A real estate investment group that includes former First Niagara Bank Chairman Paul J. Kolkmeyer is moving forward with plans to convert a vacant Delaware Avenue building to market-rate apartments. The former Lutheran Nursing Home property at 1040 Delaware will contain 49 rentals under plans being reviewed by the Buffalo Planning Board on Tuesday. Kolkmeyer and business partner Michael Macaluso's 1040 Delaware LLC purchased the property in April 2008 for $400,000.
Plaza Group had owned the three-story, 44,000 sq.ft. building located between W. Utica and Lexington Avenue since March 2000 before selling to 1040 Delaware LLC. Plaza Group had also been planning a residential conversion of the property before selling.
The Niagara Lutheran center was established in 1956 and was the first freestanding nursing home in the Buffalo area. It now operates the GreenFields Continuing Care Community in Lancaster and the Niagara Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center located at East Delevan Avenue and Hager Street.
Delaware remains a sought after address and this is not the first time a former nursing home has gone residential on the avenue. In 1986, developer Henry Balling converted the Buffalo Presbyterian Home at Delaware Avenue and Bryant Street into condominiums.
Editing note: seems unlikely that the planning board reviewed the plans "today", Labor Day. Story dateline 9/7.
If they did meet on Labor Day, please let us all know. That would be a story.