Buffalo Rising Online

Sep 17th 2008, 6:32pm By RaChaCha

In a red-letter day for historic preservation in Buffalo, Newark-Niagara LLC unveiled plans to rescue the Old First Ward's most endangered and historic property. Often called simply “The Cooperage” for its long history in the barrelmaking trade, the E&B Holmes Machinery Company buildings sat derelict for many years after the company moved, an endangered monument to the heyday of Buffalo's waterfront commerce and industry.

The Cooperage is being shored up and preserved thanks to bridge financing from a new emergency preservation program, as announced at the site today by Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of New York State, and the principal of Newark-Niagara, architect Clinton Brown.

The Preservation League is a non-profit based in Albany—headquartered a stone's throw from the Capitol—whose mission has traditionally involved education and advocacy in the cause of preservation. They partnered with Sam Hoyt on the effort to enact state-level historic preservation tax credits, which have since been utilized for several Buffalo projects. They continued to work with Sam this year to pass a bill to strengthen and streamline those credits (on which they are eagerly anticipating the Governor's signature). Over the last several years, they have conducted workshops across western New York called “Enhancing Main Street: Making Upper Floors Work Again,” to help provide the knowledge and tools necessary for the preservation of buildings—including the reconfiguration for attractive housing options.

But this new preservation program, for the first time, allows the League to provide more direct action and assistance when historic buildings are threatened with disinvestment, neglect, and demolition. Known as the Endangered Properties Intervention Program (EPIP), The Cooperage is just the third project to receive assistance, and the first in western New York. Jay DiLorenzo told me that when he first took the helm a few years ago, this program was a gleam in the League's eye that he was determined to see happen. They were able to get the program funded last year, and have since been getting the word out to preservationists across the state.

According to Jay, the program is initially configured to provide bridge financing—short-term loans to get preservation-oriented development projects to the point of construction. The program can provide assistance with things like predevelopment work, design, matching funds for grants, acquiring options, and emergency stabilization—that are necessary to moving projects forward, but can be tricky to pay for in the early stages.

The EPIP program turned out to be a perfect fit—and a godsend—for Clint Brown and the River Lofts Buffalo project. And working with Clint Brown was, in turn, a perfect fit for the EPIP program. According to Jay, “Clint has been a frequent speaker at our workshops, sharing his extensive experience with similar projects. The Preservation League is delighted to support his efforts, and we are confident that he will soon have another success story to add to his presentation.”

As for specifics of the project, “River Lofts Buffalo at The Cooperage will result in a mixed-use development of twenty-two market-rate live/work lofts, as well as two or three commercial retail spaces,” said Clint. “The lofts will appeal to upper-income tenants who want genuine and generous loft living spaces in a convenient, urban setting with park and waterfront amenities. The commercial spaces will be marketed to creative companies seeking a unique setting with easy access to the I-90 Thruway and Route 5. There are no other such lofts on the market.” Newark-Niagara will use the $200,000 loan from the EPIP program as bridge funding to complete selected demolition of the building's collapsed portions, replace the roof, and secure window openings to prevent further water infiltration.

According to Buffalo Business First, units will range from 1,000 square feet to 2,000 square feet. Overall, the building will have about 45,000 square feet of space. The overall project cost is projected to be $6 Million. As reported yesterday in Buffalo Rising, Clint Brown expects to both start and complete construction next year. The initial plan it to target the units toward renters.

Today's announcement was made jointly by Clint Brown and Jay DiLorenzo, with Buffalo Common Council President David Franczyk and Assemblyman Sam Hoyt joining in, took place on an ideal Buffalo autumn afternoon, with sunny skies and bracing breezes off the lake. Each participant, in turn, praised The Cooperage project and those involved.

Jay DiLorenzo said, “we need to use buildings like this as resources for renewal. We are happy to be able to help put the pieces in place. We look forward to returning to Buffalo and seeing the progress on the site. We are certain that the results will be an inspiration to others.”

Sam Hoyt praised Clint's pioneering effort, saying, “Clint Brown has a passion for this city that's unmatched anywhere. Clint has undertaken this project because of his passion for Buffalo and preservation, not to make millions. He's putting his money where his mouth is.” Sam is also bullish on the Buffalo River area where The Cooperage is located. “In my opinion, this is the next great place to be. Clint has always been somewhat of a pioneer.”

David Franczyk also hailed the project and the League funding as a significant preservation development. “This building will be a mecca for cultural and historic tourism,” said Franczyk, a staunch supporter of historic preservation on the Council.

Clint Brown had an interesting historic tidbit about The Cooperage. It seems that in the late 1800's a candidate for Erie County Sheriff gave a speech in front of the building, standing, appropriately enough, on a barrel. He promised that if elected, he would have the Ohio Basin (which by that time, had become a stagnant cesspool) filled in. Well, it took until 1953 for the basin to be filled, to become what is now Father Conway Park. The politician making that promise that he didn't keep? Grover Cleveland.

But Clint had praise for the modern politicians who joined him for the event, saying his project would likely never have been considered had it not been for the efforts of Council President Franczyk, Congressman Brian Higgins, and Assemblyman Mark Schroeder to establish the Buffalo River Trail. And it would not be financially feasible without the preservation tax credits championed by Assemblyman Hoyt. And the project could not have advanced without the bridge financing from the Preservation League.

In terms of preservation opportunities, Buffalo presents a target-rich environment for the Preservation League's new EPIP program. Jay DiLorenzo will indeed have ample reason to return to Buffalo often to see the progress and inspiring results.

Get connected:
Clinton Brown Companies
River Lofts Buffalo
Preservation League of New York State

Exterior rendering and floor plans provided by Clinton Brown Company Architecture