Tax credits sought for Old First Ward

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - There's a fight heating up to keep Buffalo's historic Old First Ward alive.

Senator Tim Kennedy wants the historic industrial neighborhood with Irish roots, put on the National Register For Historic Places. The Old First Ward helped build Buffalo thanks to the hard work, sweat and endurance of its blue collared families. Senator Kennedy says once the area is placed on the historic list, tax credits will be available for residents to help them preserve and rebuild their old homes and buildings for generations to come.

Old First Wart Community Association Director Laura Kelly said, "History is important. The buildings in this area are important and speak of that history. We have some of the oldest housing and oldest structures in the City of Buffalo this is in a city that has the oldest wooden frame structures in the United States."

Friday Senator Kennedy formed a Green Ribbon Commission that will begin the extensive process of trying to convince the state they should be on the historic list of places.