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Landmark Society Calls for More Traditional Trades Professionals to Stem Looming Crisis

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The Landmark Society of Western New York says the Rochester region is at the tipping point of a crisis because of a shortage of workers skilled in the traditional trades.

Carpenters, masons, painters, and professionals who work with stained glass and metal are in short supply as veteran practitioners approach retirement. These are the skills needed to rehabilitate historic buildings in the region.

"This could be an opportunity for jobs and job training for folks in the community," said Landmark Society preservation planner Caitlin Meives.

She says other communities have developed trade schools and preservation skills programs to address the problem.

The Landmark Society has released its annual list of sites in need of revitalization. The “Five to Revive” list for the first time includes a roadway, the 35-mile Lake Ontario Parkway.

"It's the only parkway of its kind in this part of the state,” Meives said. “It's of a certain time period in the 1940s when it was first constructed. It's got lots of unique sandstone structures, bridges and roadside buildings."

Also on the list is the historic former Rochester Brewing Company Complex at 42 Cliff Street. The northern half of the complex was destroyed in a massive fire in 1985.  

As the Wyoming County village of Perry has experienced a resurgence in recent years, there is renewed interest in revitalizing a block of historic commercial buildings on Main Street.  Meives said this would be a big boost for the area.              

"The community has really rallied behind the downtown, but there's still this block sitting kind of dragging the community down, and folks want to see those in a better light."

Another site targeted for renewal is the Dove Block building in Geneva.

"It's one of those buildings the community has had its eye on for a long time and really wants to see it be in a better place and help bring up the rest of the community which is already doing great things.”

Meives said the annual preservation list, which the Landmark Society began in 2013, has been successful in bringing attention and funding to opportunities for targeted, strategic revitalization. She said one example of that is the recent renovation of the Eastman Dental Dispensary on East Main Street. It is now the site of the Eastman Gardens complex, which provides senior housing.  It was developed by Home Leasing, LLC and Edgemere Development.

Beth Adams joined WXXI as host of Morning Edition in 2012 after a more than two-decade radio career. She was the longtime host of the WHAM Morning News in Rochester. Her career also took her from radio stations in Elmira, New York, to Miami, Florida.