tuesday december 16th 2008
Unique Midtown Property for Sale
West Coast Perspective
A stunning conversion project in the Midtown area is for sale. Gurney Becker & Bourne is listing 1716 Main Street, a mixed-use property profiled previously on Buffalo Rising here and here. The site consists of two separate buildings. The two-story building fronting Main was constructed during the Pan-American Expo period, which includes 3,210 sq.ft. of street retail and a 4,200 sq.ft. second floor loft residence. The rear building was built thirty years later in 1930 and currently serves as an architectural workshop.
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buffalorising
Last year over seven hundred people attended the Buffalo Ball and danced the night away while giving back to charity. It’s one of the few times throughout the year when you and everyone around you will be dressed to impress yet getting down and funky on the dance floor while sipping cocktails and munching hors d’oeuvres. Last year’s crowd set a record attendance and the Buffalo Charity Ball Committee hopes to top it this year. They’re keeping their online sales open until December 22nd, so get your tickets early while you can still get the discount.
The Buffalo Ball was established to help raise money for organizations that could use a helping hand. Last year, the event raised $13,000, which was then split between Hospice Buffalo and Re-Tree WNY. The two beneficiaries of this year’s third annual Buffalo Charity Ball are Project FLIGHT and Angel Flight. One company is e…
monday december 15th 2008
Broadcasting The Barkyard
queenseyes
Micropark Jay has asked that I let BRO viewers (and dog owners) know that the new Barkyard website is up. Thanks to The Martin Group anyone can know at any time what the latest is on the four-legged romping grounds. 2009 is shaping up to be an exciting year for dog park-goers. There will be grounds broken as well as plenty of fun new amenities for the dogs.
When you visit the site, make sure that you check out the three-phase plan. If you're unfamiliar with the effort, this is where you'll find the future plans. There's a calendar of events section and a photo gallery. There's even a place to make donations to the cause. If you donate $100 or more, a tree will be planted and a custom dog tag will be attached to The Barkyard fence in order to identify the person (or dog) …
buffalorising
We'll let this one stand as it is. The following is a press release issued from the Seneca Nation of indians in response to Governor David Paterson's signing of a bill that will allow the state to collect tax on the sale of Indian cigarettes to non-Indians. The state stands to collect nearly $60 million per year on an excise tax that is $2.75/pack.
The Seneca statement:
Seneca Nation Will Act Against Recent State Attack President Snyder says law ignores treaties The Seneca Nation of Indians will explore all of its options after Governor David A. Paterson today signed into state law a bill that threatens the Nation’s treaty rights and 1,000 retailing jobs in Western New York.
“This action is a threat to the Seneca Nation and we have no choice but to explore all of our options,” said Barry E. Snyder, Sr., Seneca Nation President. …
Elena Cala Buscarino
According to this New York Times article, Governor David Paterson may put an end to controversial Empire Zone business incentives in order to balance the state's $15 billion deficit. Assemblyman Sam Hoyt is ready to ask Paterson to restructure the Empire Zone program locally so that the Canal Side Project, which falls within the zone, still enjoys program benefits.
"The governor's budget, which he'll submit tomorrow, marks the beginning of debate," Hoyt said. "It doesn't mean it will pass, but we'…
queenseyes
I am happy to report that facade work on185 Allen Street, former home to DROOL Clothing, has finally been completed. It's very refreshing to see this finally completed (for the most part). After the graffiti-struck blue door is painted, we're looking at a fine Allentown building once more. I spoke to leasing agent Alan Hastings (Hastings Cohn Real Estate) regarding the future of 185 Allen and he had this to say:
"The out-of-town owner is more interested in leasing the building, though it is for sale as well. We're talking to a couple of bar/restaurant prospects that would be utilizing both the inside space as well as the courtyard area. The first floor is 2100 sq.' and is zoned for a restaurant, though it would have to be re-approved by The City. All of the columns on the first floor have been removed - the owner installed steel beams throughout in order to open the space up…
RaChaCha
After the October announcement, at the Market Arcade, of the formation of Preservation Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo Rising sat down with Roberta Lane of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Based at the Trust’s northeast regional office in Boston, Roberta is the Trust’s New York staff person, and also the Trust’s northeast regional attorney.
BR: What is your preservation background? RL: I have a dual degree in preservation and law from Boston University.
BR: How did you discover Buffalo architecture? RL: When I started at the National Trust a couple of years ago, one of the first things I saw in the Boston office was the book Classic Buffalo [by Rochester preservationists Richard Reisem and Andy Olenik] on display. Also, we ha…
Wudenbachs
Downtown shopping will have a Brigadoon-like appearance at the old Slotkin building this Saturday for a one-day artisan marketplace event known as the "Last Minute Gift Buying Panic Marketplace". It is this Saturday, December 20th from 11am - 4pm at the Western NY Book Arts Center, 468 Washington St at Mohawk in downtown Buffalo. While the Book Arts Center is not quite officially opened, they have been busy with workshops and remodeling in anticipation of a Spring 2009 grand opening.
The marketplace event will give a preview of the WNYBAC bookshop that will be featured as a permanent fixture of the book arts center with imported artists papers and books that are not being stocked anywhere else locally.
Also featured are a diverse range of 20 local artists, artisans, designers, publishers, craftspeople and otherwi…
West Coast Perspective
Downtown enthusiasts and pessimists are focused on the Inner Harbor as Benderson Development with a dollop of taxpayer money is driving the Canal Side project forward. Two blocks to the east of Main Street, the transformation of the area around HSBC Arena is already underway.
Sam Savarino and Chris Jacobs, following First Amherst Development’s Elk Terminal Lofts, saw the potential of the Cobblestone District and the foot of Main Street years ago. Savarino and Jacobs are nearly finished transforming a stretch of Mississippi Street into a mix of office, residential and restaurant space. The final piece of their project, conversion of the former Benlin warehouse, will welcome its first tenants in just a few weeks.
sunday december 14th 2008
Canal Plans Revealed
Elena Cala Buscarino
Today the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) revealed their comprehensive plan for Buffalo's inner harbor. The exciting mixed-use master plan will provide the framework for nearly 725,000 square feet of entertainment, hotel, office, retail and residential uses.
Larry Quinn cautioned the crowd not to think of the retail and entertainment portion of the development as a "lifestyle" center. "This will be all Buffalo," he said, "not a knock-off." He also suggested that the Buffalo history and flavor would be captured in the commercial aspects of the development, while not so much the actual architecture.
"Come December of 2010, January of 2011, we'll have the whole world in Buffalo," Quinn said, referring to the World Junior Hockey Championship Tournament that will take place here.
"We were encouraged by the fact that people love to be on the water," said Quinn…
