fix buffalo today

The Bulldozer's New Map

2012-02-01T11:45:00.004-05:00

One of the most targeted and comprehensive demolition blitzes was unveiled by City Hall over the weekend. 57 buildings, mostly East Side City-owned residences are now scheduled for the landfill. Here's the map. View $1,008,000.00 = 57 Demolitions in a larger mapWith demolition costs hovering around $18, 000/house a number of housing advocates have expressed concern and dismay over this

Saturday at St. Matthew's

2012-01-30T23:05:00.006-05:00

Members of a St. Matthew's facebook group had an opportunity recently to tour St. Matthew's Church on East Ferry Street (google map). While the collapse of St. Matthew's is well known to neighborhood residents and fixBuffalo readers - see archive for pics/posts - many of the former parishioners witnessed the remains of their former place of worship for the first time. One former student drove

Seeing Buffalo - Week #4

2012-01-29T00:01:00.015-05:00

Here's a look back at some of the places I've seen this past week. If you're not familiar with the locations you can see them on the flickr map next to each photo. In some cases I've provided a description of the place or links to additional information.To see the individual photos and related maps, follow this link or you can view the series as a slideshow. _______________________

Another one falling: 245 East Ferry Street

2012-01-26T19:22:00.003-05:00

The bricks started falling from this mixed-use commercial building at 245 East Ferry Street yesterday (google map). The yellow ribbon appeared this morning. Can the bulldozers be far behind? 245 East Ferry StreetThe current owner, Full Gospel Mission Inc., purchased the building in 1982. According to City records a Housing Court case wrapped up in April 2010 with a signed affidavit

One to Save: 73 Dodge Street

2012-01-24T22:51:00.004-05:00

Two months ago the City's Real Estate Division forwarded a proposal to demolish 24 City-owned properties to the Preservation Board for its comment. The Preservation Board recommended against demolition of these properties, but I've been told the City intends to move forward with the demolitions anyway. With the exception of one - 73 Dodge (google map). 73 Dodge Street Brendan Mehaffy,

Ellicott District: Preservation stakeholders meeting

2012-01-24T19:58:00.003-05:00

Ellicott District Councilmember Darius Pridgen is holding an Ellicott District stakeholders meeting about the fate of a number of abandoned buildings in on the City's East Side. This flyer - with pictures of the Salem Church at 413 Sherman Street - was distributed to residents in the Ellicott District late this afternoon. What: Stakeholders Meeting - Ellicott DistrictWhen: February 6th -

Seeing Buffalo - Week #3

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

Here's a look back at some of the places I've seen this past week. If you're not familiar with the locations you can see them on the flickr map next to each photo. In some cases I've provided a description of the place or links to additional information.To see the individual photos and related maps, follow this link or you can also view the series as a slideshow. ______________________

Developing Jefferson: Four year follow-up

2012-01-21T23:11:00.002-05:00

Four years ago I posted this post/pic, showing a brand new sign at the corner of Jefferson and Best. I've passed through this intersection hundreds of times since. I haven't seen any changes. I snapped this new pic last week. City records indicate the City of Buffalo still owns a number of parcels at this corner. An entity known as "Robbed of our Youth" purchased one of these parcels,

Salem Evangelical: In the 'hood and off the radar

2012-01-16T06:10:00.010-05:00

The Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, located at 413 Sherman Street, was designed by Buffalo architect Jacob Oberkircher and built in 1907 (google map). Oberkircher's church replaced this wooden chapel that established this German congregation in the neighborhood in 1873. Fast forward 100 years. The pattern is familiar. Like with many of the East Side's heritage religious structures the

Seeing Buffalo - Week #2

2012-01-15T00:01:00.002-05:00

Here's a look back at some of the places I've seen this past week. If you're not familiar with the locations you can see them on the flickr map next to each photo. In some cases I've provided a description of the place or links to additional information.To see the individual photos and related maps, follow this link or you can also view the series as a slideshow. __________________________

1370 Michigan Avenue: City-owned and "Occupied"

2012-01-14T18:07:00.003-05:00

Members of a local Occupy Wall Street group - Occupy Western New York - contacted me recently and asked about a number of housing opportunities in the neighborhood. We discussed several possibilites.1370 Michigan Avenue - "Occupied"At Thursday evening's General Assembly they decided to go forward and "occupy" 1370 Michigan Avenue, a house the City had previously offered as $1 homestead

Stripping and Scrapping the City: Wonder Bread and...

2012-01-13T18:34:00.004-05:00

Two years ago the WONDER BREAD's N went missing, months later then the B. In October copper flashing was stripped from one of the East Side's most iconic steel-reinforced concrete industrial buildings. The building's owner pointed a finger at the tenant, East Side activist Darnell Jackson. Things got ugly. The Buffalo News covered the crime. I noticed the missing copper flashing the other

38 Ada Place: Ten Years Later

2012-01-12T19:52:00.012-05:00

Ada Place is a unique Queen Anne lined one block Street on the City's East Side (google map). It is the sister to Coe Place in Midtown. Ada Place is exactly what it sounds like - an authentic place - something that is increasingly rare in this age of mass commodification and replication. It is a place that can not be replaced. 38 Ada Place - Owner: Bethel CDC/Rev. StenhouseRev.

Seeing Buffalo - Week #1

2012-01-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

Here's a look back at some of the places I've seen this past week. If you're not familiar with the locations you can see them on the flickr map next to each photo. In some cases I've provided a description of the place or links to additional information.To see the individual photos and related maps, follow this link or you can also view the series as a slideshow. _____________________________

Buffalo ReUse's New Location: 296 East Ferry

2012-01-06T15:31:00.118-05:00

One of Buffalo's favorite East Side non-profits, Buffalo ReUse, moved late last year to their new location at 296 East Ferry (google map). Challenger News wrote about the move, here. This change represents a solid step forward for an organization that's been struggling to overcome a number of obstacles. The new store is conveniently located in a neighborhood that's part of the East Side's

Gillian Brown: Getting into Housing Court - Part II

2011-11-08T00:05:00.001-05:00

The outcome of today's City Court race is critical for Buffalo. I've recently written about the reasons why Gillian Brown is the clear choice over at Buffalo Rising - Gillian Brown: Getting to Housing Court. In reference to a recent Artvoice post, Woody Brown, Gillian's son - a recent City Honor's graduate and Senior Class President - posted the following on my facebook. Check out this latest

CIty in Crisis - Gillian Brown and Aaron Bartley - Part III

2011-11-08T00:04:00.002-05:00

This is the third part of a three part series - City in Crisis. Here City Court candidate Gillian Brown talks about the City and the importance of Housing Court. Aaron Bartley address the City's housing crisis and discusses the importance of electing a progressive reform minded judge.Aaron Bartley is the Executive Director of PUSH Buffalo. He live's and works on Buffalo's West Side.______

City in Crisis - Gillian Brown and Prish Moran - Part II

2011-11-08T00:03:00.000-05:00

This is the second part of a three part series - City in Crisis. Here City Court candidate Gillian Brown talks about the City and the importance of Housing Court. Prish Moran address the City's housing crisis and discusses the importance of electing a progressive reform minded judge.Prish Moran is the owner of Sweetness_7 on Grant Street on Buffalo's West Side. I talked to her about the

City in Crisis - Gillian Brown and Sam Magavern - Part I

2011-11-08T00:02:00.001-05:00

This is the first part of a three part series - City in Crisis. Here City Court candidate Gillian Brown talks about the City and the importance of Housing Court. Sam Magavern address the City's housing crisis and discusses the importance of electing a progressive reform minded judge.Sam Magavern is a writer and public interest lawyer, currently serving as co-director of the Partnership

Gillian Brown: Getting into Housing Court

2011-09-02T16:19:00.011-05:00

I had the opportunity to meet up with Gillian Brown this week. We inspected the vacant lot where 94 Northampton once stood and admired the architectural detail and structural stability of 11 Holland Place, yet another City-owned residential property, ripe for homesteading. Gillian is a City Court candidate running on the Working Families line in next week's primary race. Two incumbent

94 Northampton - Bound for the Landfill

2011-08-19T08:02:00.018-05:00

An arsonist torched 94 Northampton early Monday morning, one of Midtown Buffalo's most significant city-owned heritage residences. Two days later a $26.8K emergency demolition contract razed the building, sending yet another East Side treasure to the landfill.94 Northampton - Wednesday late afternoon fixBuffalo readers may remember that Commissioner Jim Comerford from the City of

Buffalo ReUse: James Green Executive Director - Q&A

2011-08-18T00:43:00.006-05:00

Buffalo ReUse is located in the heart of Buffalo’s East Side. On any given day customers may include a downtown attorney searching the piles of green limestone that once graced Minoru Yamaski’s plaza at the base of the M & T tower or neighbors buying hardware and replacement screens. Landlords and local contractors were streaming through the door during a recent visit and were

Code Green - What's next for the East Side?

2011-02-07T23:35:00.006-05:00

The time to determine the future of the East Side is now. Well, it’s actually between February 28 and March 5, when the City of Buffalo is hosting a series of neighborhood workshops to get the public’s input on what will be the first detailed land use plan assembled in Buffalo since 1977.Kehr Street, looking NorthWhy is this important? Mayor Bryon W. Brown is undertaking one of the most

GLF Grain Elevator: Demolition Hearing - Part I

2010-12-17T03:34:00.014-05:00

The City's Preservation Board voted unanimously on Thursday afternoon to table Ontario Specialty Contracting's request to demolish portions of the GLF/Wheeler grain elevator complex on Ganson Street. The meeting room was packed with people who were on both sides of this emerging preservation issue involving one of the City's most important industrial heritage sites.Ron Chapin - on the rightAfter

Homestead: 226 East Utica - December 2010

2010-12-06T00:12:00.010-05:00

I met-up with Joshua Reis and Emily Gaines the other day. We talked about their work and plans for one of the City's newest homesteads - 226 East Utica (google map). Joshua recently closed on the formerly City-owned house and is plowing forward with a contagious mix of grit and grace with his partner, Emily. Joshua and Emily Joshua is drawing inspiration for his work from his studies at

Norquist on Buffalo's Future

2010-11-22T00:08:00.011-05:00

John Norquist, former Mayor of Milwaukee and President of the Congress for the New Urbanism, was in Buffalo recently and spoke at the Burchfield Penny Art Center. The podcast of Norquist's remarks - Part I - runs about an hour after the jump. John Norquist The panel discussion that followed was led by Kate Foster - Director of UB's Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth and featured

St. Gerard's Fate - Update

2010-11-10T12:06:00.015-05:00

The following story about St. Gerard's Church appeared on ABC News this past Sunday. Built in 1911, this iconic neighborhood heritage structure is modeled after the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, and is located at the corner of Bailey and East Delevan on Buffalo's East Side (google map).Rev. David Dye and his congregation plan to move St. Gerard's to Norcross, GA. They've included a

What Remains - One year later

2010-08-07T03:08:00.009-05:00

One year ago today the Woodlawn Row Houses were razed in an emergency demolition following a late-night fire. The row, designated a City landmark in 1982, was owned by the City of Buffalo. Here's the archive of pics and posts. What remains - charred shingleThe year that followed the fire has seen two development projects initiated in the neighborhood. Both bring some hope. The faith-based

Tour de Agros - East Side by Bike!

2010-06-04T14:06:00.009-05:00

The city's East Side is being transformed, vacant lot by vacant lot. In the last two years parts of Buffalo's urban prairie has been transformed into urban farms. If you're curious and have ever wondered what this development means for the City, join me on Saturday June 19th for the first Tour de Agros!View Tour de Agros 2010 in a larger mapWe'll meet at the Sonic Cafe, across from

Drew Ludwig: the future of church - Part I

2010-05-26T16:26:00.009-05:00

I met Rev. Drew Ludwig from Lafayette Presbyterian Church last week (google map). We sat down this morning in the church's sanctuary and talked about the use/re-use of religious structures in the context of a shrinking-city.Rev. Drew Ludwig - Lafayette Presbyterian Church Drew pointed to a number of religious buildings that have been repurposed in Pittsburgh - including the Church Brew

Lourdes on Main Street - Part IV

2010-05-18T20:45:00.023-05:00

I walked around Lourdes Church on Main Street this afternoon (google map).Lourdes Church - Main Street viewLourdes is now open on every side. Previous posts and pics clearly show that the windows in the rear and side have been open for years. According to neighbors that I spoke with, damaging winds recently blew the boards off the prominent Main Street windows. Interior pics from September

Creighton Randall - Homesteading the City

2010-05-16T23:18:00.009-05:00

Creighton Randall purchased this single-family home at 268 Dodge Street (google map) from the City of Buffalo for $1. On weekends he's been working on renovations with friends and family. I caught up with Creighton late Saturday afternoon.Creighton Randall - 268 Dodge Street Despite the blemishes and missing plumbing, the house was in good structural shape when Creighton bought the

Richard Tobe - Fixing the Kensington Part VI

2010-05-15T15:16:00.008-05:00

I sat down with Richard Tobe yesterday afternoon at the EM Tea Coffee Cup Cafe in Hamlin Park. We talked about the Kensington. Rich Tobe - at the entrance to the Kensington Rich moved to Buffalo in 1967 from Long Island. After graduating from UB with a degree in political science and completing his legal education at UB in 1974 he became Chief of Staff for Assemblyman William Hoyt. He

73 Dodge Street - Homestead in the City

2010-05-13T22:54:00.006-05:00

73 Dodge Street is City-owned and available to any qualified prospective home owner for $1. It's located one block from Main Street and around the corner from the Summer Street subway station (google map). Artspace and the Coe Place are right next door. This two-family house appears to be in structurally good condition. 73 Dodge Street - $1 The asphalt shingle siding is no doubt covering -

Stephanie Barber - Fixing the Kensington Part V

2010-05-13T12:30:00.008-05:00

Stephanie Barber is the president of the Hamlin Park Taxpayers & Community Association. I sat down with Stephanie at the Merriweather Library on Jefferson Avenue to talk about the Kensington Expressway.Stephanie Barber - near her Hamlin Park homeThrough her advocacy work as president of the Hamlin Park Taxpayers & Community Association, Stephanie persuaded New York State Senator Antoine

Land Banks & Urban Farms - Greening Buffalo

2010-05-11T22:48:00.012-05:00

A number of fixBuffalo readers sent this in today - WGRZ's Special Report: Abandoned Housing Crisis in Buffalo. It's notable that Mayor Brown and his staff now understand the extent of problem and how intelligent planning and new policy will help."There are some neighborhoods that look like the Third World," said Buffalo Mayor Byron BrownHere's the story. Here's the video:Related posts:Buffalo

Cottage in Black Rock - Two on the East Side

2010-05-11T19:15:00.007-05:00

UB architecture students purchased this brick cottage at 139 Howell Street (google map) at the City's tax-sale a few years ago. The redesigned minimalist space is clean and the space, totally liveable. 139 Howell - the "Quad House" - is featured in ExinteriorDesign and there's a slide show with interior images in this recent Wallpaper review. Here's a before pic and a construction

Vacant/Undeliverable 2010 - Part II

2010-05-08T17:59:00.008-05:00

Anthony Armstrong from LISC-Buffalo has been analyzing and mapping abandonment and vacancy issues in Buffalo for the past four years. He's compiled Buffalo Vacancy, a wiki designed to share the unique data sets he's synthesized involving HUD and United States Postal Service undeliverable addresses in Buffalo, NY. click image to enlargeI caught up with the Anthony the other day and he told

Central Park Plaza - Part II

2010-05-08T17:21:00.009-05:00

Central Park Plaza activists and neighbors gathered and rallied this morning urging City officials to take immediate action. If stores aren't closed, the shattered store front windows are the norm and contribute to making Central Park Plaza (bing map) one of the City's most desolate and dangerous landscapes. The Brooklyn based entity that owns the Central Park Plaza seems to be immune

Terry Robinson - Fixing the Kensington - Part IV

2010-05-06T18:59:00.010-05:00

Terry Robinson grew up in the Humboldt Parkway neighborhood. He graduated from Calasanctius High School in 1972 and studied political economy at Princeton and Harvard. He lives with his wife on Humboldt Parkway. Terry's many activities in the community include being a trustee of Preservation Buffalo Niagara. Terry Robinson - across the street from his homeI sat down with Terry in his

The Boulevard Option - Fixing the Kensington - Part III

2010-05-05T19:45:00.003-05:00

Demone Smith, Masten District Councilmember, introduced a resolution (.pdf) yesterday urging NYSDOT to study a third option - the Boulevard Option - as New York State prepares a $2 million feasibility study to fix the Kensington. Currently two options are on the table, each involving placing a "cap" over the Kensington over a one-mile stretch between East Delavan and Best streets.

ReThinking the City - Buffalo, NY

2010-05-03T19:26:00.002-05:00

Today the Buffalo News carried a spot-on editorial about Buffalo's (new) Green Code - ReThinking the City. Making redevelopment easier is a critical factor in reviving Buffalo, and must remain a key City Hall goal. Good zoning codes are a part of that process, and long have troubled developers trying to wend their way through the system— so the mayor’s recent announcement, in the

86 City-Owned Properties - $1

2010-05-01T17:12:00.009-05:00

86 City-owned properties were recently added to the City's list of 'homestead eligible' properties. This list includes 94 Northampton. These properties (.pdf ) are now available for purchase to qualified prospective owner-occupants for $1.View Buffalo Homestead in a larger mapInterested? - John Hannon, Director of Real Estate, is waiting to hear from you. The City's Division of

Spruce Street Church - Landfill or Loft?

2010-04-30T14:29:00.013-05:00

Demolition approval for 41 and 43 Spruce Street (bing map) was on the Preservation Board's agenda yesterday. The board unanimously denied the request.41 & 43 Spruce Street - click image to enlarge The First German Baptist Church was built in 1869. The structure appears to be in good condition. Some bricks on the bell tower need to be re-pointed, a rear brick shed needs attention. Roof

Learning about Shrinking - Buffalo (Studio), NY

2010-04-28T17:20:00.005-05:00

Students from the MIT School of Architecture + Planning have been visiting Buffalo, NY this semester. Working with Brent Ryan, whose work focuses on urban revitalization of older cities, students have created the following site - Shrinking City @MIT - Buffalo Studio. The site is dynamic and full of amazing illustrations. image courtesy of Shrinking City @MIT From the introduction: The

Central Park Plaza - Part I

2010-04-25T15:33:00.008-05:00

I read Buffalo Rising's piece about the Central Park Plaza the other day. I haven't been there for 15 years. I went there yesterday. I took some pics. I was devastated. Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer var so = new SWFObject("http://www.db798.com/pictobrowser.swf", "PictoBrowser", "640", "500", "8", "#EEEEEE"); so.addVariable("source", "sets");

Wilson Street (farm) House - $1

2010-04-23T17:31:00.005-05:00

Over on Wilson Street, the urban agricultural movement in Buffalo, NY is beginning to blossom and the Stevens family is at the leading edge of this development at the Wilson Street Urban Farm. What better place to set-up of your own urban homestead?396 Wilson Street (google map) showed up in the City's real estate catalog recently. It's a five bedroom single-family house. There's no

Buffalo, NY - The (new) Green Zone

2010-04-23T14:31:00.012-05:00

Imagine a city - walkable and dense where the principles of good urban design are embodied and historic structures are re-purposed and not demolished - a place where we work and live. With the complete over-haul of the City's zoning code in the cross-hairs of Mayor Byron Brown's second term, that reality, took a giant leap forward yesterday with the Mayor's announcement of "Buffalo Green

Vacant/Undeliverable - 2010

2010-04-23T01:43:00.009-05:00

Anthony Armstrong over at LISC-Buffalo has been keeping track of Buffalo's decline, forever. He passed along the following wiki - Buffalo Vacancy - where he's been keeping track of the Buffalo data compiled by HUD and the United States Postal Service. Some staggering numbers. Click, download and take a look at the spread sheets Anthony has compiled and see for yourself. On a related

94 Northampton - New lease on life

2010-04-22T20:26:00.004-05:00

Late this afternoon Commissioner Jim Comerford from the City of Buffalo Department of Permits & Inspections informed me that 94 Northampton has been removed from the City's demolition list. John Hannon, the City's Director of Real Estate, informed me he's requested the Common Council add 94 Northampton to the list of City-owned property that is "homestead eligible." This means

204 High Street - Still City-owned

2010-04-19T22:17:00.002-05:00

City-owned 204 High Street is still available (bing map). It's located directly across the street from the new Kaleida/UB complex. John Hannon, Director of Real Estate, is waiting to hear from you. The City's Division of Real Estate can be reached at (716) 851-5261. Related posts:One Block from the Medical Corridor (9/24/06) 204 High Street slide show ________________________________

Mapping Buffalo - the (new) Erie County GIS

2010-04-19T20:41:00.010-05:00

While doing property research today, I stumbled upon the newly revised Erie County GIS system. It's now streamlined and user friendly and a welcome addition to understanding Buffalo's built environment. An on-line tutorial will walk you through some of the more advanced functions. The site works very well for mapping the rest of the county, in case you didn't know._______________________

94 Northampton - Plundered

2010-04-19T17:34:00.013-05:00

Salvage crews from Buffalo ReUse were gutting City-owned 94 Northampton Street late last week (bing map). The City recently awarded a $20,900 contract for the demolition of this amazing Midtown residence to a local demolition contractor.94 Northampton StreetThe stewardship of 94 Northampton has been systematically mis-managed. It was flipped to MBBA - see Artvoice editor Geoff Kelly's MBBA

340 Genesee Street - collapses, in silence

2010-04-19T14:12:00.009-05:00

Genesee Street and emergency demolitions go hand in hand. 340 Genesee (bing map) is collapsing and only a stiff wind is standing in the way of another example of Buffalo's amazing vernacular commercial architecture from heading to the landfill. 340 Genesee Street - frontThe roof collapsed into the building recently and crashed through to the first floor. Students from the two neighborhood

House in downtown Buffalo - $1

2010-04-13T21:13:00.010-05:00

A Civil War-era cottage in downtown Buffalo is now available for purchase. The asking price? $1. The cottage at 41 Milnor (google map) is an eight-minute walk to Lafayette Square and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, providing significant tax benefits for a new owner. 41 Milnor StreetOver 700 new loft units have been built in downtown Buffalo recently - see

The Schoellkopf Power House - A New Lease

2010-03-30T09:07:00.012-05:00

The Schoellkopf Power House, erected in 1917 by the John P. Cowper Company and put into operation in 1918, is now scheduled for conversion and will be used as a rail museum. A recent view of the Schoellkopf Power House from the end of Prenatt Street looking east across the tracks.The industrial colossus located along the Buffalo River and home to Hanna Furnace, Republic Steel, the grain

Bury this Big Mistake - Fixing the Kensington Part II

2010-03-04T01:03:00.019-05:00

This week's Artvoice cover story - Bury this Big Mistake - is required reading for City residents, ex-pats and policy makers. a view across the Kensington From Geoff Kelly's cover story: The $45 million Kensington Expressway tore up Frederick Law Olmsted’s tree-lined Humboldt Parkway, claimed hundreds of homes in previously stable neighborhoods, ripped a trench in the ground that separated

Demolished Memories

2010-03-02T21:20:00.007-05:00

Jeff Simon refers to Buffalo's urban prairie for the first time in today's Buffalo News.more Urban Prairie pics From Jeff Simon: “The Urban Prairie.” It’s a phrase I’d never heard before. A friend told me that it came from an urbanist she knows as we drove through Buffalo’s East Side on the way back from dinner. I was looking for vestiges of well-remembered landmarks…or at least their sites.

Two to Save

2010-02-27T09:39:00.011-05:00

On Friday afternoon the Preservation League of New York State placed two significant East Side properties on the Seven to Save list of endangered places - 169 East Ferry and the Willert/AD Price Courts. Here's the League's press release.169 East Ferry - additional views169 East Ferry is home to Harris Hardware, Buffalo's oldest black hardware store. Located one block from the

Fixing the Kensington

2010-02-23T16:51:00.004-05:00

The City's Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Board has issued the following statement (.pdf) regarding the Kensington feasibility study that's about to be funded. New York State Senator Antoine Thompson is driving the study and the emerging conversation currently does not include a third option. The two options being studied involve capping the Kensington. The first includes a raised cap

The Plundering of Buffalo...

2010-02-18T03:08:00.006-05:00

The latest issue of Artvoice has this piece - Continental Drift: Is the Church Going South on Buffalo? - by Bruce Fisher. This is about the future of St. Gerard's and some of the broader cultural issues in play surrounding the plundering of Buffalo, NY. Bruce writes:Is there a compelling public interest in preserving the artifacts and sacred sites of an ancient civilization? The United

RIT Design - Broadway Market

2010-02-17T18:40:00.011-05:00

Design students from the Rochester Institute of Technology presented their recent work, a new singular vision for the Broadway Market, this afternoon. Working with Professor Alex Bitterman, 11 graphic and industrial design students captured the imagination of those attending with a set of refreshing interior and exterior proposals. Council President and Broadway Market neighbor David

Kaleida/UB - February 2010

2010-02-10T10:47:00.007-05:00

One of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the City is well underway. This $500m project is the latest edition to the City's medical campus and and frames the southern portion of this neighborhood here at the corner of Ellicott and Goodrich. To the north is Canisius College and the City's largest preservation district - the Hamlin Park Preservation District. Late last week the

Landfilling the City's Heritage - 1982

2010-02-09T08:43:00.009-05:00

The wrecking ball arrived at St. Patrick's in 1982. Chris Hawley has the story at the Hydraulics Press with some stunning pics. Chris writes: The erasure of the ecclesiastical monument, built in 1891 as the permanent house of worship for the parish founded at the site in 1853, was an act of vandalism against the public memory of the Hydraulics as Buffalo's first Irish neighborhood - later, a

Wonder where it all goes...?

2010-02-05T19:20:00.008-05:00

This is an amazing building. Wonder Bread is an early 20th century, steel-reinforced concrete "daylight factory." The building's interior spaces are characterized by tall ceilings, large south-facing windows, and open layout to maximize the penetration of natural light. The exterior, faced in blond brick, does not reference its structural framing in concrete and is an ode to preceding 19th

St. Gerard's in USA Today

2010-02-04T17:43:00.019-05:00

Today, Buffalo's East Side and St. Gerard's Church are in the national spot light. Here's the USA Today story - NY Church's Move to Georgia: 'Preservation by Relocation'? Some, such as Preservation Buffalo Niagara, accept the move as a necessary evil; others oppose it as what Tim Tielman, director of the Campaign for Buffalo History, Architecture and Culture, calls "a demolition and salvage

City Abanonded: 16 Harwood Place - Lyth Cottage

2010-01-31T10:04:00.011-05:00

This is the first part of a new monthly series focusing on heritage properties that the City of Buffalo owns and has abandoned. Every month a new property will be featured, hard questions will be asked and regular monthly updates will present an on-going status report.16 Harwood Place is cool. There are only two residential structures in the Hamlin Park Historic District that incorporate

The Engel House - What Remains?

2010-01-30T11:43:00.010-05:00

An emergency demolition order was issued less than 48 hours after an early morning blaze devastated the Engel House - 194 East Utica. What remains - the Engel HouseAccording to the Department of Inspections City residents spent $21.8K to demolish the structure. This included $3k for asbestos removal (20 sqft of floor tile and 75' of pipe insulation). The remains will be sent to a landfill next

The Engel House - Burned

2010-01-27T15:10:00.023-05:00

Some fixBuffalo readers may remember this post - Saying Goodbye? - and a series of posts from 2006 which helped place 194 East Utica on the local radar. These posts caught the attention of Rod and Meagan McCallum. They bought and rehabbed a City-owned house on Glenwood, directly behind 194 East Utica. Meagan's parents moved 1000 miles and bought and rehabbed a house around the corner to be

Learning from Youngstown - Part III

2010-01-21T19:34:00.006-05:00

Speaking of Youngstown - Mayor Jay Williams was in Buffalo, NY for the Great Lakes Building ReUse conference in 2008. Buffalo ReUse sponsored the event and the Mayor's talk is now available for the first time, today - courtesy of Kerry Brogan at Paget Films.Here's the first of six parts. The remaining five parts of the Mayor's talk are available after this link. See Learning from Youngstown -

Learning from Youngstown - Part II

2010-01-20T22:45:00.008-05:00

fixBuffalo readers have gotten a few doses of Youngstown over the years. Last week's Artvoice carried this short piece about our own Demone Smith and the strategic planning approach that Youngtown has embraced. If you're new to fixBuffalo or have yet to hear Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, here's a link to a podcast from a post three years ago - Learning from Youngstown - Part I. Click and

Moving St. Gerard's South

2010-01-20T21:08:00.017-05:00

St. Gerard's on Bailey Avenue was inspired by the Basilica of St. Paul's in Rome. Construction started in 1911 and was completed in 1931. Flash forward two generations - the Catholic Diocese closed St. Gerard's in 2008. It's now destined for a new home and will be systematically dismantled, moved 900 miles and reassembled near Atlanta. rendering of St. Gerard's - SouthHere's the new website.

Lourdes on Main Street - For Sale, again

2010-01-08T13:49:00.007-05:00

fixBuffalo readers may remember the auction here at Lourdes - September 2008 - when dozens of people gathered to glimpse and gawk at the devastated interior for the first time since the Catholic Diocese first closed the doors in 1993. Fast forward fifteen months and this amazing architectural gem is now available again. This view, from the City's Ellicott Street parking ramp shows the missing

The (new) Hydraulics Press

2010-01-02T19:56:00.005-05:00

The story teller of Buffalo's oldest industrial neighborhood has a new blog - the hydraulics, has changed names and is now - The Hydraulics Press. This just in from Chris Hawley:A new year, a new face for the Hydraulics blog! The new, rebranded Hydraulics Press represents the evolution of the blog as a medium for news and stories about Buffalo's earliest industrial district, the Hydraulics.2010

Brain Storm at Buffalo ReUse

2010-01-02T19:36:00.001-05:00

Buffalo ReUse sent out the following announcement today. ATTENTION: Architects, Green Builders, Artists & Designers Buffalo ReUse is assembling a working group to brainstorm, research, and explore the feasibility of a new, innovative building and reuse idea. Imagine real Green Housing and Neighborhoods in Buffalo. If you have an interest in green building, architectural design, interior design-

Buffalo and the National Register

2010-01-02T14:20:00.010-05:00

If you're looking for an authoritative list of Buffalo's National Register properties, look no further - wiki project National Register of Historic Places in Buffalo, New York. The site is maintained by Ted Hull who reached out recently while looking for some East Side pics. Wollenberg Grain Elevator (1912-2006)Ted grew up in Tonawanda and finished a program at UB in geography. He left the

City Abanonded: Redux Woodlawn Row Houses & 2010

2009-12-31T21:50:00.027-05:00

The Woodlawn Row Houses were cool. A dense complex of four attached, 4-bedroom woodframe dwellings designated by the City's Preservation Board in 1982 as a local landmark, burned this past summer in the middle of the night. They were one of the last three sets of row houses in the neighborhood where 21 sets once stood. While a number of exterior changes were made during the 80's - with out the

Kaleida/UB - December 2009

2009-12-08T20:58:00.002-05:00

The pace of construction continues at the site of City's new Global Vascular Institute. This block of Goodrich Street - between Michigan and Ellicott - that was sold to Kaleida for a reported $1m - was recently excavated. There a number of additional pics from this past week in the Kaleida/UB flickr archive. See the Kaleida Archive for additional information, pics and posts.__________________

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2009-11-22T08:00:00.007-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________ Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickr Creative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-21T08:00:00.002-05:00

See Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________ Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickr Creative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

Wilson Street Farm - Update & Hoop House

2009-11-19T15:50:00.003-05:00

On Saturday afternoon supporters of what's quickly becoming the city's largest urban farm met on Wilson Street and assembled a hoop house. Mark & Janice Stevens have entered into a cooperative agreement with the Community Action Organization to build and eventually own this structure. Earlier this year the CAO received federal stimulus dollars to help promote healthier eating and dietary

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2009-11-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

Kaleida Update - mid November 2009

2009-11-18T15:48:00.004-05:00

Site work and construction at Kaleida's new Global Vascular Institute is well underway. This pic is one of a growing series of weekly interval shots taken from the City's parking ramp on Ellicott Street. That's City Honors HS over on the left.This $500m project comes on the heels of $100m of public investment in arts and education in the neighborhood that includes Artspace, City Honors,

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2009-11-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-16T08:00:00.001-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

93

2009-11-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

Vanished - Part II

2009-11-13T12:20:00.006-05:00

One of the City's most recognizable street scapes, at the end of Louisiana Street, is almost gone. This neighborhood, once home to grain scoopers, longshoremen and foundry workers and filled with some of the finest examples of Great Lakes Workers Vernacular, is disappearing.Both 71 and 73 Louisiana were picked up by the city during recent tax foreclosure proceedings in 2005 and 2007 and later

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2009-11-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

Kaleida's Progress - Demolition Part I

2009-11-10T22:10:00.002-05:00

Kaleida's expansion into the neighborhood includes the planned demolition of seven structures - six houses and a former gas station - first mentioned here last December in the High/North street block. Buffalo ReUse has been awarded the demolition contracts and the deconstruction of one of the six houses at 1045 Michigan Avenue began last week. This fate of this little brick house - threatened

Vanished - Part I

2009-11-10T08:07:00.004-05:00

Vast neighborhoods on the City's East Side continue to disappear as residential structures are vacated, demolished and dumped in landfills. The commercial fabric along some of the City's great streets is carted away too. fixBuffalo readers may remember a series of posts involving a City owned building at 669 Genesee Street. The view from 669's roof has been this blog's banner photo from the

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2009-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-09T08:00:00.002-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

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2009-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

click image to enlargeSee Shooting Buffalo for more about this series and my flickr for additional pics of Buffalo, NY. I'm collecting this daily series of pics - here.__________________________________________________________________________Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickrCreative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the Neighborhood

City Honors - November 2009

2009-11-06T14:28:00.007-05:00

A visit to City Honors this week revealed substantial progress in the $40m renovation of an East Side landmark. Site plans include the demolition of Wooodson Gardens - a 16 multi family building site - on an adjacent parcel that have been owned and managed by the Buffalo Municipal Housing Agency since 1983. These residences were recently vacated and are now boarded and waiting for demolition.