If These Walls Could Talk
Sal Zambito loves Richmond Avenue. He has purchased, renovated and re-sold five homes the street over the past fifteen years. Working with partner Tim Sick, his sixth project is a beauty at 111 Richmond, a 4,087 sq.ft. home designed by E.B. Green and completed in 1893 (photo above circa-1896).
111 Richmond was built on an old baseball field. Over its 114 year history, the home has had just four owners and has been subdivided into three units. Sal purchased the property in 2002 for a paltry $35,000. He’s held on to it as a rental and has been making improvements such as a new roof, painting, new garage doors, utility work, and woodwork and flooring restoration. Additional cleanup and rehab work is underway as a first floor tenant of the building (an occupant since 1964) is in the process of relocating. The home is currently under contract to be sold to owner/occupants with an early-July closing date. Sale price? $300,000.
As the pictures show, they don’t build them like this anymore. A third floor ballroom had a stage and band area. Features include hand-painted canvas walls in the parlor, dining and reception rooms signed and dated by Decourse in 1927. The Italian artist painted scenes of the Orient and Italy and later painted for Tiffany at Shea’s Buffalo Theater. Other architectural features include gas wall sconces, crystal ‘hot air’ balloon chandeliers, hand-carved Corinthian columns, and much of the original woodwork.
If walls could talk! Actually, Sal has submitted information to the popular HGTV program. He has yet to hear whether they’re interested in 111 Richmond’s story.
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drl
such a beautiful pic (circa 1896)!!!
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dude
Richmond desperately needs its tree canopy back. Otherwise the street will continue to fee way too wide and uninviting to pedestrians.
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MJWorthington
Great period shot!
Very interesting to see it before it filled in.
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Kernwatch
Is there any place else where Richmond Avenue developments such as this impressive Richmond house are archived?
The last entry on the "official" Richmond Avenue website hosted by Harvey Garrett was August 28, 2001, which is 5 2/3 years ago.
See: http://rnca.bfn.org/
COPY: http://rnca.bfn.org/
The Richmond Avenue Web Site The Richmond Avenue Web Site is a place to learn more about Richmond Avenue, all of it’s wonderful attributes(*), and all the exciting(*) new changes happening here. This Site covers the following topics: Richmond Avenue Overview Richmond Avenue History Richmond Avenue Housing Richmond Avenue Architecture New Investments in the Neighborhood Also see: http://www.kernwatch.wnymedia.net/?p=53
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