The St. Martin's Village Project will revive the site and several of the buildings of the German Catholic Orphanage at 564 Dodge Street on the city's East Side, near the Kensington Expressway.
The current plans for the 9-building complex have 4 of its current buildings, including the chapel, being restored. The other buildings will be demolished, and 3 new buildings will join the site for a 7 building complex that will house 60 units of affordable housing apartments. R & P Oak Hill Development of Hamburg will be involved from the construction side, with the design work performed by Silvestri Architects P.C. of Amherst.
UB Law School Professor George M. Hezel, through the Law School's Affordable Housing Clinic, and the Community Action Organization of Erie County are involved in the project. St. Martin's Village was moving through the various economic development agencies and boards of the City of Buffalo in a timely fashion late this past Winter and early Spring. However, the project was withdrawn from their agendas temporarily because of staff changes at Silvestri and the need for short term financing. The project should move forward once these problems are taken care of.
With the recent controversies over demolition of historic buildings, It's good to see a plan that preserves the site and some of the buildings of the German Catholic Orphanage, a complex that is prized and admired by many.
Photo Courtesy of Chuck LaChiusa @ www.buffaloah.com
Additionally, here is a comprehensive archive, courtesy of David Torke of fixbuffalo.blogspot.com.