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"Because it was developed in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the neighborhood could be eligible for the National Register," explains Tom Yots of Preservation Buffalo Niagara. "That would mean tax credits for people working on rehabiliation projects on their properties of up to 20 percent."
Yots says it was suggested the district be divided into two parts, Elmwood West, and Elmwood East, to make it easier for the district to become part of the National Register.
The boundary of the Elmwood Historic District (West) is roughly, Forest Avenue and the Richardson-Olmsted Complex to the north, then along the west side of Elmwood Avenue south to Summer Street and both sides of Richmond Avenue to the west, including all of Dorchester Road west to Baynes Street.
The boundary of the Elmwood Historic District (West) is based on thematic and geographic boundaries, including the design of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Buffalo Park and Parkways System and the development of high-quality speculative housing that developed around the sough-after area. The final historic district boundary will be determined by expert preservation consultants in consultation from the State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service.
The significant themes discovered during the historic research for Elmwood Historic District (West) have been shown to stretch beyond the current Elmwood Avenue boundary ending further east at Delaware Avenue. This ares of over 2,000 properties has a similar development period and was also influenced greatly by Olmsted’s plan. That is the proposed Elmwood Historic District (East).
The first of two meetings was held Monday at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society for residents within the Elmwood Historic District East. The second meeting for residents within the Elmwood Historic District West will be held Tuesday at Pilgrim-St. Luke's United Church of Christ at 7pm.