Four years ago - March 2004 - I snapped my first pic of the city owned Woodlawn Row Houses and started this blog, in part, to call attention to this city owned property, a spot that had fallen off the local radar and was suffering from 'demolition by neglect'. On Saturday I went back for my monthly photos and noticed that the Community Preservation Corporation had just placed a sign in front. They plan to provide project financing.
I met with one of the partners from Urban Development Partners, LLC last week, they were the succesful bidders at the September 22, 2007 special auction, see City Auction.
During the course of the last four years at least three parties have expressed an interest in this renovation project. In addition, I've shown the Woodlawn Row Houses to six other individuals. Finally a deal. This is very good news for area residents and the emerging arts and educational neighborhood.
The cool thing is that in the last four years a few other groups have realized this neighborhood's potential, too. Queen City Farm is locating just around the corner and Buffalo ReUse is now permanently located and open for business on Northampton Street, a few blocks away.
I'll be following this project closely and hope to have an interview with Urban Development Partners, LLC available very soon.
__________________________________________________________________________During the course of the last four years at least three parties have expressed an interest in this renovation project. In addition, I've shown the Woodlawn Row Houses to six other individuals. Finally a deal. This is very good news for area residents and the emerging arts and educational neighborhood.
The cool thing is that in the last four years a few other groups have realized this neighborhood's potential, too. Queen City Farm is locating just around the corner and Buffalo ReUse is now permanently located and open for business on Northampton Street, a few blocks away.
I'll be following this project closely and hope to have an interview with Urban Development Partners, LLC available very soon.
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11 comments:
What kind of condition are the Emerson row houses in?
Great news indeed - kudos, David, and to the developer and CPC. Interesting that in this case, as with the Granite Works, a combination of activist preservation, a developer willing to take a risk, and CPC eventually opened the door to a successful preservation.
Those who like to paint activist preservation as obstructionism need to understand its key role in successes like this, which revitalize our decaying urban building stock.
David didn't have anything to do with this purchase.
rachacha...
Anon is correct. If anyone is suggesting that I had anything to do with the sale of this property, they'd be wrong. I met one of the new owners last week for the first time.
I've only been an advocate for this property and shown it to potential buyers over the last few years. That's all.
These buildings would be gone if it were not for Fix Buffalo
I agree with Steel... Thanks David for your efforts with all that you do. Give the haters a break.. they know not what they do......
Excellent work and I'm glad that something is going to happen with them.
Dave - Thanks for the update. This is truly another step towards making East Buffalo better.
Joshua
Great news that this rowhouse will be saved! This is another step forward for Cold Springs. I hope that eventually more capital can become available to fully restore the gem on Emerson Place as well. These rowhouses are true underrated gems for the near-east side. Keep up the great work reporting on these properties David. It was nice meeting you a few weeks ago at the Pink. As a fellow Buffalo optimist among many haters I applaud your efforts to keep the fight alive.
This is good news! Do we know why Pitts' plans unraveled- if they unraveled? Keep beating the drum David.
Chris S.
yippee. more low income housing! will these be townhouses or cut up into aprtments for section 8?
What exactly makes this an "arts and educational neighborhood?"
The 1300 block of Elmwood has Buff State and Birchfield Penney across the street from Albright Knox, the same (if not way more) could be said about that part of the city using your description...
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