How Artspace Can Help Turnaround Midtown Buffalo
In June of 04, in an letter published in The News, Sen. Hillary Clinton wrote:
Have you ever stumbled upon a neighborhood that just feels alive -- with cafes and coffee shops pouring out onto the street; restaurants on every corner; studio apartments a flight of steps up from the busy sidewalk? Look close enough and you usually find a theater, a museum or arts center in the middle of the action.
And that’s why the Buffalo Artspace project is so exciting. Artspace Projects mission is to create, foster and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations. They pursue this mission through “development projects, asset management activities, consulting services, and community-building activities that serve artists and arts organizations of all disciplines, cultures, and economic circumstances.”
David at fixbuffalo reports that folks “in City Hall are developing a comprehensive investment impact manual for the area surrounding Artspace” and that Commissioner of Strategic Planning, Timothy Wannamaker “has placed the Artspace project on the top of his list.”
This project has actually been on the top of Wannamaker’s list for a while now. Almost a year an a half ago, he said:
"Typically what happens is you get arts-related business - graphic designers, architecture firms - that want to be around," said Wanamaker, who contacted the national arts group Artspace about coming to Buffalo. "The spinoff is our biggest bang for the buck."
Midtown Buffalo is poised for for arts-based growth. We’re already ranked as the eighth art travel destination in the country. We’re a city rich with talent, highly regarded museums and architecturally significant buildings waiting for renewed purpose.
And to make that real, here’s just a first pass at proposals and Recommendations for the neighborhood in the immediate radius of the Artspace project. Other projects that have required significant effort to woo and sizable concessions to secure would be hard-pressed to demonstrate the ability to generate this type of meaningful growth an opportunity.
- The Utica and Summer/Best Metro stations would be ideal places for entrepreneurial activity, in the form of vendor carts and kiosks that would add to the vitality of Main Street.
- The former Packard Showroom will soon be renovated to create 40 new mixed-income residential units, signifying a $9MM investment. It is the latest example of spin-off investment spurred by the Artspace project, something the City will continue to encourage.
- The City is proposing significant new streetscape improvements for Main Street, such as a proposed landscaped median, new sidewalks, brick crosswalks, and a restored tree canopy.
- Coe Place is the most historically and urbanistically significant street in the Midtown neighborhood. Coe Place is a charming, very narrow street, originally no more than fifteen feet wide, lined with a collection of close-knit Queen Anne-style houses. The City is proposing that the street be reconstructed in brick, in a diagonal herringbone pattern, as part of a housing rehabilitation and preservation program for the street.
- Old Best Street would be reclaimed as a functional vehicular and pedestrian connection from Main Street to the "new" Best Street. The connection would open up new development opportyunities and focus for Transit-Oriented Development on blighted vacant land. The street could be renamed Lourdes Lane to honor the existence of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, an architectural landmark and pillar of the immigrant community.
- Elicott Street would be converted to two-way traffic north of Goodell Street, slowing vehicle speeds, encouraging pedestrian activity, and making the street's architectural and scenic assets more accessible.
- A new brick alleyway is proposed between Dodge and Southhampton streets to encourage mid-block development, enhance character and charm, and improve pedestrian connectivity.
- The corner of Ellicott and Northampton streets would sport a landscaped roundabout to calm traffic, and create emphasis for this corner as a center of gravity for Midtown.
- The former St. Vincent's Convent will be a focus of the City's revitalization efforts. Long abandoned, it is a solid and architecturally significant structure with enormous potential for new loft living spaces. The former playground next to the building would also become a revived public space.
- The former Joseph Denzel's Tavern at the corner of Riley and Michigan, would be a revitalized as a mixed-use project under the City's revitalization program.
- The brick former livery stable at 65 Riley is a small building with vast potential as a placeholder for the corner of Holland and Riley. The City hopes to find an active reuse for the unique property, perhaps as a conversion to retail or gallery space.
This is the kind of project that will turn this part of the city around big time. So many creative people stuck in the suburbs are just looking for a reason to move into the city.
Shame about the horrific suburban style Delta Sonic monstrosity across the street. That never should have happened. Imagine if they hadn't torn down the Mid City building to make way for the Delta Sonic expansion.
Very visionary plan indeed! That neighborhood has alot of wonderful houses that architecturally rival those in neighborhoods like the Elmwood Village.
Out of curiosity, I drove down Coe pl. the other day and the first thing I saw was a young couple-- creative looking urban pinoeer types-- unloading stuff into a house. I took it that they may have been moving into the house. Looks like the first signs of rebirth of that street are in place.
Rumor has it that some visionary investors are going to make a play on Coe Place. Stay tuned.
St. Vincents is a spectacular building that is in disrepair. It's going to take a few pioneers to venture into the east side of Main Street to start the ball rolling. ArtSpace and Packard will lead the way. The interview in the News today with Tobe is really encouraging, and keeping Wannamaker is fantastic news. Are the stars aligning?
Don't forget us--Literacy Volunteers--in the Squier Mansion at Main and Riley! This building has been impeccably restored and is absolutely fabulous. We invite you all at anytime to come in and check us out....if you do visit, ask for Tracy :)
There are two houses for sale on Coe Place right now, one for $24,900 and one for $16,900. Five years ago, I used to live in the Sarabeth Building with almost 20 other "squatters", until the City shut it down. This Artspace development is hardly "grass roots", but it is very welcome, and we know from first hand experience the opportunities this neighborhood can have to offer.
I am the listing agent for three house on Coe Place, which is right next to the planned Artspace project. 25 Coe (a double) is listed for $24,900, and 31 (a single) and 36 (a double) are both listed for $16,900. These properties need work, but have great potential. Contact me at 982-6811 if you a\would like more info
I am interested in getting more information on the Old Livery on Riley... is this a City Owned property?
The former J.F. Lynch livery stable on the corner of Holland and Riley is privately owned. It is a highly reusable building, with a solid structure and subtle brick details that make it truly amazing.
As one of the two authors of the Artspace/Midtown plan, I have to confess some satisfaction in seeing that people are pleased with it. Midtown is rising!
Chris, could I get your contact information? I would like to hear about the plan, and possibly find property in the area.
Thanks!
tommarks@gmail.com
Speaking of the Squire Mansion, isn't that for sale, too? ANybody got 600 grand?
I'm planning a neighborhood tour of the Artspace Impact Area tomorrow...if anyone would like to join us, please let me know...
yea, I hated Delta Sonic until I had to go into the new building to pay for my oil change. the inside actually looks more like a Wegmans than your average gas station, it was very reassuring to see tables, pizza and a good selection of groceries. the cashiers were also pretty friendly too. the large parking lot however, is confusing for pedestrians and motorists alike, I hope they will decide to fix this problem once they start getting all the pedestrian traffic from the Artspace lofts. hmm can tractor trailers needing diesel fuel coexist with pedestrians? I'm sure it can be done, they have the space for it.
I was at an antique sale in this building several years ago and could not believe how gorgeous the space and views were. My first thought was that people would pay big money for a swank condo in this building. What is going on with the one story addition that houses the post office?
Coe place is a terrific street, A true hidden treasure! Soon to be a sought after address for anyone willing to ride the revitalization wave.
That antique sale you were at was Coo Coo U, they had the fifth floor. People lived on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors already at that time.
I'm fairly certain that the one-story portion of the building is remaining in the hands of the original owner. He has a couple high-paying long term tenants in the Post Office and the methadone clinic!
The neighborhood is definitely in need of some turnaround, and hopefully this public investment levies some development. There still remains some residual bitterness on the part of people who were gentrified out of this place.
Let it be sobering that after discounting the private investment and calculating for the 55 or 60 planned apartments, these units are going to cost the taxpayers roughly a quarter of a million bucks per.