Kaleida Health broke ground yesterday on a new $64 million long-term-care facility along Michigan Avenue.  Being constructed in the block bounded by Michigan Avenue and Maple, East North and High streets, the facility, when completed in 2012, will be the first nursing home built in Buffalo in decades.  It will also add healthcare services in a neighborhood designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a "medically underserved

The Prospect Avenue Baptist Church in the historic West Village neighborhood has been put on the market.  The circa-1867 church is approximately 24,000 sq.ft. with parking for thirty cars.  It is located at the corner of Georgia and Prospect streets.  The sanctuary

Larkin Development Group's restoration of the Schaefer Building at 740 Seneca Street is nearly complete.  Anchor tenant Young + Wright Architectural is expected to move into its new space in coming weeks.  Founded in 2003, Young + Wright was one of the first tenants in the nearby Larkin at Exchange complex and plans on occupying the first two floors of the revamped building.  The firm is also the architect of the 8,000 sq.ft. building's makeover.

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Larkin Development Group, wrapping up renovations to the Schaefer Building at 740 Seneca Street, purchased a warehouse building one block away last Friday for $180,000.  This building won't be renovated however.  Larkin will be demolishing the property to prepare it for future development.  The developer has been purchasing properties surrounding its pioneering Larkin at Exchange property, around three dozen to date, and is planning new office,

Reuse plans for the Lafayette Hotel continue to inch along while the historic preservation tax credit mess in Albany slowly straightens itself out.  State and federal historic preservation tax credits are crucial for the $35 million redevelopment project to proceed.

First up, Governor Paterson is expected to sign amendments to the New York State tax credit program passed by the Assembly and Legislature into law sometime before September 3.  The changes widen the eligibility pool for

A former nursing home is getting an impressive makeover.  Greenleaf & Company is teaming with Paul Kolkmeyer to jointly redevelop 1040 Delaware Avenue.  A mix of 49 rental units is planned along with 2,000 sq.ft. of ground floor office space.  With a new use, the building is also getting a new look.  The boxy, non-descript building will get a new façade that complements its Delaware Avenue neighbors.

1040 Delaware LLC's redevelopment project carries a $5.5 million price tag.  The former Lutheran Nursing

The Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency approved a $395,000 grant to Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) yesterday for its project at Main and Ferry streets.  Before approving the item, Mayor Bryon W. Brown praised the work of the 47-year-old civil rights organization and the impact this project will have on a highly visible city intersection and surrounding community.  Work could start by the end of the month.
 
The Home for HOME project involves saving an architecturally significant nineteenth century building at 1542 Main Street,

With another winter looming, neighbors are growing increasingly concerned about the fate of 918 Main Street.  The City-owned, roof-impaired Bosche Building may not survive another winter according they say.  A developer is ready and willing to redevelop the vacant property and state money has been allocated to shore-up the building, yet work has not begun.

The City must free up gap financing to conduct a Phase I environmental study, retain a structural consultant and start the selective

As the glass continues to go up on the New Federal Courthouse, we are getting a much better idea of how the glass will work with the sand-colored inner shell of the building. Still under construction, the elliptical shaped building occupies a full block of Delaware Avenue at Niagara Square, and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

The glass, delayed for several months due to testing purposes, is slowly creeping its way to the top of the 10-story building.

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After ultimatums, special meetings, and politicking, the Buffalo Common Council finally agreed to sell the Webster Block to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Thursday night.  ECHDC will acquire the property for $3.32 million if and when HSBC Bank chooses to relocate its nearly 4,000 employees to the site.  The bank, whose lease for 650,000 sq.ft. of space in HSBC Center expires in 2013, is looking at its space options while also negotiating with current landlord Seneca One Realty LLC on a lease renewal.

The new land transfer agreement was

A vacant Elm Street warehouse is slated to become downtown's newest residential project.  Greenleaf & Co. is teaming up with former First Niagara Bank Chairman Paul J. Kolkmeyer to convert the former-Spaghetti Warehouse site at 141 Elm Street into 38 to 40 lofts.  The team has the building under contract.

"We are currently doing our due diligence," says James Swiezy, Greenleaf's General Manager.  "We expect to close in late-September or early October."

"It is going to be a great project," says Swiezy. 

Efforts to secure an exemption for the NYS Rehabilitation Tax Credit program from the Governor's and Assembly's tax credit deferral plan failed during final budget maneuvering this week.  There is still hope however.  An effort is underway to save the Rehabilitation Tax Credit program when the Senate reconvenes next month.

Governor Patterson proposed - and the NYS Assembly leadership then modified - a plan to defer 30 New York State tax credit programs, pushing state payback on credits earned in 2010 - 2013 out to the 2014 - 2016 timeframe.  The Governor proposed a deferral

Buffalo State College's student housing project is looking rather green these days.  The $48 million dorm complex is quickly taking shape in the southwest side of the campus at the corner of Grant Street and Rockwell Road.  Cannon Design is the architect.

The new 507-bed apartment-style dormitory will feature 124 four-bed units, each with private bedrooms, two full baths and a kitchen. 

Downtown businessman Mark Croce is making a bid for the Statler.  He is teaming with James Eagan and has submitted a purchase offer on the venerable Niagara Square landmark for $200,000.  The duo would also assume outstanding taxes on the structure, pegged at $500,000.  The 18-story, circa-1923 former hotel has been vacant since earlier this year.

"Mark owns significant property in and around the Statler.  This is a building that is very important

After nearly ten years of study, site shifts, and lease negotiations, Bass Pro has dumped plans to open a store on the waterfront.  On July 19, Congressman Brian Higgins issued an ultimatum to Bass Pro giving the retailer two weeks to act on a lease for a Buffalo location.  Bass Pro president Jim Hagale notified Congressman Higgins today that it "cannot respond favorably to the lease draft forwarded to us by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation within the fourteen day time period

Work is underway to repurpose a vacant north Buffalo church for residential and commercial use.  Creative Structures Services Inc's 700 Parkside LLC is transforming the North Park Presbyterian Church into 12 apartments and 5,500 sq.ft. of office space.  The property at the corner of Parkside and Lyndhurst was purchased Wednesday for $210,000 from the Presbytery of Western New York.

"Though we just closed on the property, we actually started work two weeks ago," said Creative Structures Services' David Pawlik. "We're

Downtown has a newly prepared "shovel-ready" site, not that there was much left to begin with.  The remnants of two 19th century buildings were removed over the weekend at the corner of Genesee and Ellicott streets.  85 Genesee was an ornate four-story building that collapsed during a 2002 windstorm when then owner Triangle Development was attempting to stabilize the structure.  All that remained was the cast iron of the first floor facade.  91 Genesee was a three-story brick shell.  The properties are on the western end of the Genesee Block.

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It's been a year since a rooftop garden and patio area was installed at Savarino Cos. and Avalon Development's 95 Perry Street in the Cobblestone District.  So how did the plants tolerate a mid-summer planting and deep freeze over the winter?  Amazingly well according to landscape contractor and 'green' expert Dave Majewski owner of Premium Services.

"I have not seen the plants since spring budding; it is doing incredibly well," said Majewski.  "All the plants survived the winter with no problems.  It is doing better than expected."

The rooftop deck, with amazing

Efforts to secure an exemption for the NYS Rehabilitation Tax Credit program from the Governor's and Assembly's tax credit deferral plan continue, and your final assistance is needed to protect this program from changes that will halt or severely delay rehabilitation projects across New York State.  Your making three phone calls to the Governor, Assembly, and Senate can assist the Preservation League and others working in Albany to keep the rehabilitation tax credit program intact and ready to work for Buffalo and New York State.

Governor Patterson proposed - and the NYS Assembly

In an earlier version of  this post I incorrectly identified the building being renovated- it is in fact the building at the southwest corner of Main and Ferry streets (thank you jpp!).

1526 Main Street is owned by Main Ferry Development LLC and is 19,044 sq.ft.  The owner has been updating the ground floor commercial spaces.

Across the street, a long-vacant building is also going to see new life be by Housing Opportunities Made Equal.  The "Home for HOME Project" will be renovating the three-story corner building and constructing an adjoining