Along Michigan Avenue - Part II

Back in October I reported on a number developments taking shape along Michigan Avenue. In December I took a few snaps of Michigan Avenue's latest retail development and last week I hinted at Buffalo's latest historic district between Broadway and William.

Here a few pics that show some more of the site work and how the grounds surrounding the Jesse Nash House and Buffalo's latest historic district are shaping up. Benches, walk ways, gardens, historic markers, period street lighting and these cool new medallions are part of the sidewalk planter boxes.

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Loran Bommer, an excellent real estate attorney has moved his law practice into the former police station to 485 Michigan Avenue.  He's way ahead of things as downtown back office support work has no where to go but east onto Michigan.  I learned the other day that the fomer Spaghetti Warehouse is ready to go condo.  Adding to the new mix of loft and apartment space downtown. No matter what you might think of the new Casino, the only way to get there is by driving down Michigan Avenue. Think Starbucks or Tim Hortons coming to Michigan Avenue real soon.

There's not much yet on the Internet about the important development involving this new historic district and its relation to the civil rights movement and Buffalo's historical development. After speaking with a representative here the other day I was told the website is still being developed. There is an important link about the Niagara Movement and information about an upcoming lecture at the Erie County Historical Society that will be of interest.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Lecture: J. Edward Nash and the Michigan Avenue Baptist Church

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society

25 Nottingham Court, Buffalo

In Session VI of What Price Freedom? The Centennial Celebration of the Niagara Movement in Buffalo, New York, Felix Armfield, associate professor, History and Social Studies Education, Buffalo State, and Executive Director of the Nash House and Museum, will discuss Reverend J.E. Nash's prominence during the first half of the twentieth century. Jesse Nash, professor emeritus, Canisius College, will share his experiences growing up in the Nash home.

While checking out the site I quickly noticed that Dr. Felix Armfield from the Buffalo State College History Dept. has been pivotal in getting this historic district together and also Professor Kim Pearson from the College of New Jersey. The only Niagara Movemnet Board member with a blog. Check out her blog, right here. 

Further up Michigan near Dodge Street, and right behind the developing Mid-Town and Artspace neighborhoods, local developer Rocco Termini is building a couple dozen single family "in-fill" homes. Here's some early Termini that is still standing over on Emslie and of course we all know about the Ellicott Lofts, the more mature Termini.

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The problem with these in-fill homes, though the new ones Rocco is now building have a better urban look and feel to them, is that they are heavily subsidized and have a much too frequent tendency to lose more than half their value when the second owner buys them from a bank after a forclosure. They have been selling 10 years ago for for 85-90K and just recently re-selling in the 20-25K range.

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