Paul Kolkmeyer has closed on a deal to buy three of David Sweet’s properties at 237-251 Main Street and is expected to purchase Sweet’s Rand Building and Main Court Building later this year. Long-time downtown advocate Sweet is selling his property portfolio and retiring. Kolkmeyer paid $2,565,922 for the Marine Trust Company building at Main and Seneca streets and the Roblin Building at 241 Main Street. The Stanton Building at 251 Main Street was purchased under a separate transaction for $646,569. They contain a combined 413,000 sq.ft. of space and are located in the Joseph Ellicott Local Historic District.
Kolkmeyer is planning to reposition all of the properties over time including the conversion of some empty, dated office space into residences. First up will be the Stanton Building at 251 Main Street. Built in 1873, it has the only five-story cast iron façade in Buffalo. Thirty-six apartments are planned. Sweet restored the building’s ornate façade in 1986 and changed its name to the Stanton Building in honor of his father, Stanton Sweet.
The adjacent Roblin Building and much taller Marine Trust Building are expected to remain mostly office. Kolkmeyer is said to be exploring uses for Marine Trust’s ornate, arched-windowed banking floor and one possibility is as an event venue.
Kolkmeyer is finalizing the purchase of the Rand Building and Main Court Building. Both front Lafayette Square. He was part of a partnership that purchased the historic Dun Building in June 2013 and is also working with Chris Jacobs and John Barry on the redevelopment of the Birzon Building at 686 Main Street in the Theater District. Jacobs, Barry and Kolkmeyer also purchased a trio of properties along W. Tupper Streets earlier this year.