The Erie County Industrial Development Agency board will consider aiding the $4.2 million redevelopment of two Niagara Street buildings today.  Sienna Realty plans to convert 297-305 Niagara into 21 apartments, 8,000 sq.ft. of retail space and 13,000 sq.ft. of office space. 

Both buildings have been vacant for over ten years.  The four-story Turner Bros. Building dates to 1852.  Sales and mortgage recording tax abatements totaling $197,000 are being sought through the IDA's

Avant is coming off a good year.  The Embassy Suites is exceeding expectations and is expanding by one floor, the building's office space is nearly full after signing a second anchor tenant, and three recent purchases bring the residential portion of the property over 2/3 sold.

If you have been searching for employment recently in Buffalo you may not be surprised to learn that Forbes magazine has found the city to be the second hardest in the nation (tied with Rochester, NY) to find a job in 2011 with only 11 job openings per 1,000 population. Only New Orleans, which has yet to make a full economic recovery from the Hurricane Katrina disaster, was found to have a tougher job market. The data was collected from US Bureau of

The former Gallagher Printing building at 2497 Delaware Avenue near Tacoma Avenue is a pile of rubble.  Western New York Immediate Care demolished the charming building to construct a 7,400 sq.ft. urgent care facility.  One positive from the demo is the uncovering of a Buffalo Trust Company sign painted on the Frank's Sunny Italy building next door. 

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has worked around the clock over the past week in order to create their vision for the reuse of Millard Fillmore Gates which is to close next year. ULI is a non-profit research and education organization that focuses on issues of land use and real estate development. The ULI panel has spent hours researching, interviewing, and envisioning the future use of the property.

The Kaleida Health Board of Directors has created a small steering committee to vet the draft ULI report and to help determine what options are truly viable. 

Condensation and possible mold issues in the new federal courthouse on Niagara Square have delayed the building's opening, but that has not stopped the installation of the building's finishing touches.  The glass on the entry pavilion, etched with the U.S. Constitution, is now in place.  Artwork by artist Robert Mangold, consisting of large-scale translucent colored glass panels, will be placed inside the pavilion.

Elsewhere in the building, condensation issues on the glass curtain wall facing Niagara Square has pushed back the building's completion date. 

Erie County Executive Chris Collins recently announced that the County will be offering a one-time challenge grant of $500,000 to the Martin House Restoration Corporation on the condition that the group is able to raise $1 million in private sector donations. 

"The Darwin Martin House is an historic architectural gem that attracts thousands of outside visitors to our region," said Collins. "It is a vehicle for us to promote cultural tourism, a key economic driver leading Erie County on the road to a bright future.  Success in

Assemblymember Sam Hoyt announced the creation of the Empire State New Market Corporation, an entity that will administer federal New Markets Tax Credits to boost development in low-income communities.  This legislation - initially sponsored by Hoyt - was incorporated into budget bills (A4010C/S2810C) and passed near-unanimously by the Assembly and Senate.

"This tax credit could enhance the development of major projects in Buffalo such as the Statler Towers, the Lafayette Hotel and the H.H. Richardson Complex," Hoyt said.  "Paired with the Historic

Do you have $849,900 kicking around?  If so, you may want to check out 440 Linwood Avenue. Situated on historic Linwood Avenue, 440 Linwood is located between West Ferry and West Utica. 
440 Linwood is a mansion with 9,000 square feet featuring 10 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 3 half baths and a billiard room. The home has undergone extensive renovations costing more than $650,000. The kitchen has granite countertops, a tin ceiling, high-end appliances and a brick fireplace.

Ellicott Development is proposing to convert the former Allentown Athletix property into ten apartments and possibly commercial space.  The site is adjacent to the company's Bellasara apartment building, the former University Club, at Allen Street and Delaware Avenue.  The firm will present its plan to the Buffalo Preservation Board today.

Allentown Athletix Health and Racquet Club closed at the end of 2010 after a twelve year run.  Ellicott Development's Del-Al Group LLC purchased the property on December 30 for $215,000. 

St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral is expanding its footprint downtown.  Plans call for the church's offices to shift from Pearl Street to a vacant building on Main Street, freeing up the Parish House for conversion into 11 affordable apartments.  Upon completion of the work, two downtown buildings in the Joseph Ellicott Historic District will be repurposed with new life.

"Both under-utilized buildings are in need of some work," says George Hezel, a parishioner

After the exciting deed signing event at the Statler, buyer and developer Mark Croce later outlined some of his plans for bringing the majestic building back to life.  Time is of the essence.  Croce is determined to have enough work done to host National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference events in the building in October. 

The first order of business is making immediate repairs to the building's roofs.  Attention will then turn

A downtown law firm's $1.5 million plan to renovate a vacant downtown building for its new offices is moving forward.  Ricotta & Visco received City Planning Board approval earlier this week to redevelop a historic four-story building at the northwest corner of Main and Mohawk streets.  The firm will be moving from the eleventh floor of Main Place Tower and occupy the entire building.

Ricotta & Visco purchased 496 Main Street on March 4 for $385,000.  The 11,440

Originally posted in July 2007-

This is not the famous Old Pink of Allen Street fame (which I believe is painted black). This old pink is 496 Main, a wonderful 19th century commercial building at the far south end of the Bergers complex that has been in search of more appreciative ownership for a long time. Perhaps 15 years ago or so it received its current distinctive pink color, becoming a somewhat dowdy landmark in the neighborhood. Receipt of a bizarre color scheme such as this is sure sign

Downstate, Buffalo had just been referred to as a place you would not want to go, but upstate, the city steeped in architectural history was celebrating a new era for one of its most historic structures. In a ceremony Wednesday afternoon, Statler City LLC, led by developer Mark Croce, officially took ownership of the Statler building. 

"For only having decided to put on a deed-signing event two days ago, there was a tremendous turn-out. So many people have taken an interest in the building. We

"We're finally in 878 Main Street," says James Hengst, Ph.D., President and CEO of ZeptoMetrix Corporation.  "The place is really stellar."

Yes it is.

It's taken four years, but the biotechnology firm has moved into its new corporate offices in Allentown at the edge of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. 

Mark Croce's bumpy pursuit of the Statler is coming to an end.  The tireless developer is finally closing on the property Wednesday.  Despite calls for abandonment and demolition, Croce always saw big potential in the Niagara Square landmark.  To celebrate the new ownership and stewardship of the property, Croce is hosting a reception at the Statler at 2 PM Wednesday.  The Buffalo Rising community is invited to watch as Trustee Morris L. Horwitz executes the Trustee's deed officially transferring the ownership.  Refeshments will be provided by Buffalo Chophouse.

After being tabled by the Planning Board for a second time, Anthony Lorusso's APL Properties has come out with yet another design for its proposed west side residential project at the corner of Maryland Street and West Avenue.

Lorusso originally planned for two, three-story flat roof buildings with 83 apartment units and parking to accommodate 64 cars. The proposal included

One of Buffalo's largest development companies believes in the promise of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.  Ellicott Development Company recently completed redevelopment of a string of buildings in the 1000 block of Main Street.  Nearby, the firm has big plans for the Our Lady of Lourdes church campus and is buying a church at North Street and North Pearl for conversion to residences.

In 2009, Ellicott Development completed renovations on a three-story, turn-of-the- 20th-century building

Ellicott Development Company has an Allentown church under contract with an eye towards converting the property to residential use.  Ellicott's Chief Executive Officer William Paladino says the company will soon complete the purchase of the New Life Assembly of God church at 189 North Pearl Street.  The ornate, circa-1899 church is at the corner of North Street one block from Main and walking distance to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

This will be the second church