Buffalo Common Council President David Franczyk has announced a grant for capital improvement in the amount of $10,000 for Corpus Christi Church, to be used toward extensive restoration of the church roof and twin bell towers.
Corpus Christi, which was recently designated a New York State Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was awarded $450,000 for the roof/bell tower project in December 2007 through the New York State Environmental Protection Fund. However, this state funding is both a matching and reimbursement grant, which means that the church must raise a total of $900,000 and complete a considerable amount of work on the roof project before the State will begin payment of its award. The $10,000 local grant will greatly help in the effort to match the State funding.
As noted by Council President Franczyk, “The vital restoration work initiated by the Pauline Fathers and Corpus Christi community to its magnificent church structure is a powerful example that the city can strengthen its neighborhoods through historic preservation. I enthusiastically support these worthy efforts and am gratified to be able to earmark $10,000 in city funding to help move the work forward.”
The roof/bell tower repair is the major undertaking identified in Corpus Christi’s $1 million Preservation Fund Campaign that was launched in 2005. Council President Franczyk’s generous grant, which will be used as a match toward this critical project, is one of several awards which invest in the revitalization of the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood.
10, 000 may only be 10, 000 but it’s better than 0! Another great step for CC and the BF neighborhood in general!