Creative Structures Services (CSS) is planning another adaptive reuse project in North Buffalo. With one residential conversion under its belt and a second under construction, the development is proposing to convert the 13,000 sq.ft. Buffalo Covenant Church at 786 Kenmore Avenue into residential and commercial space.
A dozen apartments and 2,000 sq.ft. of office space are planned for the church building located at Kenmore and Harvest avenues. The Evangelical church decided to shut down due to declining membership and held its final service in the building last month. The congregation had occupied the building since its construction in 1947. There is a 75-car parking lot on site.
Creative Structures Services, a general contracting, project management and development firm, is headed by David Pawlik and Russell Kyte.
The $1.3 million development will be known as KLP Commons, after Pawlik's sister Karen who passed away approximately two years ago from ovarian cancer.
Two years ago the developers rehabbed a former church at 700 Parkside Avenue into The Lofts at Warwick, a dozen high-end apartments and 5,500 sq.ft. of office space.
"We have been 100 percent occupied since we completed our development nearly two years ago," says Pawlik. "The 786 Kenmore project will be similar in nature, with a mixed apartment/office scenario."
Work is currently underway on CSS' conversion of the former Fairfield Library at 1659 Amherst Street into five apartments and a small amount of office space. That project is expected to be completed next spring.
CSC expects to purchase the property in January and completing the project in mid-July 2013.
The Kenmore Avenue proposal is scheduled to be reviewed by the Zoning Board of Appeals on November 28 at 2 PM in City Hall Room 901. Also on the lengthy agenda is a proposal by DePaul Properties to construct a two and three-story 125-unit apartment building in a predominantly industrial area at 380-420 Hopkins Street. The Zoning Board will also consider a proposal to convert the Blockbuster Video space at 765 Elmwood Avenue into a Panera Bread restaurant. A variance is needed due to the space exceeding 2,500 sq.ft. in size in the Elmwood Business District.
Get Connected: Creative Structures Services, 716.882.1226
Sales price should be interesting as the City of Buffalo has it assessed at $768,400. This current assessment translates into around $30,000 per year in property taxes.
If the building is being held as a business venture, it should be taxed. The classroom section of this building was leased out over 30 years ago from my recollection.