This is a true shame that the current owners of this property just let this building sit and rot. Shame on them!
This is a true shame that the current owners of this property just let this building sit and rot. Shame on them!
My husband and I have often remarked what an interesting building this is...I don't know what the zoning is, but it would also be great space to have a small business or studio on the first floor (artist, sculpture, etc) and then live above. Similar buildings are common in NYC, too - I remember several in Brooklyn - but this one is particularly large and has great symmetry.
I too, have a soft spot for that building n pass it almost every day. Looks like the owner at least got a new sign advertising parking space rental (whoopeee! new sign) at least it's a hint that it isn't entirely abandoned. It would be a very cool ground level (sculpture?) studio with apartment/s above n just steps from Richmond. If the owner is ready to sell, I know an architect who might consider a buy. Even the back of the building is cool n can be seen from a GardenWalk house on Union (formerly "Little Summer) n it's a huge ivy-covered backdrop to a wonderful "secret garden". Hey Steel n I like what you've added to the site! welcome!
Haha! Like ten of the "Buffaloberry" photos were taken in front of that building!
http://www.erie.gov/atlases/buff_94/vol_2/html/city_atlas_2_29.html
Re: the comment by comptart, I think Union is actually the next street up from Little Summer. Both sort of bend into York from Richmond.
I love that building too.
I thought it was the firehouse - and I'm not going to jump in my car and go look either!
Sorry, I just found pictures of current & old Buffalo firehouses here, and the one on Jersey is different...Check it out!
http://www.pbase.com/kjosker/firehouses&page=all
I had a photo of the building from when it first went up but I lost it in the fire. I know someone who has another (I emailed it around a bit so for those I may have sent it to please send it back to me). I'll try to get one out to Steel. Chris Brown wasworking with the owner a few months ago to sell the property and save it.
It was originally a stable for the homes on Richmond that didn't have Carriage Houses. It has since been used for car storage. It has a lift inside that was broken at some point and rumor has it that there are several cars stuck on the second floor.
Harvey
I've lived near that building for several years and felt that if I ever had the money (ie: won the lottery...) I would buy it, rehab it and make art studios/gallery out of it. I imagine that the ground floor has great natural light. Can you tell I've thought about that building a lot?
I found the original photo of the building - it survived the fire (well, at least most of it did). Let me know if anyone would like a copy.
Harvey
Thank God! Another article on the Livery. I hadn't seen one in a few days and was getting nervous. I look forward to Wednesdays posting about the building. And Thursdays... and Fridays...
ToughintheStreets,
Thank you for the support. It is so common these days for the media to report on a story once and move on even though the issue is ongoing. Our collective short attention span allows issues like the Livery situation to happen time and time again. Wouldn't it be great if the media really drilled down on a subject instead of moving on to the next Britney story?
Anyway the beauty of BRO is that we can spend time on the issues that interest us and our readers are quite free to move on to the next topic if they are no longer interested. Again thank you for reading and taking the extra time to comment on a subject that obviously interests you.
Except the next topic is the same as the last topic.....
It's not our short attention span that allows situations like the Livery, its our lack of action. Instead of just posting that article 2 and a half years ago perhaps you should have looked into the building a bit more and taken the appropriate steps to help save it then. Where were the call to action posts 2 years ago? Posting this article now amounts to nothing more than a "Ha ha I told you so."
Please include a link to the Buffalo News of a recent Britney Spears story.
Mr. Toughinthestreets, dont you get it? If you cant handle a conversation or are bored with it MOVE ON!! Keep your negative comments to yourself. How could you possiably complain because BRO didnt help save a building earlier? Where were you? The comment section is for the expression of ideas and thoughts, not for you to rant about how boring your life is.
Mr. Toughinthestreets, dont you get it? If you cant handle a conversation or are bored with it MOVE ON!! Keep your negative comments to yourself. How could you possiably complain because BRO didnt help save a building earlier? Where were you? The comment section is for the expression of ideas and thoughts, not for you to rant about how boring your life is.
Potatogoat:
And I'm free to express my thought that there is an over abundance of stories about bulidings. And lately its about the same buliding(s) over and over with nothing new. And I'd like to move on... except the next story is about the same thing... so where should I move on to?
I'm not complaining that BRO didnt help save the Livery earlier. My point is that Steel scolds the media for having a short attention span. However he and BRO knew about this building for over 2 years. Yet nothing was done. They posted a story and moved on to the next hot topic. So now at the last second something had to be done to save it. It wasn't a short attention span that almost doomed this building (and if it was the almighty BRO is just as guilty as the rest of the media) it was our collective lack of action. Yours and mine included, that almost doomed this building. This post is nothing more that BRO saying "see, see we knew about this place all along, we told you it was a treasure." yet they did nothing to save it. Then on the eve of its destruction its BRO to the rescue with post upon post calling for support.
So now allow me to express my idea (which you have said I have the right to do in the comments section)
Perhaps instead of just posting story after story on "pretty buildings, and empty space that would be perfect for retail" maybe BRO could focus on a few buildings in similar situations as the Livery and use their clout to gain support for its salvation and bring the communities attention to the slumlords who allow buildings to get in that condition. By using its resources to Pro-active instead of re-active (rallys, protests, petitions) perhaps BRO can help gain support for these great buildings and make sure we avoid anymore livery situations.
Potatogoat:
And I'm free to express my thought that there is an over abundance of stories about bulidings. And lately its about the same buliding(s) over and over with nothing new. And I'd like to move on... except the next story is about the same thing... so where should I move on to?
I'm not complaining that BRO didnt help save the Livery earlier. My point is that Steel scolds the media for having a short attention span. However he and BRO knew about this building for over 2 years. Yet nothing was done. They posted a story and moved on to the next hot topic. So now at the last second something had to be done to save it. It wasn't a short attention span that almost doomed this building (and if it was the almighty BRO is just as guilty as the rest of the media) it was our collective lack of action. Yours and mine included, that almost doomed this building. This post is nothing more that BRO saying "see, see we knew about this place all along, we told you it was a treasure." yet they did nothing to save it. Then on the eve of its destruction its BRO to the rescue with post upon post calling for support.
So now allow me to express my idea (which you have said I have the right to do in the comments section)
Perhaps instead of just posting story after story on "pretty buildings, and empty space that would be perfect for retail" maybe BRO could focus on a few buildings in similar situations as the Livery and use their clout to gain support for its salvation and bring the communities attention to the slumlords who allow buildings to get in that condition. By using its resources to Pro-active instead of re-active (rallys, protests, petitions) perhaps BRO can help gain support for these great buildings and make sure we avoid anymore livery situations.
Well Tough,
When I wrote that story back over a year ago it was done as an appreciation piece not a call to action. I had no way of knowing the dire condition of the building until its recent collapse. As for BRO activism, many associated with this organization are active in efforts to improve the city and make positive changes. As well many stories call attention to things that need to change or overlooked assets which need recognition. Some BRO stories and BRO efforts have led directly to change. One story I wrote led to a group buying and renovating a building. That being said BRO is not the all powerful organization that you seem to think it is, or maybe it is? I don't know. I write about the things that interest me. If I am ahead of the curve on a subject great. If not I do my bets to catch up. If the bores you the best advice I can give is to move on to the next story. I do however enjoy receiving constructive criticism. I am but just an amateur at this Blog thing and no one is above improvement especially me.
I'm not suggesting you should have known. But there was no reason to repost your article. Other than as a way of BRO patting itself on the back as I've already said. Please explain why it was neccessary to repost that article. Your advice to move on is does nothing for me if the next story is about the Livery, or Avant, or another condo story. If these are the only "positive" things going on in the city, I'm concerned. My beef isn't directly with you its with the copious amounts regurgitated articles. And if history is any indication and BRO is reading this we'll see another Livery post or plethora of building posts on here tomorrow out of spite (of course now if they are reading this we won't see any). But I digress. I realize I'm wasting my breath and my time. So please, bring on the buildings! Whoo!
Tough,
It seems it is time for you to find another Blog. I for the most part only write about buildings and urbanism. By the way, of the 24 stories following this one only 2 are about buildings. And, what is the purpose of the repost? To remind us to look around at what we have before it is gone and also to spur Harvey to dig up that image of the building when it was new.
Stay tuned for more stories about buildings!
Between July 1st and July 7th BRO posted 12 articles about "bulidings" not including the skyline or rent posts. 12 posts in 7 days. on page 6, of the 10 posts 6 are about buildings with 2 in a row about the Livery and Sam Savarino.
Is that how you solve all your problems? Someone challenges you and your opinion and you tell them to leave? Because I don't find the same things you do interesting and I don't want to read the same thing over and over again I should go elsewhere? Imagine if any other publication said to anyone who commented on their content said "go read something else" not the best way to attract readers I would think. Think the Buffalo News or Artvoice responds to its criticism by saying "read something else?"
So this article reminds us to look at what we have before its gone? But don't actually do anything about it till the last minute right? Then pat ourselves on the back for knowing about the building for almost 3 years?
Sorry Steel but theres more to Buffalo than housing, construction and pretty buildings.
Between July 1st and July 7th BRO posted 12 articles about "bulidings" not including the skyline or rent posts. 12 posts in 7 days. on page 6, of the 10 posts 6 are about buildings with 2 in a row about the Livery and Sam Savarino.
Is that how you solve all your problems? Someone challenges you and your opinion and you tell them to leave? Because I don't find the same things you do interesting and I don't want to read the same thing over and over again I should go elsewhere? Imagine if any other publication said to anyone who commented on their content said "go read something else" not the best way to attract readers I would think. Think the Buffalo News or Artvoice responds to its criticism by saying "read something else?"
So this article reminds us to look at what we have before its gone? But don't actually do anything about it till the last minute right? Then pat ourselves on the back for knowing about the building for almost 3 years?
Sorry Steel but theres more to Buffalo than housing, construction and pretty buildings.
Tough,
I am not telling you to leave. You keep saying that the content on BRO does not interest you. If so just change the channel is what I am telling you. There are thousands who do enjoy BRO's content. If there is something specific you would like covered then send in your suggestion. BRO welcomes reader input and content. That is all I am saying.
And yes there is more to Buffalo than pretty buildings. BRO has brought many of those things to light over the years. Many of those things were not being covered by any other source so I guess I just don't get your point. So what if 1/10 of BRO's coverage is on its remarkable collection of architecture. Just skip over the building stories. It not that mysterious. As I said BRO and myself are open to suggestions and constructive criticism. pointless complaining is not constructive.
"It seems it is time for you to find another Blog"
Sounds to me like you're telling me to leave.
So now you want me to stay and and "change the channel?" To what? This weeks abundance of gardening stories?
My point is that while covering things that other outlets don't BRO, for whatever reason, seems to have also narrowed its focus considerably in the last few weeks to only a few topics. While its nice to see the bike rack stuff and the Livery building saved and the inner harbor I don't want to read about the same stuff over and over again. There is much more going on in Buffalo than that. Take sports for example. I dunno if you noticed but Buffalo is a huge sports town. And there are hardly any sports stories here. Ever. Only two recently while gardening got two posts in a row yesterday. And when they do cover sports its covered poorly. It's the New Era CAP Classic not the CUP classic (BRO caught it and fixed it i see) And the picture posted is of an Angels game. I'd like to see BRO cover sports with even half the vigor they cover bikes and buildings and arts. I mean for god's sake just pedal your butt to Delaware and take a picture of the front of the building. Hell! Do a story on how New Era reused that building and take some pictures from the inside!
And as I've mentioned before if BRO can post negative stories about our state governor why cant it post negative stories about the McKinley fiasco. C'mon, let us vent! I'd at least like to see how other people feel about the topic!
And while I'm at it I'd like to see more stuff on restaurants and shops. Seems like theres been a void lately (especially shops) And not just the little video clip of different sections of Elmwood. Keep covering elmwood but branch out a little! I'm always looking for new places to shop and eat and I doubt I'm the only one. I loved that story on Hero and have even bought some art from them since. I noticed they now advertise here. I hope that their story was not a result of their ad buy on the site.
Steel, since you are so quick to put me down and only see my posts as negative complaining you've also missed my "constructive suggestion" to you and BRO (probably the ones above to) Instead of just doing a show and tell on "pretty buildings" every once and a while do some research on the building, see if it needs some sort of saving. Have BRO adopt it as a cause and gather support for it. If you would have done that with the Livery you could have helped save it much earlier. Instead of just pointing out these buildings and tsk-tsking pick one or two, expose the weasels who let them rot (or the city) and garner some support to help preserve them. You've already done it with that house the UB Kids bought for a buck. Keep going! By the way.. how is that project going? Or can we not pull ourselves away from the Livery? Or are you working on the next big Britney story?
This is odd. Does BRO claim to be an encyclopedic source for all things Buffalo? Does Steel? Does BRO welcome reader submissions? I'll help you out -- no, no, yes. So what's the problem?
ToughintheStreets, you raise good points regarding the types of stories you would like to see covered, but I have to say that Steel, in my opinion, makes a great contribution to my reading as do the other folks who present submissions. They're not Buffalo News reporters, just passionate people who share what interests them.
You have a passion about restaurants and stores? Steel and the others can't do it alone. Go for it. BuffaloRising seems pretty inclusive.
I don't fancy myself a writer and I would not subject the good readers at BRO to my poor writing skills anymore than I already am through these posts. Besides if I knew of all the great restaurants and shops around here I wouldn't be on BRO reading about them would I?
No BRO is not an encyclopedic source of all things Buffalo. But they do claim to report on all thing positive about Buffalo and things that mainstream news doesn't. I refuse to believe that these buildings and apartments are all we have going on. And can anyone really argue with me that there seems to be an abundance of those stories in the last week. or the abundance of garden stories the last couple days?
I just made my "reader submission" and my suggestions to Steel and BRO. (see above posts) As I've done in the past. And my observations and suggestions are dismissed as nothing more than complaints and I'm told to move along.
I've yet to hear a response.. How about being more pro-active and adopting a building in danger and exposing the reasons for its decay instead of just slapping up a few pictures of one and saying "gee wiz?" If we all love this topic so much seems like the next logical step doesn't it? "BRO Rallies to Save Building X. Owner Fined and Jailed" theres a positive headline no? How bout an update on the house the UB guys bought a few months ago?
ECB has defended negative posts about the former gov. as giving people an avenue to vent. why not post some stuff about McKinley? I don't even care as much about the story as I do seeing how other people feel about the subject. And as we saw from that post about BRO readership the folks at City and County hall are reading this stuff to. Who knows, Maybe it will prompt action. They posted negative articles about 57 Tillinghast being squashed and complained about NIMBY's. Nothing positive about that article but it got people talking and was interesting to see both sides of the story.
And I'm not singling out Steel because I do read some of the articles he posts. He just happens to be the one who keeps responding to my posts and dismissing what I say.
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