Buffalo Rising Online

Its nice to see thier current building facade also planned to be rehabbed.

I walked past on the way to the parade on Sun. and was curious if the "fortress" looking building was going to be altered at all.

I am amazed that that building is considered "a mansion" and "historical" Agree or disagree that the city of Buffalo needs to lighten up on what it considers historical? It seems that any old buildingin town gets "special consideration" as long as it is "very old." I applaud a local company for growing in Buffalo but does this big brick shit box really warrant "historic preservation tax credits"? I seriously would like to know the credentials required for a building such as this to be considered historical. Anyone know?

Sorry, let me clarify... The tax credits are for the renovation of the mansion (878 Main) on the right. Why does it qualify? Age (120+ years old) and location within the Allentown Historic Preservation District.

Sounds like all great news.

An Expanding business....staying in Buffalo. Improvements being made to 2 properties. One of which is over 120 years old.

How much good news (new jobs, new buildings, improvemnts) can this area of town take. God bless the medical campus.

Just because others choose to allow the building to fall into disrepair, doesn't mean we should forsake the building.

I agree that the all brick construction, hardwood floors, natural woodwork etc are pry inferior to the vinyl/drywall/plywood houses that are being built today in suburbia

http://www.literacybuffalo.org/about/mansion.html

Seriously, ask a developer how much to replicate this on your 1/2 acre 3rd ring suburb parcel and the cost he gives you would pry give you some understanding to the word "mansion".

Hmmm...the middle part of my post was lost.....

The second sentence was obviously sarcasm.

The link is for the "Literacy Volunteers" in the Squire Mansion up Main St which was also fought for and saved. Take a peek at link and see why these places are fought for and deserving or the title "mansions".

it also gets many of the residents that opposed the demolition of the back portion of the building off their back. Sounds like a win win.

If this happens.....

We have to give Zepto alot of credit. Very few businesses today are willing to convert an older house/manson into up to date and up to code office space and few are willing to work out of two seperate buildings.

I notice one other thing......zepto is adding window into there original building. I think this speak to the sever change within this neighborhood. Window's weren't a good thing to have not to long ago along this stretch of main st. What a change.

Good work Zepto.

WCP, Thanks for the full details on why the delay is needed. When reading of the extension in other media, I wondered whether Zepto was serious (dragging heels). The delay makes sense, and in the end delivers more to the company, and the neighorhood. Great to know work will begin soon.

Zepto certainly deserves credit for the current intentions, but a little history is in order here. Were it not for Obstructionists there would be no building for Zepto to rehabilitate so nicely for their growing corporate offices.

About four or five years ago there was a business that wanted to knock all of 878 Main Street down to build a parking lot. They submitted nice drawings of the parking lot to the City and said that if the parking lot weren't allowed they would have to move most of their business out of town. Enlightened comments like those from SLEEPL8 were made about the building's merits. Fortunately the City, with support and prodding from the community, refused to give that company the building so it could be demolished.

Now it will be a wondeful new headquarters for Zepto, a nice addition to the tax rolls, and another sign to citizens and visitors of Buffalo's rebirth.

Thank you Obstructionist. Thank you City. Thank you Zepto.

I find the SLEEPL8 comment that this house is a "big brick shithouse" to be unnessarily vulgar and remarkably ignorant. It was not too many years ago that I had a client living here when it was a rooming house. The interior had lavish and beautiful woodwork and was in surprisingly good shape considering the more recent history of the house. I really do hope that the interior remains in good shape and has not been destroyed by vandals.

I could even remember back then the out cry from people condemning obstructionists from stopping such a tax paying business from doing what it needs to do to grow and prosper... ohh wait... you mean we can save buildings and use them as a part of economic development and growth while at the same time preserving the history and character that give us something unique to be proud of. Amazing.

Charger, what happened to the business that couldn't build the parking lot? Are they still in Buffalo or did they indeed move from the area?

bradon, I think they did create some jobs out of town, but they're still around. I hear they may be expanding their presence actually.

The building is a contributing resources to the Allentown Historic District, therefore its eligible for the Federal Investment Tax Credit.

It's interesting to note that 878 Main was gutted in the late 1990s from what I remember and let go for taxes in 2000. There have been several groups, including the Buffalo Architectural Salvage Committee, that have tried to use these vacant structures but were stonewalled by the city.

hasnt someone noticed that the after pictures

FRONT: shows the two buildings separated by a driveway or alleyway and with distinctly different architectural styles and building materials and colors

however

REAR: shows the two buildings connected and fully integrated with the same color brick exterior

How could this be?

Though I wish the front could be integrated with the same color brick and architectural features like the rear.....I would even suggest the widows peak roof line on the mansion be extended around the 2 story ZeptoMatrix building