Colvin Estates Models Nearly Completed

I am always amazed when the garage door (or the roof) is the most prominent feature of a new home. Talk about car culture.

I meant to add that the Craftsman model is attractive, however. Let's hope that a lot of folks choose that one.

One pet peeve of mine - A house is a structure for living in. A home is what you make of the structure by living in it. Developers build houses not homes.

The lead photo looks like he put more money into the porch than the rest of the house, it sorta fuggly and cheap looking, very evident on the second floor. The ranch is not to bad looking though, garage or not.

That's awesome, because when I think of Buffalo real estate, I think "Man, what we really need in this city are more cheap plastic houses where the dominant feature is a garage." (see near East Side, William/Seneca/Clinton)

First of all, can we begin a campaign to flag all of the spam (WTF?)

More on the actual topic: I am not a huge fan of what we use to refer to as the “garage” with the attached house but it is a new build and let’s be honest; not everyone wants to live in an old house unless it has been totally rehabbed (my own home 77-years old).

Renovation is expensive and a pain-in-the-ass even if you’re talented enough to perform your own work so there is a market for these homes and it is not like this area had been demoed.

What is a welcomed change is that these homes are not subsidized which is often the proverbial kiss-of-death.

Something new in Buffalo is a positive regardless of personal taste or dislike.

That's awesome, because when I think of Buffalo real estate, I think "Man, what we really need in this city are more cheap plastic houses where the dominant feature is a garage." (see near East Side, William/Seneca/Clinton)

I don't mind the two-story one in the entry image. However, for $220k I'd at least want fiber cement (Hardi board) clapboard and cedar shingles in the gable area. The vinyl cheapens an otherwise authentic style. A proper bay window would have also been a nice touch on the second floor too. I'm also not a fan of the bump out on the side for the ventless fireplace. That's a lost opportunty for a chimney which would add more character.

As for the ranch style, I think it's straight up awful. In person it looks cheaply built. I'm curious about the interior space and finishes?

Putting the designs aside for a moment, I can't wait for that stretch of Colvin to be repaved. It is ridiculously potholed/pitted and hell on my car and bicycle.

It's amazing how worked up people can get over nothing. I, in the course of my life, will never drive on this street. I don't care what the houses look like, and I don't care if the owners (God forbid) have to rely on a car to get around.

I want this to suceed. I want the developer to make a ton of money, and I want 127 homeowners, who have no desire to renovate a 100-year-old functionally obsolete house, to be happy in there new houses in Buffalo (not the suburbs). This would be a great vote of confidence for the city.

Looking great!

The lead image reminds me of Sycamore Village. I agree that it's nice to have a choice in housing options in the city, but it seems like most of the new builds in the city have been largely suburban-style detached houses on oversized parcels. Where's the choice in that? It would be nice to see more projects like the apartment complex recently completed on Utica.

Or, I've said it before, why can't we build new houses with quality, like the new infill on Rabin Terrace? Just saying, those places look good still, and hold their value.

I think the Avery model pictured is not too bad looking. The other one that is under construction looks like a glorified garage to me.

I simply can't imagine paying $220K for a 1,235 sq ft house with no backyard when I can get 4000 sq ft with a large backyard for $100K in the same neighborhood. Even if you account for extra maintenance expense and headaches with an older house, the difference in price would pay for any required renovations and repairs many times over.

I suppose that "new house smell" is a powerful attractor for some people that trumps all other considerations. To each their own, I guess.

Estates??? Tasteless and lack of creativity! SMH!

Cheap, ugly. Wondering as I drive past each day who might want one of the completed properties on the street. Not I!

I agree with 16th Street: ".....when I think of Buffalo real estate, I think "Man, what we really need in this city are more cheap plastic houses where the dominant feature is a garage.""

Ruined property values for those on adjacent streets who had the fortitude to buy in the city in the first place, but who cares about them?!

Agreed...options are something thats sorely lacking in the City for the middle/upper class. You're either broke or a millionaire with all the choices..the majority are forced to choose between substandard housing in the city or the suburbs.

Out of my price range..but the real estate websites are funny. In that they're selling for 200-220 and a few lines below that is the actual appraisal for $150-$175. For $200-$225 you can get much higher quality..in a better neighborhood. But alas, not brand new! Which is what people are willing to pay for.

Regardless the more people with resources in the city the better..if they don't sell the price will come down. It'll be interesting to see what happens here..and later on with the railroad bed by Shoshone.

As if people without a car have a chance in this neighborhood. North Buffalo is what it is because of its suburban nature, if not for that I'd imagine the city would be in much worse shape than it is now.

We live in a country that has a "suburban" focus nationwide. I drive an suv and need a place to park it. The majority do not want to be as* to elbow with their neighbor let alone have to park their car on the street, but would like the amenities and convenciences of living in the city. As stated above..let's not pretend a car is the only thing you put in a garage..let alone anything involving chilrden/hobbies/life etc.

I'm with Brownteeth on this one...my time is too valuable to waste waiting for the bus.

This websites funny sometimes..we're for housing for the poor..but not for the middle class. Driving people who would like to stay into the suburbs. We're pro-bike lane..but anti-road. We love the apartments in the Lafayette (And their tax breaks) but hate the rentals/condo's on the waterfront with their tax breaks. We're anti-corporate and pro small business while ignoring the benefits of the first and not mentioning the negatives of the second.

We'll mention the cost to build a new road for new homes to be built that'll be paid for multiple times over at assessed values over a shorter period of time vs. our own.

We stress unrealistically "idealistic" ways of life that are soo out of touch with modern day its laughable.

How about instead of everyone bitching and complaing, and adding to the stereotype that that's all anyone does in this city, be happy. Why not be a little bit possitive. Why not see that someone is willing to invest money into the city, that could potentially attract new people to the city, which would mean, more money for the city, more money for local businesses etc.

C'mon folks. This was an old railroad right of way that was
a home for rats, skunks and underage drinkers. Bikepath? gimmee a break. I bought a house down the street 15yrs ago
and all my suburban friends laughed. Why would you move to
the CITY? Turns out it was the best move I ever made. Roofs blow off new builds in Clarence and Amherst all the time(called a "new build roof"which is no excuse) Colvin/Hertel neighborhood offers so much for so little. If you can't afford
the high price tags in EV, I would suggest looking at Hertel/Colvin (N.Buffalo)

a good friend of mine told me today that their opinion is that elmwood and parkside are becoming very suburban, i wonder how this development fits in to that mentality.

I think they look so much better than all those highly subsidized infill homes east of downtown and those scattered around the East Side. At least these houses have some character, are not next to masses of public housing, and are nearer to better schools. The odds that these will become cherished homes to families are much greater!

There's not much more I can add about the absurdity of subsidizing a cul-de-sac full of wide lot snout houses in a high density area.

I'll just say its nice to see sales of this moving along as the impression is they aren't selling.

This development sucks. Housing is a zero sum game, we lose people, yet we build more houses. Green space lost forever for the chance for a quick buck from a has-been developer who nearly lost his shirt when the bubble burst in NC. Burke comes home with his tail between his legs and takes on a project from a guy who sells Christmas ornaments in July, that Natale and Marrano wouldn't touch! Marrano would build a prefab house on a barge in Hoyt Lake if he thought he'd make twenty bucks on it and he told me personally that you can't make money here. Good luck pal. There will never be 127 houses on this parcel, its a pipe dream. The development will stall here, and LoCurto, Gordon, Burke et al will have this horrific edifice to stand as a testament to their shortsightedness. Lucky for them its built with crap materials so the world will forget in 20 years.

I still think these homes look very out of place in NB...