Photo of the Day: 26

Jefferson and Peckham Street (google map).



In the summer fresh fish is sold from this garage. The sign changes during the course of the year. Practices like these, a precursor to pop-up retail and today's DIY, are rapidly disappearing on the East Side. I remember driving an elderly neighbor to a regular location - long gone now - and picking up her weekly bottle of hooch.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 25

North Fillmore and Leroy Avenue (google map).



This significant mixed-use corner commercial building was the former Liberty National Bank building and was designed by Dietel & Wade, the same firm that designed Buffalo's City Hall. While future plans for this place remain uncertain, the building remains in good condition.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 24

Prenatt and Owahn Place (google map).



The Schoellkopf Power House built in 1917 is one of the last remaining structures and a reminder of the colossal complex last known as Buffalo Color.  Located on the Buffalo River it was once the country's largest producer of synthetic aniline indigo and other dyes. With so much potential for reuse, this industrial relic remains empty.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 23

Urban and Kehr Street (google map).



Buffalo's East Side was a bicycling hub during the first part of the 20th century.  The Brown Administration's commitment to help build this century's bicycling culture reached the East Side with the recent striping of bicycle lanes on Fillmore Avenue.  Promoting bicycle transportation is healthy for everyone.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 22

Jefferson Avenue and Northampton (google map). 

Storefront churches are common in the City's East Side neighborhoods. They're often located near more mainline houses of worship, a pattern that's repeated in many Rust Belt cities. Chilean photographer and sociologist Camilo Vergara's work How the Other Half Worships (2005) is helpful in understanding this phenomenon.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day" 21

Goemble Avenue and Hazel Place (google map).

Mid-block demolitions are decimating large parts of the City.  This Walden and Bailey neighborhood is continuing to experience the bulldozer's bureaucratic and physical impact on a regular basis. Gradually and then seemingly overnight, the familiar streetscape of a dense compact neighborhood becomes feral.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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222 Howard Street: Opportunity or Landfill?

This single-family home at 222 Howard Street (google map) has a date with the wrecking ball.  It appears solid, has a number of new improvements - roof, siding and chimneys.  Commissioner Comerford has recently agreed to a temporary stay. It's been languishing in zombie-property land for the last five years.

222 Howard has been in the same family since 1958, it's been well cared for and maintained.  I tracked down a surviving family member in Texas and the house is available for $1. The rub is that the City liabilities - taxes, water, etc... - are close to $6000.  While those have to be paid, there's probably an opportunity for the right buyer to negotiate a payment plan with the City.  Council Member David Franczyck has agreed to assist.

   

When you're visiting the neighborhood you'll quickly notice the density of new-builds and the impressive period homes nearby.  222 Howard is steps from transit and is located a few blocks from Common Roots Urban Farm.  The two adjacent vacant parcels pictured above are City-owned and would certainly add to project's strength.

If you're interested in pursuing this as a residence or investment property, please contact me. Take a moment and spread the word through your social networks.

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Photo of the Day: 20

Northland and Dutton Avenue (google map). 

Once a vital part of Buffalo's industrial colossus, Northland Avenue was home to one of the nation's largest employers, Curtiss-Wright.  Today the factories more closely resemble bombing targets and are owned by the City's politically connected developers. The employee parking lots are empty. 

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 19

Masten and Eaton Street (google map).

This is one of two remaining corner buildings that point to Masten Avenue's vibrant past.  It's traded hands five times in the last fifteen years.  Losing corner buildings represents two demolitions for the neighborhood. Today, the future of this mixed-use corner building is uncertain.  It's a five minute walk to Artspace and City Honors.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 18

Northampton and Masten Avenue (google map). 

Corner and mid-block retail stores were the standard on Masten Avenue, two blocks from Main Street. Today the urban prairie continues to expand and is adjacent to the recent $100 million investment in City Honors and Performing Arts schools.  Today only a barber shop, bar, corner store and auto repair shop remain.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 17

Sycamore and Gittere Street (google map).

On this mile stretch of Sycamore Street, between Fillmore and Walden Avenue, a funeral chapel, bar and a hand full of corner stores remain open. Imagine Elmwood Avenue, from Bidwell to Bryant, with six businesses. This is Buffalo's urban prairie, the visible part you see while driving East to the Galleria. Gasland closed in 2001.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 16

Broadway and Rother Street (google map).

Entire blocks of Broadway Avenue's commercial and retail fabric have been demolished during the past decade. Buildings disappear one at at time.  1172 Broadway is next and was recently known as Mazin Deli.  The pattern is the same. The bulldozer razes the street's vernacular architecture and the significant structures of Buffalo's historic Polonia neighborhood disappear into the landfill.  There is no plan.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 15

Sycamore and Johnson Street (google map).

I first noticed this parked trailer during Mayor Masiello's second term in the late 90's. Today rural signifiers such as this are more common on the ever expanding urban prairie on the City's East Side.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Fire Damaged Italianate: Landfill Bound?

On November 17, 2013 a fire damaged the first floor of this stunning two-family Italianate at 216 Peckham (google map).  The first floor is charred (see photo) yet the second floor remained untouched by the blaze. 

Two weeks ago the place was wide open. The roof appears to be in good condition and the house seems to be structurally sound.  According to County records the property is assessed for $18k and was purchased in 2008 for $23, 000. Prior to that it had been in the same family for 60 years.  It's currently privately owned. Earlier this week it still hadn't been sealed.

216 Peckham is a few short blocks away from one of the City's new urban farms, Common Roots Urban Farm.  If the current owners don't have plans, this would make an incredible opportunity for the right person interested in the City's emerging East Side.   

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Photo of the Day: 14

East Ferry at Fillmore Avenue (google map).

This one of the last remaining and unused news stands on the City's East Side.  I don't know when they were last used or who owns them.  There's another one located near the intersection of East Utica and Jefferson, across the street from the recently renovated and vacant Beverly A. Gray Business Services Incubator, aka the former North Jefferson Library.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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