2007 Preservation Awards
Al Burr and Falcon 81 LLC
Excellence in Preservation Award
For the faithful façade reconstruction of 81 Montgomery Street, a circa-1887 storefront tenement in the Paulus Hook Historic District . The restoration of what was often an overlooked building helps complement other historic properties on this developing block in the historic Paulus Hook neighborhood. Debra David, Architect of Record.
Donald and Mary Mather
Excellence in Preservation Award
For the accurate restoration of 119 Hancock Avenue (at Bowers Street), a circa-1880 storefront tenement in the Jersey City Heights. In a neighborhood where many owners have torn down historic properties, the owners instead chose to preserve. The restoration also included a creative adaptive re-use of the ground floor storefront by tranforming it to a residential unit. Thomas Hilmer, Architect of Record.
St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church
Excellence in Preservation Award
For the spectacular painstaking restoration of the former 1853 Dutch Reformed Church at 109 Grand Street in the Paulus Hook Historic District. The congregation celebrated it's 100th anniversary in grand fashion with this award winning restoration. HJGA Consulting, Architecture and Historic Preservation, Architect of Record
Charlene Burke and the West Bergen/Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association
Theodore Conrad Preservationist Award
The all-volunteer group and its president, Charlene Burke, carries out its ambitious preservation campaign by holding an annual walking tour/open house in conjunction with the Conservancy and the Lincoln Park Historic Trust; conducting district-wide tree plantings; enforcing architectural design standards; and vehemently challenging City Hall-proposed carports.
Adrian Wojnarowski: "The Miracle of St. Anthony"
J. Owen Grundy History Award
An inspiring chronicle of the 2003-2004 season of the St. Anthony Friar's basketball team that defied expectations to put together an undefeated championship season. Wojnarowski's book tells not only the story of basketball season, but also of the lives of the students who have to deal with family hardships while they are getting their education, the selfless dedication of Coach Hurley and his assistants, and the devoted work of the sisters at the school who, despite personal crises and financial difficulties, manage to keep St. Anthony's an affordable parochial school for inner city students.
Hanya Poczynok and Ray Patrick
Preservation Initiative Award
When a developer purchased 140 Columbia Avenue and requested a permit to demolish the building, it appeared that the teardown phenomenon had struck Jersey City again. But this story has a happy ending. Hanya Poczynok learned that the building, her childhood home, was threatened, and at the last minute Hanya and her husband Ray Patrick purchased the property to prevent it from being destroyed. Hanya and Ray plan to preserve and restore the circa 1870 Victorian Pillbox, and hopefully inspire others to preserve their historic homes as well.
Cornelius Parker, Jr.
Jersey City Legend Award
Local business owner , activist, preservationist, and public offiicial, Cornelius Parker, Jr. has made an uncountable number of contributions to Jersey City. At 21 years of age, Mr. Parker became the youngest ever mortician in the state of New Jersey. He operated the neighborhood's funeral parlor for seventy years, a business which has been family run for over a century. Mr. Parker has also been an active member of the NAACP, and has served on the Jersey City Board of Education, the board of the Jersey City Medical Center, and from 1977 to 1981, council representative for Ward F.