Preservation Long Island is pleased to present a 2020 Project Excellence Award to the Village of Sea Cliff‘s Window Restoration and Façade Rehabilitation at the Sea Cliff Firehouse.
We’ve partnered with Chris Kretz of The Long Island History Project to celebrate our 2020 Preservation Awards with a new podcast series. Listen to a podcast with Erinn McDonnell, Sea Cliff Village’s project manager and grant writer:
This project involved restoration of nearly 100 original steel casement windows and surrounding masonry. In addition to preserving the structural and historic integrity of this working firehouse, the project increased energy efficiency. Prominently located at 69 Roslyn Avenue, in the heart of downtown Sea Cliff, the firehouse has served as the headquarters of the volunteer fire department and emergency responders for over 85 years. Built in 1931, this Tudor Revival-style firehouse is a locally designated landmark and listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. The building was designed by Meyer & Mathieu, a Brooklyn-based architectural firm known for their 1920s/30s churches and large civic structures.
Old windows are one of the most visible and significant elements of historic buildings, yet they are frequently replaced rather than restored. Likewise, old firehouses are often replaced rather than restored due to perceptions of inefficiency and lack of funding. This project exemplifies how restoration of old windows and old firehouses can be a worthwhile and cost-effective investment for communities, providing an excellent model for the public planning, grant funding, and completion of a major restoration project at a functioning historic firehouse. Funding for this project included $370,000 in grants from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and a $125,000 state grant secured by New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine. The New York City-based firm of Architectural Preservation Studio served as project consultant.
The project also created an opportunity to highlight the work of local artists. Five painted panels by James Roth, a recent North Shore High School graduate, were temporarily installed while the windows were removed for restoration. Image courtesy of the LI Herald Gazette.
