Will Buffalo Learn this Lesson?

With a parking lot between them, the Samuel Tredwell Skidmore House, right, stands in forlorn contrast to another landmark building, the well preserved Merchant's House Museum, left.

It would seem that the Landmark Preservation Commission in Manhattan was fed up with the delay tactics of the owners and ended up last week with a court ruling that might set a precedent. Of course the cool thing here is that they didn’t seek to create new legislation, they vigorously enforced current law. Whether the precedent is even considered here in Buffalo, NY is another matter. The hurdle of course for the Woodlawn Row Houses is that the owner is the entity that should be enforcing the law, the City of Buffalo.

The full text of David W. Dunlop’s December 28, 2004 New York Times article can be found here. The Samuel Tredwell House has been in the news before, here, here & here. Photographer and well known writer documenting New York's architechtural heritage, David's most recent work is currently on display at the New York Historical Society.

The Merchant's House Museum is located next door at 29 4^th Street. They are open Thursday to Monday 12-5pm. The museum's website has numerous links to preservation groups, local historic and smart urban issues in Manhattan.

And don’t forget to check out New York City’s Landmark Commission. Here, permit decisions are available online!!

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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq

New Neighbors --- Artspace

The project site, is the historic Sarabeth Building, 1219 Main Street, in what was once called Buffalo’s Midtown. The building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and the site contains additional property to accommodate new construction behind the existing building. On Nov. 15, Artspace signed a purchase agreement.

As now planned, the project will consist of 55 live/work units in two buildings: the Sarabeth Building and a new structure behind it. There will be 30 live/work spaces in the Sarabeth Building and 25 in the new structure, ranging in size from 800-square-foot efficiencies to 1,700-square-foot three-bedroom units. In addition, 13,000 square feet of commercial space on the street level of the Sarabeth Building will provide offices and other space for arts organizations and arts-related businesses. The area between the two buildings will be used as a common space where residents can plant, work, and perform. Residents will have easy access to the Main Street Transit line, Buffalo’s only subway line, which runs directly in front of the building; the nearest station is one block away.

Check them out here and get their updates, too. You can view a slide show of ArtSpace projects around the country, too.

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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006

New street signs, pedestrian friendly lights, new cross-walks. This is the corner of Masten & Woodlawn. Buffalo Traditional High School is behind me. The fence on the left side surrounds the construction site for a new youth center that a local congregation is building.

A few weeks ago intersection improvements such as these were completed at various places along Masten & Michigan Avenues. Both avenues were converted to accomodate two-way traffic.

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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq

Close-up of new pedestrian friendly crossing lights at the south eact corner of Masten & Woodlawn.

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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq

Join the Conversation! Sign the Petition!!!

Lively debate here about this project. Seems like the good folks at SpeakupWNY attract a wide audience and not just the people who no longer patronize Pano’s. There are a number of other posts regarding additional preservation projects here. Registration is free and really easy. Join the conversation.

This month’s pictures will be up sometime tomorrow.

Still no county budget!!!
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq