Buffalo Rising Online

This is a very nice project and excellent for the city - Johnson has Balls - The condos he builds will raise everyone's property value in the city. Long over due.

Nice design - Way out of my price range. I agree with clasicgrl - condo's that are in the 100Ks would be much more reasonable. Maybe some day I could afford something like this.

> Where are the condo's in the 100-200K price range???

They're called "houses in North Buffalo." You can find many nice single family houses in Elmwood Village and Allentown on the market for under $200K. This is Buffalo, not the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Looks great, I hear the condo's at ST Mary's are very affordable, but I do agree, the 20 somethings that want to purchase a nice condo could do with a building in the 120k range...are you listening developers!!!!

al you're giving me some ideas!!! thanks!

The real question is why would a developer build a $120,000 condo when he can built a $400,000 condo. It's great that 20 somethings would like them, but profit maximization is the key, especially in these locations where you're not building to a high density. Mid-rise buildings could surely be built in that price range, but there either is not enough demand to make it profitable, or the profit margins are too great in the $400,000 price range to consider these cheaper units. As the old adage goes, you get what you pay for, and you only buy what you can afford. There's no egalitarianism in real estate, so unless the developer can make a profit at $120,000, you either buy in a different location or rent till you have the money to afford a more expensive place. FYI I'm a 20 something also in Philly, and my choice is to rent an apartment or buy a house in a less than spectacular neighborhood, its just the way it works.

When they're built large, condos, I think, may be more attractive to 20somethings because they allow for more community (density), mixed use (grocer and gym on 1st and 2nd floor anyone?), energy savings, less responsibility for day-to-day maintenance (no snow removal, centralized trash and recycling, no worries about furnaces), and they offer urban amenities like high-rise views and elevators. Don't blame the kids for not saddling themselves with 30 year mortgages to keep up inefficient houses that don't contribute to the urban lifestyle that they want.

some people like the idea of moving into something that wasn't constructed pre - W W I . I like old houses and do believe that in many cases they are better constructed, but there is something to be said for buying something that should require less immediate maintainance for an extended period........these are nice but I do agree that they are out of most people's budgets though......not mine, but most.....

Amen Nick. Today's 20 somethings are a product of the I wan't it so you should give it to me generation. There are condos and plenty of single family homes in Buffalo for $120,000. They just aren't as nice as this. This is the premier residential area of the city and even so you can pick up some stuff in that range. It just isn't going to be 2,000 sf, brand new, have a jacuzzi or sub zero appliances. If I build you some $120,000 condos they are going to be 800sf. Are you still interested? If so then maybe there is a market for them.

I agree with clasicgrl, I cant undestand why we cant get townhomes or condos built for young professionals who want to buy and stay in the city. These are people that will stay for a long time, spend money in restaurants and bars and build here in the future. Our a family starting out who doesnt want a house and the resp. to it and also doesnt want to rent. Build townhomes for 150k to 225k and people will buy immediately

Scandy, of course anything could get built for this income bracket, just have the city government provide a tax abatement for middle income housing. Give the project parameters and you'll see it work. I don't understand why the city chooses not to utilze a tax abatement like the one here in Philly, it works! I should say that "I don't understand why" is retorical, the city will never give up its tax levy to promote development, its too corrupt and there are too many mouths to feed off the city teat.

You could have knocked me over with a feather. Frizlen Group? Aw, come on!

whats going to happen when Millard Fillmore Gates closes?

chris69 ^^^ each hospital room is going to be converted into a 175 square foot condo, 30K condos anybody? ha ha ha.....

This is a general question: How much interest do you think a 25 unit loft style building with 2-bdrm 1200sq/ft units would get? I am talking in the 175k range, with granite counter tops and hardwood floors. Would this building pre-sell before construction began? I am looking for feedback.

Thanks.

investor - I don't think there would be a problem selling 25 lofts at 175K. What is included with the price?

investor - I don't think there would be a problem selling 25 lofts at 175K. What is included with the price?

Mr. Investor, if you build the building you are proposing in the Elmwood Village/Delaware District, it will sell quickly. When the townhouses on West Utica were proposed last summer, Maureen Flavin, a very experienced and successful Buffalo real estate broker, said that the West Utica project was the beginning of responding to the tremendous pent up demand in this area for new condominiums. I suggest that you call her or one of the other very successful real estate brokers who sell in this area like Rodney Danforth or Susan Lenahan. You can find their business numbers in the Home Finder section of today's buffalo news. There's also another very successful real estate broker who could help you whose name, unfortunately, I can't remember. her office is on Elmwood in the house next to the house that had the fire this Fall that is also next to that hideous Rite Aid at Elmwood and Bryant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65C9OLvmjpI

tdimatteo - I think that the container housing is awesome and I believe this is doable in Buffalo. There has got to be a need to do something modern like this in a section of the City.

Well... the most vibrant communities have a variety of housing districts and options available to all varities of incomes and citizens... you need the large houses for the families.. the condo's for the young prof.'s and the empty nesters...

VAriety variety variety... a lot of good things follow professionals and empty nesters...

BTD - 1) Don't bash the Brits (it's in MY blood), thank you very much! The first opportunity I can get to England, I'll be there - London and to visit Bristol (where some of my family has there roots) among other places. 2) Personally, I really don't need that much room to live. My apartment is really no larger than what I want. I guess I still have some of my believes about simplicity amongst a very crazy possessive world. So, possibly I would, I like to think that I would be ahead of the curve. I know you disagree, but that's OK. At least this post is somewhat on topic.

For everyone complaining about condo prices, remember you live in one of the cheapest real estate markets in the country. 400k buys you more in Buffalo than anywhere else. Be thankful.