Syracuse Sun

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has appointed Kate Auwaerter to the position of Preservation Planner in the Office of Zoning Administration in the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development (NBD). In an official statement, Mayor Walsh announced, "Kate Auwaerter will be responsible for managing the implementation of the City’s preservation program."

Auwaerter, who previously served as both the City’s Preservation Planner and Public Art Coordinator for the last 15 years, brings a wealth of experience to her new role. Mayor Walsh highlighted that the preservation planner role was established as a full-time position with the establishment of the Office of Zoning Administration.

With over 25 years of experience in historic preservation and planning related fields, Auwaerter's background includes positions at various organizations such as the Ohio Historic Preservation Office, the New York Main Street Alliance, and the Center for Community Design Research at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF).

Auwaerter is a graduate of Cornell University, where she obtained her Masters’ Degree in Historic Preservation Planning, and Oberlin College, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in History. She is actively involved in the community, serving as the president and board member of the Thornden Park Association and as a board member of the Syracuse Parks Conservancy.