731 Main: One building at a time…
Avalon Development is busy at work in the 700 block of Main Street. After successfully renovating the three-story, 1911 Stokes Seed Building at 737 Main Street in 2002, the firm headed by Chris Jacobs has turned its attention to its one-story neighbor to the south. Renovations to 731 Main Street will result in a totally new façade since previous remodelings were not kind to the approximately 80 year old structure. The façade will feature new terra-cotta cladding, dark bronze aluminum windows and doors, and art glazed transoms. According to Jacobs, 731 may be the first new terra cotta building downtown in over 30 years.
Terra cotta has been used on many city landmarks including the Calumet Building, Guaranty Building, Electric Tower, and Shea’s Performing Arts Center. Orchard Park-based Boston Valley Terra Cotta (www.bostonvalley.com), founded in 1889 and one of the country’s leading suppliers of architectural terra cotta, is providing the material for 731 Main. Jacobs and Boston Valley are both excited to reintroduce downtown to this material and type of construction.
The building when completed will offer approximately 9,000 square feet of commercial loft-like space featuring high ceilings, exposed brick walls and on-site parking. With several recently completed or proposed residential projects nearby, Avalon hopes to attract retail or other tenants to serve the emerging neighborhood. Get connected: 856-0810.
Here's what Jacobs started with. As the transformation demonstrates, he's a creative developer with vision.
Chris does outstanding work. Buffalo's preservation board recognized this with an award in 2003. Right here: http://simurl.com/bb-jj-ll
It's just another example of the 700 block's rebirth. There are so many residential developments going on, the Sidway, Holling, GraniteWorks, Clover's proposed condo project in the same block and the existing Ansonia. It is no doubt that retail will EVENTUALLY make a successful return. Retail (not necessarily) meaning clothing, but services.
This seems a complete win for Main Street: good design; use of a beautiful and historical material (from a local supplier, yet!) in a way that makes reference to older landmark buildings, but is clean and modern; and the return of a facade that responds to the street. Proof that a silk purse can be made from a sow's ear. Amazing that in downtown Buffalo renovation of a one-story building might actually pay.
Ahhh, Alice's, Lights, Metroplex........ The sign of the times.
Insightful people should be moving quickly to buy a home or condo in Buffalo or bring their business here. No more investing in pre-build condos in Florida then "flipping" them for a profit. And the character-starved, vinyl-clads in the suburbs will never hold up to the test of time. The market adjustment that the U.S. is about to experience will in no way affect Buffalo's moderate, and therefore insulated, values which will continue to rise and pay dividends that are unprecedented. The momentum is gaining and there's no stopping it.
still need people to move to buffalo to experience a revitalization
Real terra cotta? From Boston Valley Terra Cotta? Be still, my beating heart! [warm smile]
Here's hoping that Chris Jacobs makes other local developers ashamed to paste Dry-Vit (fake styrofoam stucco) on old buildings.
momo, can't you say something positive for once? Here's a guy who put up his own money to rehab a building you would gladly have bulldozed and all you can do it talk about how the glass is half empty.
You're in development and have been in a lot of local buildings (AM&As, Calumet) that could be redeveloped, but maybe your heart just isn't in it where Buffalo is concerned.
For anyone to move to and/or invest in Buffalo requires either an act of faith or a sweet-heart deal from the public sector to make your deal risk-free. Not everyone can get the latter, and maybe if they don't have the former, Buffalo's not for them.
i have many positive things all over BR. by the same token I am a realist...and if those thoughts are construed as negative...I apologize
What a great change for this once ugly building. I hope it's not completly taken over by offices. What a shame it would be to waist all this window space with more blank glass.