GREENFIELD — Mark Zaccheo and Barbara Nichols, who completed several local projects together over the years, have been recognized by the Historical Commission for their work renovating local buildings while also maintaining their historic integrity.

The Peter S. Miller Award, presented by the Historical Commission, aims to promote the history of Greenfield and reward residents and businesses who restore homes or buildings “with a consistent eye toward preserving historical accuracy.” Peter Miller, who died in 2021, served on the commission for many years, was president of the Historical Society of Greenfield, and was widely known as an expert on local history and photography.

“As I’m a native to California, Peter Miller patiently and proudly shared with me about Greenfield’s rich history and occasionally surprised me with a post office delivery of a historic postcard, old photos or a vintage newspaper article about a building that Mark and I owned,” Nichols recalled. “History is all around us; it connects us to one another. It deepened my appreciation for those who walked before me in these special places.”

Though Nichols is no longer involved with Olive Street Development, the company that Zaccheo continues to oversee, Nichols said it was an honor to be recognized with the award. She oversaw day-to-day operations including finding new building occupants, bookkeeping and resident correspondence.

“We really appreciate it,” Zaccheo said of receiving the Peter S. Miller Award. “It’s nice to get the recognition.”

According to the Historical Commission, renovations overseen by Zaccheo and Nichols have combined a sense of the historical nature of the buildings with the latest in energy-saving technology. Several of the projects have allowed important structures to be preserved, rather than demolished and replaced.

“[Historic buildings] often have really good bones,” Zaccheo said. “It’s hard to create something that looks better than something that was really well designed and had a lot of attention to detail.”

Some projects include the former Mix ’n’ Match building at 30-32 Olive St., which is now a mixed use commercial/residential building, and the former Conway Street School, which was converted into a high-end, environmentally friendly building.

“We worked hard to try to keep some of the history of the buildings,” Zaccheo said. “Although we focus quite a bit on energy efficiency, preserving as much of the historic nature has been really important to us.”

Zaccheo’s current project is at 14 Hope St., the building previously owned by the Greenfield Recorder, which now rents office space there.

“It’s a cool little gem hidden in the back of an alley,” he said. “I love how they sort of put one building and then they built another building and a third building and a fourth building at all different times, connecting them all. I really think of it as a bunch of different buildings because of the history of additions. … That’s a particular challenge of this building. You’re integrating architectural styles from different centuries.”

He’s also working in partnership with his brother, David, on the renovation of the former Center School on Montague City Road.

“They’ve got a heck of a record of taking buildings and, in some cases, keeping them from being razed and then turning them into a valuable building, with zero energy [or emissions], bringing tax dollars to the town,” Historical Commission member Tim Blagg said of Zaccheo and Nichols. “I think that’s an admirable record. … I think that’s a great thing for the town.”

Blagg said there aren’t too many developers who are willing to spend the time and resources to turn these buildings “into something valuable.”

Though the award isn’t necessarily an annual one, projects are evaluated on the merits of their restoration, rehabilitation, adaptive use, neighborhood conservation, landscape preservation, archaeology, education and outreach.

“It’s something we do when we see something coming up that should be recognized,” Blagg said of the Peter S. Miller Award. “We’re just on the lookout for good opportunities to recognize people.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter (X): @MaryEByrne.