Renovation Planned in Cobblestone District

WCPerspective 14

A two-story building in the Cobblestone District is in line for a transformation. Owner 1876 Buehl Block LLC plans to renovate 49 Illinois Street for commercial occupancy. The developer purchased the brick structure, located between HSBC Arena and the Avalon Development/Savarino Cos. mixed-use renovations on Mississippi Street, last April.

The second floor will feature loft-like office space with the ground floor available for retail, restaurant/bar, or office uses. If demand warrants, the developer has also drafted plans to add a new third floor to the 8,888 sq.ft. building (rendering below).

1876 Buehl Block LLC has two downtown property renovations under its belt- the Buehl Block Building and adjacent 285 Ellicott Street. The four-story brick and mansard roofed Buehl Block, a circa-1875 structure located at the corner of Broadway and Ellicott Street, opened in 2006. It contains five two and three-bedroom loft apartments and The 2nd Cup cafe on the first floor. Next door, the two-story Stanford Building at 285 Ellicott has been renovated as office space.

Get Connected: Jay Newman, Hastings Cohn Real Estate, 716.886.3325

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Comments

14 Comments Leave a comment

onestarmartin

February 3, 2009 8:15 AM

Both version look great, what a difference it makes with just the paint removed. To bad they can't bury the phone and wire lines though.

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Nate Neuman

February 5, 2009 4:37 PM

I would argue in favor of the phone and wire lines as they add to the historic character of a warehouse/industrial district.

replied to onestarmartin

sonyactivision

February 3, 2009 1:04 PM

I like those gritty power poles!

Scott Norwood

February 3, 2009 1:14 PM

interesting concept...and as always a great drawing.

I went in this building last year, it is a real piece of crap inside. Hoping for the best though.

wnywatercooler

February 3, 2009 9:04 PM

no time table for start of construction? i am always surprised (not really) to see this whole block behind the parking ramp completely empty embarrassing and disgusting, how could these buildings not be viable for rehab.. people just sitting waiting to flip?

whatever

February 3, 2009 9:53 PM

"could these buildings not be viable for rehab"

Market demand issue, isn't it? Lots of buildings are sitting around across the city. AM&A's empty 10+ years, Tishman can't find an owner, a few commercial buildings near Broadway-Fillmore, and Grant-Ferry, 2nd-3rd floors of Calumet, a lot of empty buildings on Niagara St, Seneca St... What am I forgetting? Oh yeah, the ****ies Donuts on Hertel (j/k about that one).

Seriously though, w.w.c, is there something that makes it especially embarassing and disgusting for that block to be empty? I'm not knocking this project at all. I wish it well if the developers are using all private money.

replied to wnywatercooler

February 4, 2009 2:03 AM

"Private money" from whom? Failed zombie banks propped up by TARP money and tottering on the brink of dissolution? Developers who pay with their own cash? (a species not seen since the 1950s) It would be interesting to see a major bank like Citigroup get nationalized and projects like this financed as a way of generating new jobs and growth. We no longer have a "Private" financial system. Wall Street answers to its new master, the Federal Government. The only problem is that after 70 years, the Feds don't quite know how to behave like masters. I don't care where these guys get their money from, I'd like to see these ideas become reality.

replied to whatever

February 5, 2009 2:04 PM

You're right, sony, "using all private money" was sloppy wording on my part. I meant no special handouts and no targeted tax breaks. What I'm fed up with is deals like given for the Bass Pro building, Carl Paladino's condos, the Buffalo News building, One Sunset, Gigi's, Brian Davis's house, the downtown Hyatt, etc., etc. Maybe we disagree.

replied to sonyactivision

February 5, 2009 9:09 PM

@ whatever, I would agree with you in the best of times but these are extraordinary times and enormous stimulus is being allocated. Getting anything at all started is what's needed now. Maybe then, years from now, we can all feel bad about it, or argue the fine points and the principles. Buffalo has thus far been luckier than many cities in this recession but we all know better than to think it won't get much worse. To spend the public weal wisely requires time to consider all the angles...trouble is, there's not much time to do that. And right now, private money is being conserved nobody wants to spend what they have and gamble on this market. And yet again, doing nothing ensures that the worst will happen.

GriffsJZ

February 4, 2009 8:09 AM

I'm glad to see other developers getting a hand in the Cobblestone District...last I heard Savarino was the only one who owned properties in the area and his plans seemed to limit the areas use to the two restaurants/bars there, a few office structures and residences. His plans were great, but its always a plus when another few developers want to get in on making the most of the area

NorPark

February 4, 2009 8:53 AM

Any news on Benchwarmers????? I thought it was supposed to open quite a while ago, but no mention since.

Brett

February 4, 2009 9:44 AM

No news on Benchwarmers other than a constant flow of traffic and work all day long. It seems to be an endless project, but they may want to think about getting the doors open before the Sabres season is over.

As for the building above, the reason it sat idly by is simple, the owner was hoping that the casino was going to make this area more valuable so he/she could just dump an old building for a premium price. We inquired about purchasing this building last year and were told it was essentially not for sale.

February 4, 2009 3:22 PM

Here's an idea: a development that recreates the sense of energy and utility that once existed at the foot of Main Street. You could have a dock, a promenade, a great clock, and restaurants, shops, et al. I'm not sure that Canalside quite reaches or elaborates the foot of Main so something that very consciously focuses on that once significant part of Buffalo would be way cool.