The New York Landmarks Conservancy on April 1 announced the recipients of the 2026 Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards, its highest honor recognizing excellence in historic preservation across New York City.
This year’s Brooklyn honorees include the DUMBO/Vinegar Hill Street Reconstruction, the Gregory redevelopment in Crown Heights, and Mary of Nazareth Parish—Sacred Heart Church restoration.
The large-scale reconstruction of 26 blocks in the DUMBO and Vinegar Hill historic districts modernized aging infrastructure while preserving distinctive historic elements. Granite Belgian block streets, bluestone sidewalks and historic crosswalks were carefully removed and reinstalled, alongside salvaged rail tracks from the long-defunct Jay Street Connecting Railway.
The project, led by AECOM in collaboration with city agencies, integrated updated features such as bike lanes and a central plaza using historically compatible materials, maintaining the neighborhoods’ industrial-era character along the East River waterfront.
In Crown Heights, The Gregory transformed a long-vacant former school into a 40-unit residential building with a mix of market-rate and affordable apartments.
Originally constructed in 1921 and designed by Helme & Corbett, the building underwent a full structural rehabilitation and façade restoration. Developers and architects reused salvaged materials where possible and incorporated additions that respect the scale and context of the surrounding historic district. The project highlights adaptive reuse as a strategy to address housing needs while preserving architectural heritage.
The restoration of Sacred Heart Church focused on stabilizing and repairing the 1877 Gothic Revival structure. Work included rebuilding deteriorated masonry, restoring stained glass and wood elements, reconstructing a damaged rose window and replacing failing roofs. The effort preserved the building’s defining features while ensuring its long-term viability as a community anchor near the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Additional awardees span all five boroughs, including prominent institutions and historic properties. The Conservancy also named preservation leaders and organizations for broader contributions to safeguarding the city’s built environment, underscoring ongoing efforts to balance development, sustainability and historic preservation.
“The Lucys introduce you to great preservation work and the amazing people who made it happen. It’s an uplifting celebration and a great party to boot!,” said Peg Breen, president of The New York Landmarks Conservancy.
The awards will be presented April 16 at Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, an annual ceremony that typically draws more than 500 attendees.
