#162: Parrott Hall Progress in Geneva

In early-October The Parrott Hall Coalition announced that Crawford & Stearns, Architects and Preservation Planners LLC, working with engineering firm Klepper, Hahn & Hyatt, are creating stabilization and roof replacement documents for the first phase of Parrott Hall’s rehabilitation. It was a big step, but only part of the true progress taking place at the property that could have easily been demolished if not for local, grassroots efforts. The Coalition announced that Clinton Brown Company Architecture, pc will be completing a feasibility study for Parrott Hall. The project is being funded through the Preservation League of New York State’s prestigious Donald Stephen Gratz Preservation Services Fund, as well as a grant from The Landmark Society of Western New York’s Preservation Grant Fund. In the summer of 2019, the City of Geneva finalized a license agreement with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) to manage Parrott Hall along with the private nonprofit Friends of Parrott Hall. The Preservation League and Landmark Society have joined a memorandum of understanding to their coalition partners stating their support of this preservation initiative. Members of the coalition were granted access to the building in June 2019 and they promptly began working together to assess the building and prioritize emergency repairs. The stabilization efforts that are now getting underway are the first step toward bringing this historic landmark back to active use. Today on The Debrief - a look at where things stand now with Parrott Hall, and what's next for the historic property along North Street. Bob Seem, Vice President of Friends of Parrott Hall and Erin Tobin, Vice President for Policy & Preservation with the Preservation League of New York State give an update on the project, and what local and regional support has meant to it.