Real Estate: April 2009 Archives

There's a glimmer of hope for the Summit Building.  No, it is not from the ever-increasing hole in the building's roof.  The City is applying for Restore New York funding to help save the historic property at 918 Main Street in the Allentown Historic Preservation District.  State assistance would be used for internal demolition work and façade restoration. 

The four-story,

This one caught our attention in a hurry.  According to Miriam Treger, an agent with Realty USA,  the concept of "foreclosure tours" came from networking with agents out of California who are affiliated with the same national training and coaching organization Realty USA belongs to.  
"As part of our ongoing desire to strive to improve our real estate skills, we belong to an organization that coaches real estate agents from

The Erie County Industrial Development Agency approved a $16.6 million project to create student housing near Erie Community College's city campus and plans to rehab a vacant multi-family structure at 250 Virginia Street. 

Developer Jake Schneider will convert the 100-year-old Alling & Cory building, at 136 N. Division St., into a 90-apartment/dorm complex. Also approved was a $1.6 conversion of a three-story Virginia Street

A strip of decrepit buildings along Grant and Rees streets near Buffalo State College may soon be coming down.  The residential structures are owned by Bflo West Side Properties LLC and Elmwood Village Contracting, affiliates of real estate firm Greenleaf & Company, and a group of investors from Amherst, Massachusetts going by the name of Buffalo Suites LLC.  Greenleaf, partnering with the out-of-towners, is eyeing the assemblage for a new-build residential project geared towards Buff State students.

The residential properties

The last piece of steel was put in place at the Federal Courthouse project yesterday.  Officials and construction workers were on hand to celebrate the milestone event in the construction project.  Pittsburgh-based Mascaro Construction is building the $123 million, 10-story glass structure. 

Photo by Joe Cascio

The traditional "topping off" ceremony saw a flag and tree-topped, signed beam hoisted

The Chairman of M&T Bank and Empire State Development thinks the former AM&A's store on Main Street is a "disgrace."  Robert Wilmer's blast came in an interview with Business First's James Fink:

"Why that building has sat vacant and in that condition for 14 years is something that shouldn't have been allowed to happen."

Some 10 months into his tenure as chairman of ESD, Wilmers has seen the best and worst of economic development opportunities across New York. In the latter

A few projects are moving forward even in trying economic times.  Architect Karl Frizlen and contractor Paul Johnson's 257 Lafayette LLC have started renovation work at the former Catholic Academy School.  The pair are converting it into a mix of commercial and residential space.

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An ornate piece of Main Street's 500 block is for sale.  Chris Malakowski of Hunt Commercial Real Estate is listing the three-floor, 7,680 sq.ft. building at 523 Main Street with a $165,000 asking price.  It is one of several properties on the block currently on the market.

"523 is a very interesting building and I think the price is right.," says Malachowksi.  "The interesting part is that the back of 523 is actually 'attached' or contiguous

A three-story apartment building on the west side is coming back to life. Casa Shelby Development, LLC is proposing to renovate the vacant building at 250 Virginia Street for residential use.  Twenty-four apartments and private parking are planned. 

Business First has the details:

The building, located at the corner of Virginia and 10th streets, has been vacant for more than five years. Originally built as a hotel, it has gone through a number of changes and had been used as apartments.

We're happy to launch the Buffalo Rising Store.  There's a new button in the top right hand corner of the navigation which will direct users to the store, so go ahead and click it.  If you don't see it, hit refresh.   

As we mentioned when we launched this latest version of the site, we've been working behind-the-scenes on the Buffalo Rising Store and a new Restaurant Guide.  Today, we're launching the store. 

Sharon Linstedt's parting story in The Buffalo News is fittingly on the Statler.  The fate of the faded building has filled more than a few pages of the paper over the years.  Linstedt talks to two property owner/developers on what it will take to bring the Statler back.

First from Uniland Development's Carl Montante:

"There's no question it must be saved. It's an icon for the community and very salvageable,"