The Village of New Paltz Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) made two “Partners in Preservation” awards at the January 27 village board meeting. Awardees were cited for their proactive approaches toward improving the village’s built environment. They join a growing number of property owners in New Paltz Village who have been recognized in years past.
Since 2010, the Historic Preservation Commission has recognized village property owners who have made significant improvements or have maintained their homes or places of business with particular care. Past recipients include Elise Bacon, Mike Beck (P & G’s), Isabella Chisena (Isabella’s Treasures and Isabella’s on Main), Robert Downs (Cafeteria), Floyd Kniffen, Vanderlyn R. Pine (126 Main Street), Lagusta Yearwood (Lagusta’s Lucious), the State University of New York at New Paltz, Julie Safran (Verde), Michael Kilmer and Alan and Margarete Stout (The Bicycle Rack), St. Andrew’s Church, the New Paltz Community Improvement Team, Carmine and Debbie Russo and Phil Costas (Russo’s Italian Deli), Walter Marquez (Water Street Market), Kelly and Sean Hoolihan (Shapers), David Santner and Alan and Margarete Stout (The Bakery), Stephen McMaster, The Mountain Laurel Waldorf School, Allen Ross Architecture and Andrew Willingham of Willingham Engineering.
The first award went to Ingrid Gersiek, owner of Little Light of Mine Village Candle at 8 North Front Street. She was honored for improvements to her property’s exterior in the North Front Street business district. HPC chair Thomas Olsen commented, “We wish every small business owner cared about exterior space as much as Ingrid does. Thank you, Ingrid, and keep the light shining!”
The second was given to Mark Eisenhandler and Deborah Healy, homeowners at 22 Prospect Street, for their exterior improvements and lush garden plantings. Olsen remarked, “It’s rather unusual for us to make awards to homeowners, as opposed to businesses, but in this case it’s richly deserved. Deborah and Mark have really made 22 Prospect an inviting and well-preserved place, without sacrificing the New Paltz funkiness that we all appreciate — more proof that historic preservation takes many forms! Their neighbor and house painter Moustapha Diedhiou gets a big assist on this award for his work repainting one of New Paltz’s most notable purple houses.”
Learn more about the Partners in Preservation award and local historic preservation efforts on the Historic Preservation Commission webpage www.villageofnewpaltz.org/historic-preservation-commission/ or by contacting the Commission at hpc@villageofnewpaltz.org.
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