Bill Text: NY J01243 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 1243 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commending the Isabelle Martin House at Graycliff upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-30 - ADOPTED [J01243 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01243-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 1243

BY: Senator JACOBS

        COMMENDING  the Isabelle Martin House at Graycliff
        upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of
        the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award by the
        Preservation League of New York State

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative  Body  to  commend  the
efforts  of  those  organizations  which  seek  to  bring recognition to
historical places within the State of New York, and in so doing, help to
ensure that the complete history of our State and  Nation  is  preserved
and shared with present generations of citizens; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commend  the Isabelle Martin House at Graycliff upon the occasion of its
designation as recipient of  the  Excellence  in  Historic  Preservation
Award by the Preservation League of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Communities  across  New  York State, from large cities to
rural villages, benefit from historic preservation;  historic  buildings
anchor  communities,  inspire civic pride and drive tourism; restoration
work preserves history, creates jobs and boosts the economy; and

  WHEREAS, The Preservation League of New York State takes great pride
in shining a spotlight  on  those  who  are  leading  the  way  in  this
important  work;  the  Isabelle  Martin  House  at Graycliff is one such
conservancy; and

  WHEREAS, Perched on a cliff high above Lake Erie on the outskirts of
Buffalo, New York, the Isabelle Martin House at Graycliff is one of  the
most  ambitious summer estates Frank Lloyd Wright ever designed, and has
been called "the Jewel on the Lake"; and

  WHEREAS, Completed in 1929,  the  summer  estate,  spread  over  8.5
acres,  includes three structures and gardens of the architect's design;
the main residence is most  notable  for  its  pavilion-like  center  of
transparent  glass,  which  enables  one to see through the house to the
lake beyond; and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore, the building's graceful organic style features
cantilevered balconies, ribbon windows and expansive terraces; and

  WHEREAS,  After  several  decades  of   deferred   maintenance   and
unsympathetic  additions,  a group of grassroots activists came together
to save the property; the Graycliff  Conservancy  formed  in  1997,  and
shortly  after  began  working  with  architect  Dirk  Schneider  of CJS
Architects LLP to begin a thoughtful and extensive restoration; and

  WHEREAS, The Preservation League of New York State awarded Graycliff
a Preserve New York grant and extensive technical services early in  the
restoration process, and named the Conservancy an Excellence in Historic
Preservation winner in 1999; and

  WHEREAS,  A full restoration of both exterior and interior spaces of
this publicly accessible  landmark  was  completed  in  late  2018,  and
remains a museum today; and

  WHEREAS,  The residents of Erie County consider themselves fortunate
to live in a region dense with historical architecture, and to the  many
people who diligently work to preserve those local memories; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity
to express its highest admiration  for  the  Isabelle  Martin  House  at
Graycliff,  and  for  all  of  the  individuals who have worked to bring
proper attention to a place and time which  merits  recognition  in  the
grand  panorama  of the history of our State and Nation; now, therefore,
be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  the Isabelle Martin House at Graycliff upon the occasion of its
designation as recipient of  the  Excellence  in  Historic  Preservation
Award by the Preservation League of New York State; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Isabelle Martin House at Graycliff.