Buffalorising has been redesigned.

Thanks for shedding light on this issue. But June 9 was two weeks ago....is it too late now?

Im just totally depressed... the city loses another 13,000 people between 2000, and 2005. I just can't deal with this news anymore. Im usually positive about the city, and just when everything seems to be turning around, this stupid story has to appear in the paper. And now we are demolishing more and more cool buildings. Did ANYONE notice that 19th century mansion that got demolished last week on Niagara street near that new ugly federal building (right next to the parking garage)? Will it EVER stop? I just wish i had the money to invest in the city and open a small business or renovate a building... I just dont

Balth-Take heart. Keep in mind these are just estimates. And they depend on data from the states via the counties so if the data aren't ready on July 1 , they're not included. Also, they are already out dated because they don't reflect the effect of last year's hurricances on the Gulf Coast. In the 1990s the Census Bureau estimated that Washington DCs population had dropped by 100,000 people when in fact the decennial census showed a drop of less than 20,000.
That's not the say there's not a population problem but estimates are just that - estimates. As far as the manison goes, it's not just sad it's pathetic.

I agree with Jefferson, they are estimates. Besides, I wouldn't take any figues seriosuly until the next offical census reading. By then, I expect that with the downtown boom, the Jefferson avenue reconstrcution, Hertel's boom, as well the the prjected grwoth of the waterfront, Buffalo will have grown. We'll just have to wait and see. As fro the house, it is pathetic. At least they could build something selse there, maybe someone else will by those properties and rehibilate them.

The sad part is that I know of two interested parties who anted to buy the house but were strung along by Belmont, and have since been called obstructionists by Belmont Shelter who said that they never contacted BS, which is untrue. They just want to expand their parking lot, plain and simple!

Before everyone lambastes Belmont Shelter, you should get your facts straight. Sebastian, where did you hear they want to expand the parking lot? Or is that just your assumption, and a way to get people riled up, since most people are anti-parking lot.

Belmont is a non-profit organization that helps provide fair housing to low income families, and has done extensive work in the area around Coe St, building new homes for low income families, making a very sketchy neighborhood viable again. The neighborhood now features new homes, with owner occupants. I think that offering low income families the opportunity to own a quality home in their neighborhood applaudable.

That house is in EXTREMELY poor condition. The cost to make it even livable would be phenomonal. It's a sad fact that not everything can be saved. I think what can be saved should, but sometimes its just not possible.

My only point is, before we go about bashing an organization that does a lot of good in the community, we need to look at all the facts. Spouting hearsay hurts everyone.

Something the Artspace people could do, to make the north side of Coe a bit more desirable: sacrifice a 10 or 15 ft slice of parking lot, behind the houses. That way, they'd have at least a tiny bit of yard; the houses are built right on the lot line (parking lot) now. I dream, of course.

I wonder how these were originally marketed; did the builder stress the "no grass to cut!" aspect? hehe. My name is a link to the 1894 appearance of this block .

ps - Never mind my "10 or 15ft on the yard" suggestion; I just remembered that the parking lot is much lower than Coe - there's a drop of several feet at the lot line.

JuneBug is correct with regard to Belmont Shelter. There are no facts to back up any contention that they intend to build a parking lot on this site.

However I have to strongly disagree with Junebug as to the viability of 19 Coe. That tired mantra "we can't save everything" and "it is beyond repair and can't be saved" is baseless. Belmont is doing work in saving and revieving these types neighborhoods but they are guilty of ignoring the very thing that can make the biggest impact. Saving at least some of the valuable historic urban fabric that still exists. Buffalo does not need more cheaply built suburban houses. It needs to save the irreplaceable and unique buildings that set it off from everyplace USA. If Belmont focused on renovating all the houses on this street instead of adding more plastic houses it would be making a real impact on the city.

We can't save everything? ? ? ? Why not try to save something? ? ? ?

Yes, the public can and should speak at Preservation Board meetings. All you have to do is sign in. Please fill the room and save the Ward House!

AHA! BIA Mod wants community involvement. If they can't hear our suggestion or concerns, they can't act on them. I am sure that many of you are already involved, but maybe we need more so they can hear.

I was justing pasting this and I see Steel beat me to the punch a little bit, but here's by thoughts anyway:

That�s great that the Belmont Shelter tries to help lower-income residents. However it does not, I repeat does not give them a free pass in this situation. The house may very well be in poor condition, but what did Belmont do to keep this home from falling into deplorable condition? There are no excuses. Everyone in the city of Buffalo needs to be responsible for preserving what is left our architectural heritage, however great or small. I am so tired of the endless excuses.

The fact is if preventative measures are taken early, buildings do not fall into total disarray. New �vinyl houses� are not going to revitalize the city. Buffalo needs to sell itself on a unique living opportunity. Vacant lots and vinyl houses are not unique living opportunities. Sometimes I am not sure if everyone grasps how important not just Buffalo�s architecturally significant �masterpieces� are, but also the old neighborhoods and the unique living opportunities many of them present. I think many ex-Buffalonians like myself, who live in prosperous areas of the South would agree with the premise that Buffalo neighborhoods set it apart from the non-descript housing found in many areas down South. Every house we lose is another lost opportunity.

Buffalo has a chance to sell itself as a place of history and to prosper because of it in the future. However if we choose to demolish homes (and buildings) one after the other for (insert excuse here), then Buffalo is doomed. New tract housing in Buffalo vs new tract housing anywhere in the South isn�t even a contest. The vicious cycle of destruction in Buffalo has to stop if the city is to experience a �re-birth.�

Steel,

Great post. Thanks for bringing this to a wider audience.

There are a number of people who have stepped up and would like to purchase and rehab the Hamilton Ward House.

We have just learned that there is a Coe Place Block Club meeting on Thursday 6/22 at 5:30 pm. Place - Belmont Shelter, right next door. If you can't make it to the Preservation Board Meeting, plan on attending the Block Club meeting. Public Invited.

I am also collecting letters of support to prevent the demolition that I will present at the Preservation Board Meeting. Please e -mail them to me at fixbuffalo@gmail.com

Iknow Im getting off track here, but i keep reading people "slamming" VINYL HOUSES...meaning houses in wood construction/framing with vinyl as a siding exterior. there are many "beautiful' VINYL products out there , from victorian shingles to shake shingle style in an array of colors too i might add. if you visit any contractor stores like niagara aluminum, or ABC INDUSTRIES ON broadway near michigan you'd be very surprised how innovative this industry has become. whether it's vinyl or steel or aluminum, it's maint free and the color is solid, not to mention energy efficient (r value backerboard )it allows a homeowner to not be a "maintenance slave" to his or her property by having to paint every 5 years and watch as the paint job deteriorates from the 1st day it's applied! and not to mention keeping the cost of home maint at a minimum .NO!! i am not in the siding business or own stock in any of these companies..i'm just trying to EDUCATE THOSE WHO SEEM TO FEEL THAT ANYTHING VINYL IS GARBAGE , POORLY CONSTRUCTED OR DISTASTEFUL.

JOE D. says

"i'm just trying to EDUCATE THOSE WHO SEEM TO FEEL THAT ANYTHING VINYL IS GARBAGE , POORLY CONSTRUCTED OR DISTASTEFUL."

JOE D.
It is! Especialy when it is embosed with fake wood grain. On a side note... while vinyl may give the impression that your house requires no maintainence this is just an illusion. These types of house siding products often hide problems below the surface like festering leaks and rot. The vinyl will look like new for many years but does not guarantee against water infiltration and the serious damage it causes..

Joe D... Its not that vinyl is "terrible", it is just something that we associate with cheaply built suburban homes. If maybe somebody actually USED this innovative vinyl product that you describe, then I guess the complaints would go down. I agree, some houses do look nice clad in vinyl. However, its the ugly cheap looking buildings that we are trying to rid ourselves of. (by the way, im in a better mood now!)

-Joe D.

Having been on the sales end of dealing with builders/contractors in the not-to-distant past, I realize that there are indeed quality siding products out there, many of which mimic wood products well. However, when �vinyl housing� or any similar term is used by most people on this site, it is to describe new, tract-type housing. The main point always being that this type of housing pales in comparison to Buffalo�s original well-built houses. New tract housing has neither the history, architecture, or integrity (in most cases) that older homes possess.

APOLLO...I certainly do agree with you. the cost of reproducing the grand ole look we see in some of buffalo's neighborhoods would be cost prohibitive, OR EVEN FINDING THE TALENT TO REPRODUCE... in view of the fact that not every home owner has deep pockets, or even the time or ability to maintain one of these architectural pieces and we are trying to put home ownership in reach of many who do not make 50 k or more, it seems a reasonable alternative if styled tastefully with some of the innovative products now on the market.

L...beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Belmont says that the house will take $$130,000 to renovate. That is complete balderdash.

Belmont does want to expand their parking lot as their increased staff and customer base need more parking and, with their recent renovation, Belmont has put their entrance off the parking lot instead of from Main Street. Hence they have hemmed themselves in from street parking.

Belmont is a very successful developer and can do anything they want to. They could build an above ground parking structure rather than mow down a house, vacant lots and sprawl parking into the neighborhood. They could build a nice house or two where the vacant lots are. They could sell the house and use the proceeds towards more housing.

Take note that Belmont Shelter Corporation is a New York State publically chartered not-for-profit corporation. They have created many subsidiary for-profit companies and have many resources to draw upon. Their IRS filing shows all their different projects, investments and related companies. http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2004/161/080/2004-161080227-01f840fe-9.pdf

So keep an open mind and remember that Belmont has been a good developer in the past, why would they want to jeopardize that now with a a hasty demolition?

If ture $130,000 is comparable to the cost of new construction. If they renovated this building at that cost the result would be several times more valuable to the city than new construction.

The want to expand their parking lot is from Belmont themselves, at least that is what they told one of the prospective investors!

THe 130 G difference - New construction at that cost creates a building that is worth 130 G. Put the same amount into rehab and it is worth much more. Rehab always creates a better value if it can be done.

Joe D,
I didnt say a word and I agree these houses do have character and are worth saving. In fact, this area is one of my favorite areas for gentrification. Artspace is fronting Main Street, Coe is behind it, down the street is City Honors, Masten Armory, Masten Park, City (athletic) Fields and adjacent to it on Main is the Life Sciences COE.

Plus if you cross Jefferson you get the Kensington, Science Museum and Humboldt Park.

There are few areas in Buffalo other than the Cultural District that offer so much in such a short radius. So count me in being a booster for this area.

As far as siding of these old victorians, I prefer dark colors but I dont care. Low maintenance siding allows the owner to redirect a $7,000 paint job to $7,000 for roofing and gutters or electricity or plumbing or leaky basement. Well spent maintenance will keep these homes safe for another generation who hopefully have the resources for a more comprehensive restoration.

We must do everything possible to keep these homes or Buffalo neighborhoods will be no different than the matchstick homes in anywhere USA.

Lastly, will someone PLEASE do a story about the neighborhood surrounding South Park, Botanical Gardens, the Basilica and the Orphanage. This is an area that gets ignored constantly and its an immense resource for South Buffalo to build upon and have pride. Perhaps a home tour or a garden tour!

We need to do much more to celebrate all of Buffalo (not just the high profile areas)!

It doesnt need to be said BUT...a prewar house (Victorian, Queen Anne, Greek Revival, etc) cannot be without a tree. The color, the size, the details...these homes were built with tall trees to frame them. These homes were built with tall treets to shade them and block the wind and elements from them as the walked.

If you love Buffalo...plant a tree.

" My name is the Lorax, and I speak for the trees" I couldn't agree with you more L. Look at how naked subdivisions look without the trees. I have 8 on my lot. They provide cool shade, the sounds of birds, everything that is good in life. Plant one, and it will last long after you are gone. Think of it as a legacy.

No matter how bad the condition of this house, there is almost no way it would cost $130k to rehab. According to city database, the house is 1900 sq ft.

I just completed a total rehab (new roof, windows, refinished floors, walls, etc) on a 2450 sq ft house that suffered with almost no roof for more than 5 years for a total investment of $45k.

You simply couldn't spend 130k to rehab a 1900 sq ft unless you were trying very hard to spend that much.

thanks for the letters of support...just picked up three more. If you live in Buffalo, I'll stop over and pick up a letter of support for this initiative. Just e-mail me fixbuffalo@gmail.com

thanks again...

L......you always have some interesting input and thought you would like to comment.

For the record, the Office of Strategic Planning's letter to the Common Council re: the sale state Belmont's intention of using the four lots as "parking and/or greenspace." But they have openly stated their intentions to concerned citizens that they plan to expand their parking to accomodate new employees.

and in expanding their parking they make the growing urban prairy less livable adding to the cancer of urban poverty that they are servicing.

Do they reallize they are doing the equivalent of giving sugar to diabetics, giving alcohol to those with liver cancer, giving a cigarette to those with lung cancer....etc. Just because they have good intentions and a noble purpose doesnt mean that they cannot be part of the problem! This is the part where the courage to be politically incorrect and speak truth to power (or contrary to the masses) is needed.

Just received the first letter of support from California! Cool...so ex-pats who have loved Buffalo in the past, please consider writing a letter, too. I will be presenting them to the Preservation Board at 3pm tomorrow!

Doktork...

Great map. Where did you find it?

if anyone is interested in contacting the Belmont (as i just did) this is their contact link.

http://www.belmontshelter.org/contact.php

It's from the City Atlas of 1894, online at http://www.erie.gov/atlases/buff_94/city_atlas.html . I advise downloading every bit of it, because it's very interesting AND who knows if the County will keep it on their website !

Note how the sewer lines in the canal district appear to dump directly into all the waterways ... yummo . FLY St., anyone? haha

In regards to what L has written, diversity is what draws some people to live in the city. Architecture draws others. When the two are combined you have a chemistry which can create tremendous neighborhoods. We need to save the house on Coe if that area ever stands a chance of becoming more than what George Bailey termed a "Potter Tenement" The new vinyl boxes can coexist with terrific old houses, we have no choice in this case. They will give this area a chance of becoming a Hertel or Elmwood or even Allentown district if things ever really do turn around.

M@.....and others...

I posted this the other day at FixBuffalo: http://tinyurl.com/s3x2g

That post reviews some of the current debate and I also link to Belmont's 990 filing (tax reture) which lists officers, board members and their residence address...(future protests???). Sending letters directly to board members is a very important part of the strategy to save the Hamilton Ward House.

When you click to that above link, make sure to read Chris Hawley's research on the Hamilton Ward House.

Just in....first ex-pat letter of support, from California. Thanks...keep spreading the word.

doktork...cool, thanks!

by the way pauldub, you gave me a great laugh when you referenced the Lorax...speaking for the trees. Dr Suess has a lesson for Buffalonians of every age.

L, My wife is the Lorax. Living in the burbs, we don't see a whole lot of trees. People seem to avoid them since they break up the yard. But every time we come in to the city, we marvel at the trees, and the way they enhance everything around them.
And in the irony category, a developer cleared a massive section of trees for a new subdivision. The name? "Majestic Woods"

The odd thing regarding a possible parking lot expansion for Belmont is that I work across the street and notice that their parking lot is half empty on a consistent basis. Coe is a great street in desperate need of some buyers who are interested in renovation...not the wrecking ball.