, Albany County; The Franklin Building, Jefferson County; The Knox Building, the New York Public Library Exterior, and Pierpont Morgan’s 1906 Library Interior, all in New York County; 1844 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, Onondaga County; and Montour House, Schuyler County. Uncovering the Underground Railroad, Abolitionism and African American Life in Wayne County, New York: 1820-1880 by Judith Wellman and Marjory Allen Perez will be honored as an outstanding publication. CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity in Syracuse will be honored for organizational excellence. Howard Kirschenbaum will be honored for individual excellence for his contribution to historic preservation in the Adirondack Park.

“In New York State, the preservation and reuse of our historic buildings is fundamental to the economic revitalization of our cities, towns, and villages. The League’s annual Awards program allows us to share preservation success stories that may one day serve as inspiration to others,” said DiLorenzo. “Each year, we are impressed by the number and variety of laudable nominations, and this year was no exception. We are delighted to present this award to neighbors Of Watertown, Inc. for the restoration of The Franklin Building, and to give the effort the statewide recognition it deserves.”

The Preservation League’s Excellence in Historic Preservation awards program is funded by a generous grant from the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation of Miami, Florida.

By leading a statewide preservation movement, sharing information and expertise and raising a unified voice, the Preservation League of New York State promotes historic preservation as a tool to revitalize our neighborhoods and communities, honor our heritage and enrich our lives.