Model Unit Completed at Hotel Lafayette

Looking good!

I've said it before, and I will say it yet again.

Rocco gets sh*t DONE.

If you live in Buffalo, have good friends, a good family, a nice career, and can keep yourself busy living in a small city, think how lucky you are. That $895 1-bedroom apartment would be $3,200 in Manhattan (plus $400 for a garage).

In one word..... AMAZING !

The speed at which this project is moving is incredible. Decades of deterioration all reversed in less than a year.

WOW!!!! Hard to believe that's the Lafayette!!!!!! Lookin Good!!!

I love Rocco, this building, the design, the total plan, the apartments, the views and the price. It all exceeds my expectations. Amazing job! $1200 for a two bedroom of this quality and location... young professional's dream

Great project. Is he planning on changing the color from that blue on the outside?

ok thanks good. Every time I drive by the blue just bothers me haha. I dont know what you do like what other color could you change it. Do we know any of their plans for it?

the kitchen island is a little too far into the middle of the room. other than that- awesome.

Looks beautiful. Cozy. This model unit is a little tight for my taste though. I live in a three-bedroom house in Kenmore now and definitely would want (and need)a two-bedroom unit and 1,200 square feet. And considering these will be brand new, $1,195 is very resonable. Anyone know if that price will include anything? Heat/electric/water? Will pets be allowed? Is parking extra? I can't wait until these are finished. I stopped by the Central Library today.. and just with those old dirty windows out it looks amazing down there. When you take a look around at this building, the Brisbane Building, City Hall, Lafayette Square and the building with HSBC on the ground floor (name escapes me right now)you realize you're standing in the middle of an architectural gold mine.

I like my nice little house in the closest 'burb but I really miss living in the city. And my five-year 'you can't move because you got a Fannie May loan' time restriction is up next July. Hmmmm..

The building name you're looking is the Rand Building. When built it served as the headquarters for HSBC's Buffalo predecessor, Marine Midland Bank, and is named for one of its chairman/presidents, George F. Rand, Sr. See pix and info at http://buffaloah.com/a/lafsq/14/ext/index.html

1915-1974 Marine Trust Bank was HQed on Main Street near Seneca, on the site of their original 1850 office. http://buffaloah.com/a/main/237/index.html

In 1929, The Marine Midland Corporation was formed by George F Rand Jr, to manage the bank's other holdings, which may have been located in the Rand Building, as it was built the same year. MM was one of the first banks to 'acquire' other banks in different cities across the state, which creates some irony that they later became part of HSBC and now First Niagara.

George Rand Sr is the man who built what is now Berchman's Hall at Canisius HS. There are still R's on some of the windows in the building. He died in a plane crash while touring Europe in the early 1920s.

His son, George Jr became incredibly fearful of airplanes and began to support airship (dirigible) transportation instead of planes. The antennae mast at the top of the Rand Building (named in honor of his deceased father) was originally intended to moor airships. The airship that attempted to dock at the top of the Empire State Building was hoping to carry a load of mail to the Rand offices in Buffalo. Had it succeeded, it would have been the first time that the two offices would be able to send written correspondence without ever touching the ground.

The Rand empire also included WGR Radio and later, WGRZ TV. The GR in both call signs stand for George Rand (the Z was just a random letter chosen to fulfill the 4-letter call sign). When it became apparent that the mooring mast on the roof would never be practical for docking airships, it was converted into a broadcast antenna for the radio station.

Other facets of the Rand conglomerate included acquisition of Remington Typewriters. Remington Rand became one of the first manufacturers of computer keyboards after they participated in construction of the UNIVAC back in the '50s.

Lots of history in the Rand name. Don't forget it! lol.

If they give you digital cable it's worth it!``

I think I set a record for negative votes! I guess I'm way out of the loop but I own a house in Snyder & while my mortgage is higher of course it's not that much more for a 2700 sq ft house.

A thousand James Brown screeches of delight for this project.

I can not believe that's the Lafayette!! Very nice and those prices are very reasonable! Good job!

I would think, in the current economy, rentals will go faster and easier than sales. Perhaps that will change when/if the housing and lending situation gets back to normal.

It also gives a bit more flexibility since this is still a relatively new venture for downtown. With condos and co-ops, the Lafayette is sort of hard-wired into long-term residential. Rentals will allow them to re-evaluate the market in a couple years and decide whether those units will be most lucrative as rentals, sales, or conversion to hotel suites. It's easier to convert a rental into something else than vice-versa.

Or maybe it's just a business decision based on the market. Perhaps there is a sufficient number of comparable condos available for sale right now, and a lack of high-end rental properties that the owner is hoping to take advantage of. I really don't know all the numbers, but assume due research was done to support the decision.

It's entirely based on funding. You cannot utilize the Historic tax credits for condos but you can use them for apartments. After 5 years the apartments could be transitioned to condos with no loss of tax credits.

Can't wait until Rocco gets his hands on the old AM&A's building.. He knows how to get things done RIGHT and on TIME! Thanks Rocco!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very few condo projects are going up right now. Banks are reluctant to give financing and marketing surveys indicate people are more interested in rentals than condos right now.

Wow, great views and such cheap rent. I pay $1100 for my one bedroom here in Toronto and I'm not even in the core. If you live and work in Buffalo and can afford it move into this building.

I have to thank Rocco and ULI for the chance to get a tour of the building during restoration. I worked across the street but had never been inside before, and had no idea how amazing it is.

To paraphrase a few tidbits, 'you cant skimp on a project like this, you have to be all-in..this isnt just construction its restoration...we use high quality materials, if you want junk, you can go to the suburbs for that'

Walking tour viewing Lafayette exterior

Worker strips old exterior paint to restore grand exterior

Also of note, Rocco mentioned that he will be restoring the full size windows throughout the room where those 2 little cut out windows are in the second picture.

Does anyone know who I can contact about booking functions in the new banquet facilities in the Lafayette? Thanks.