Casa Belvedere, the Italian cultural center on Grymes Hill, formerly known as the Stirn mansion, is connected to several trailblazer women who made invaluable contributions that helped shape Staten Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the United States. And now the historic site that’s being restored is one of 20 finalists competing in a prestigious National Partners in Preservation (PIP) public voting contest.

The partners sponsoring the preservation contest are American Express, National Trust for Historic Preservation (savingplaces.org), and National Geographic Magazine. The top 10 winners receiving the most votes will each be granted $150,000. If Casa Belvedere receives enough votes needed for the grant, funds will help restore the mansion’s two upper floors that were severely water damaged by Hurricanes Irene and Sandy.