You may remember Buffalo Rising's coverage last year of a charming cottage on Grant Street that was endangered by Buffalo State expansion plans. Fortunately, that plucky little cottage got a reprieve: the preservation board put its proposed demolition on hold, encouraging Buffalo State College to look at alternatives to demolition (perhaps moving the house).
But what will become of this house, a none-other-like-it brick cottage of great character, overlooking a fascinating intersection in Buffalo's Old First Ward? A proposal for its demolition is being considered by the Buffalo Preservation Board at its Thursday meeting this week.
While brick Italianate cottages are by no means a rarity in Buffalo, this one has some "hidden" surprises that make it unlike any other I've seen anywhere. As seen in many buildings in the First Ward affected by Buffalo's city-wide grade-crossing elimination effort, when an embankment and bridge over nearby railroad tracks was constructed, the bridge builders gave the house a new set of stairs and entrance. But this house was so small as to have been overwhelmed by the embankment, so it was raised up a full story with a deck and entryway added to the side. A two-story structure attached to the rear may house an internal staircase. This house was built long before the automotive era--most likely for an employee of a business within walking distance--but there is automotive access from a rear street.
For over a century in the Old First Ward, the sight of this charming cottage has greeted anyone traveling north on Katherine Street--one of the First Ward's most interesting streets, and a walk through Buffalo's industrial history stretching from South Park Avenue to the tip of the "Katherine Peninsula." At the south end of Katherine Street, the Buffalo River bends around the peninsula, opposite which stand Buffalo's two largest grain elevators. The peninsula also hosts the slip where the river's remaining working tugboats dock when not guiding lake boats around the river's tortuous twists.
Across the street from this cottage is the former Beals, McCarthy, & Rogers foundry, which until its closing about a decade ago was Buffalo's oldest continuously operating industry--a descendant of an 1826 smithy with ties to city father Samuel Wilkeson. And still standing along South Park, from Katherine Street to Michigan Street, are remnants of the First Ward's once-thriving commercial district--of which Mazurek's Bakery, just down the street, is a notable survivor.
I spoke with preservation board members Harvey Garrett and Tim Tielman about what will become of this charming and unique cottage. While they both reiterated the standard disclaimer that the preservation board cannot, ultimately, "save" a structure, they can delay--for further consideration--applications for demolition if the circumstances warrant. Generally, the preservation board needs to see that there is some hope for the building, like an owner with the resources to undertake alternatives to demolition (as with the Buffalo State case mentioned above), or someone willing to step forward to take on the building as a project, with the resources to acquire, stabilize, and rehab it. That is what would be needed here.
The bottom line: unless someone steps forward, the clock will run out on this unique First Ward gem. But if you--or someone you know--may have an interest in this building, PLEASE contact--without delay--the Buffalo Preservation Board (contact below) and let them know of your interest in this charming bit of Buffalo's Old First Ward.
Get Connected:
Michelle Brozek
Senior Planner - Historic Preservation
Office of Strategic Planning
City of Buffalo
901 City Hall
Buffalo, New York 14202
p 716.851.5029
f 716.851.4388
Buffalo, NY truly IS Brick City, therefore, this little cottage is important to save, but how well do very old bricks move?
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Or, more to my point, was that creek along side it only a tiny, babbling brook when the cottage was first built?