Listen to this articlePreservation Long Island is honoring individuals, organizations and projects that made significant contributions to preserving historic places and properties with its 2024 Preservation Awards.
“This year’s awardees demonstrate not only excellence in historically sensitive design and rehabilitation, they also represent successful preservation efforts in a wide range of areas that include individual and community-driven leadership for the protection of historically significant sites for public space, as well as the adaptive reuse of historic buildings by local organizations and businesses,” Jackie Powers, Preservation Long Island’s executive director, said in a written statement.
Among the honors to be awarded at the nonprofit’s ceremony and reception at its headquarters at 161 Main St. in Cold Spring Harbor on Saturday, Jan. 25, include the Preservation Awards for Project Excellence, awarded to the Safina Center, Anthony Martignetti and The Church.
A nonprofit nature conservation and environmental advocacy organization, the Safina Center is being recognized for its restoration of the Hawkins-Elzon House located within the Old Setauket Historic District. The Hawkins-Elzon House was restored to serve as the organization’s headquarters.
Martignetti, a restauranteur, author and designer, is being recognized for the restoration of the Mattituck Creek Tide Mill. Constructed around 1822 by Richard Cox, the former tide-powered mill, now owned by Martignetti, has been restored and will open as a restaurant in spring 2025.
The Church, a public arts space in Sag Harbor, is being recognized as an example of adaptive reuse, transforming a 19th-century Methodist church into an arts and cultural hub. Renovated under the leadership of artists April Gornik and Eric Fischl, with design by architect Lee Skolnick, the project preserved the building’s historical essence while introducing modern features like a glass elevator to suit contemporary needs.
The Preservation Award for Organizational Excellence will be awarded to Suffolk County for the preservation of Owl Hill in Fort Salonga. The effort protected the 1907 Owl Hill mansion and 27 acres of open space from redevelopment into a residential subdivision. The Owl Hill preservation was accomplished through the collaborative efforts of Suffolk County Legis. Robert Trotta, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, the Suffolk County Parks Department, Preservation Long Island and community advocates.
The Howard C. Sherwood Award goes posthumously to Brian Pinnola to recognize his lifetime achievements in historic preservation. Pinnola, a former executive director at Cushman & Wakefield who died in Jan. 2024, was a passionate advocate for historic preservation, serving as an active and involved member of Preservation Long Island’s board. As a longstanding board member and past president of The Garden City Historical Society, Pinnola spearheaded the transformation of the 1872 Apostle House into The Garden City Historical Society Museum.
“This year’s awardees highlight the remarkable geographic and architectural diversity of Long Island,” Tara Cubie, preservation director at Preservation Long Island, said in the statement. “What they all share is the power to demonstrate how historic buildings, when approached with vision and a deep appreciation for the past, can be transformed into landmarks that not only preserve history but actively serve and uplift the communities they are part of.”