Buffalo Rising Online

Definitely worth saving and lots of potential - but the neighborhood is a big obstacle. At least the Squire mansion fronts Main Street... I think that portion of Main has to be developed a little more before any considerable investments will be made in the neighborhoods to the east. Too bad its not a little closer to the medical campus.

The rear windows at ground level are wide open. Pictures later. Will someone please tell me why this building is not in housing court?

If you think the exterior is amazing, you should see the interior! Took a tour a few months ago. Fifteen foot high ceilings and gorgeous views! And the chapel would make the most fantastic workspace for a small firm. Dozens of apartments could be placed here. Imagine the impact.

Sorry Matt Bb but, the neighborhood is only an obsticle in Old Buffalo thinking. Old Buffalo created the neighborhood. New Buffalo can recreate it

Yeah, why is it not in housing court Steel?

Why are you asking me?

http://preserve.bfn.org/bam/main/stvin/bw/index.html

more of the old photos.

It is another one of those buildings I have come across in my life that I wish I had the funds to do something with.

Then buy it you morons. Bitch, bitch, bitch, rant, rant, rant, wah, wah, wah..... Form an investment pool and start buying up the buildings you want some magical entity to rescue....

What a splendid building. Of course, it should be saved, but the question again is by whom and for what?

No one is a stronger advocate for preservation than I am, but New Buffalo or Old, there's got to be a little more realism about what's possible in a city whose population is half what it was 50 years ago. Buffalo is overflowing with great buildings erected decades ago to serve a burgeoning population and economy, but which are now in search of sympathetic, financially-capable new owners and new uses. At least for the present, in proportion to the need, Buffalo simply isn't generating enough of either.

Hardly a bitch or a rant Mojo. Bringing it up to the public is usually the best way to draw public awareness. It's worked before and it will work again. Stay tuned. The only comment I see here that bitches and moans is yours big shot.

I bet that this building's proximity to Main Street will be its savior. Sure there are a lot of buildings that need to be saved. This one is in a district that is already seeing investment. Down the street from Granite Works and Artspace, etc..So you can't save everything, that's for sure. This one is ripe for the picking though, and I don't have time to start an investment pool... but that's a good idea Mojo!

Perry

You would have said the same thing to the smart folks who renovated the massive Larkin warehouse east of downtown and then promtly leased it to capacity.

That building is the equivalent of a 30 story building and it is in an edgy location. If they had used Old Buffalo think they would have done nothing which is exactly what Old Buffalo does...NOTHING. To the benefit of all Buffalo they used New Buffalo think as their model and now have a remarkable and productive property.

There is nothing different here with this building. Hmmm lets see what could it be used for?

Charter school

Apartments

Condos

Senior housing

Office space (look at that chapel..that would be spectacular office space)

Health Club

Is the building for sale, and if so, for what price?

Instead of asking why this isn't in Housing Court, ask why the preservationists haven't identified it before BRO picked up on it. Call the city inspections department and ask if there is an open case on it. If not, ask that an inspector be sent out to it.

I just spoke with queenseyes to determine the address. Looking at the city property information screen, it is owned by Bailey Robinson, Inc. One of the addresses is known as 1140 Ellicott Street, but the deed is listed as 1313 Main Street. The Preservation Board seemed to have had some type of action on the property in 2001, but a settlement occurred in October 2002. Bailey Robinson purchased the property from Kenneth Gayles December 19, 2001 for a consideration (at least on the deed) of $200. Sounds a bit low - could it have been an agreement to lower the transfer tax? One can only speculate.

The last action on the 1140 Ellicott Street address was in 2004 for a permit. No inspections have been made on the place but we have requested one and were told when we called today, that the City would send an inspector out.

Bailey Robinson's contact information from NYS Corporations' database is Leonard G London with an office at 5780 Main Street in Williamsville, NY 14221. The phone number for his office is listed as 634-8600.

Incidentally, other properties recently purchased by Bailey Robinson that have direct connectivity with this site are 1105, 1109, and 1117 Ellicott Street.

Here's the baseline of this whole story and others like it. We are living in a city with four or five preservation groups and a fantastic inventory of architectural treasures. Yet, when are the preservationists most seen? When the wrecking ball swings. Preservation needs to be proactive, not reactive. I'm jumping on the proactive bandwagon and ask that anyone who wishes a ride join in, too!

We'll soon be looking for more folks who wish to save buildings before they become endangered. If you wish to join in on the fun with the Neighborhood Preservation Collaborative, send them an e-mail at npc-buffalo@hotmail.com. Let's get going, folks. There are so many of you out there who have expressed dismay at the comings and (mostly) goings of our historic treasures. It's nice to take a tour, but much more productive to save these structures before they become condemned or demolished.

Thanks to Queenseyes for the additional data that allowed us to determine the address and owner.

Marilyn- You Rock!

The City is slowly working its way towards a preservation PLAN, the first step being a survey of what structures or areas may be eligible for listing. But why do properties need to be historic in order to be up to code? Where is the City's plan for Systematic Code Enforcement? You know, inspect every property (even if from the comforts of a car) every year or so?

This neighborhood (Cold Springs) has suffered more devestation in infastructure than any in our city. There are streets that used to be as dense as any street on the west side with beautifuly diverse architectural styles, which now are almost gone. There are entire blocks in close proximatey that have one or two houses remaining, and in most cases they have been borded up. So it is not suprising that this building only now comes into the consciousness of the BRO collective. As with the lower east side, geopolitical and ethnic prejudices have prevented any investment here, and as with the lower east side there exists a tremendous collection of old magnificent buildings that are worth saving.

But until that main street "barrier" is broken we all can continue to expect these buildings to disappear.

Has anyone found Ada Place? it is very similar to Coe Place and is just south of the Canisus Sports Complex. Very cool street..but needs a tremendous amount of help to survive. Currently horribly suburban style infill houses are being built close to this street and it is only a mater of time until this street gets raised too.

I applaud the work that goes into the City section of BRO to make us all aware of the current buildings in despair that need our attention and help, and also the articles giving us status on current prevervation projects. I check this site multiple times a day because I enjoy seeing New Buffalo progess and it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

I have enjoyed Steel's articles for quite some time, and is almost always right on the money. However, I'm noticing an attitude as of late which almost disgusts me. For someone who was just recently complaining about the use of labels to describe so called "preservationists" and "obstructionist", Steel sure is going out of the way to use them (not this article, but the last).

I thought to myself, eh, just let it go... But then I read this post and saw the comment on how the neighborhood isn't an obsticle and to even suggest such a thing is "Old Buffalo".

What the...? There's black and white and many shades of gray between them. Its not about old school vs. new school, its not about left wing vs. right wing, its not about preservationists vs. ugh, whatever the opposite of a preservationist is... its about SMART decisions and compromise.

Obviously BRO is here to promote New Buffalo, which I proudly consider myself a staunch supporter of. But its in our best interest to not be so narrow minded and argumenitive... or we're destined to end up like the Old Buffalo foggies who bicker and bicker and never get anywhere.

Hey! What a great post and thread!!! I'm SO thrilled that this building is being discussed. Newell, darling, where DID you get the idea??

It looks a bit like the building has seen minimal change since last I drove around to look at it. Last time I saw it, probably a couple of years ago, it still had a project sign with "Mayor James Griffin" on it, and all the brush had grown up around it so it looked like something out of a fairy tale. I hoped all the Squire building attention would put the spotlight on this one as well, but the dividing line of Main Street has been a real psychlogical impediment to development.

This small area is quite dear to my heart, because I was an "urban pioneer" 12 years ago when I bought a house on Linwood Avenue, one directly behind the McDonalds in the same vicinity. I looked at the Pierce Arrow water tower every morning as the sun came pouring through. The house was trashed, had been vacant for 2 years, we gutted it and returned it most of the way toward a wonderful house, but in the meantime I learned a lot about living on the edge of our racial and economic boundary. Out front was the back yard of the Saturn Club, and in the back, well, undercover drug cops came through the yard a couple of times to catch some dealmakers at the ever busy MickyD's dumpster. "I'm so sorry, ma'am, but would you mind keeping the kids inside for a while?" "No problem, officer."

Anyway, I drove around a lot on both sides of Main Street during that time. I discovered, based on architectural styles, that before the wealthy mansions were on the Parkways, they were on Linwood, and before that they were on Main Street. The Squire Building was one remnant I fell in love with back then. Another was the Bristol Manor. You can still see the footprints of old mansions in the parking lots where the black top has sunk. One door south of McDonald's is a glorious carriage house still standing.

The Pierce Arrow factory, the next building to the north of the Squire mansion, once had amazing windows with brass fittings in front, and it sat tragically empty, but even with glass block replacements for the front windows, Cash realty has that building on the market right now for $1.6 million. That would be the immediate neighbor to the one with pictures above, and it's rather a typical well-built factory building overall. Not anywhere near as beautiful and special as this one.

I always thought it would make fabulous artist studios, and when they announced the Artspace sight would be somewhere middle Main Street I hoped it would be this site.

If anyone wants to drive around to it, you will also see what remains of gorgeous Queen Anne Vicotorians as nice as anything in the Delaware District. Not sure how much can be saved, but it really could be a lovely neighborhood.

Jake,

I am glad that you are almost disgusted rather than actualy disgusted. I am not sure you are seeing why I am using those labels in my Squire post. I am using the term "obstructionist" as irony and sarcasm to illustrate that those people so often labeld as obstructionists (namely the preservationists) are the very same people who are directly responsible for much of the development in Buffalo.

Nat, come again? I didn't know that this was my post? I wish it was.

The Squire Bldg is part of this complex...

Newell, just teasing. I should have said it to Steel... :) I still think in Old Media terms, that you as editor decides what goes up.

To clarify, my last post about the Dulski building on that thread was that I wouldn't care so much if the Dulski building came down when there are other gems that need saving, such as the fabulous one behind the Squire Building... we should save THAT building. And voila!

Just synchronicity it seems, and that's a good thing.

Marilyn-

They did tear down some parts of the campus when they restored the Squire building, but there was a blue tarp on that part of the roof for a good part of a decade, and I think it was that connecting part.

STEEL

No, that is not what I would have said.

Nothing is more childish about this website than the tendency of some posters to extrapolate from someone else's comments something that isn't there.

Of course, the functions you list are possible, potential uses for this great building. The same theme and variations appear in virtually every discussion of an empty, decaying Buffalo building.

This landmark could also become an assisted-living/nursing home, political think-tank, international trade association headquarters, university club, museum, movie-production facility, carpet warehouse, disco, organic foods emporium, Catholic priest reform facility, research lab, center for investigation of interterrestial phenomena, future home of Buffalo Rising, etc. -- anything, if the economy and population of Buffalo can support it

Steel:

I applaud your statement of breaking down the "Old Buffalo" to build a "New Buffalo"...but you have be a realist too. If you think people are just going to ignore the neighborhood and focus on the architectural majesty of the building, you're nutts. You won't find a bigger proponent of breaking down the Main Street barrier than me...but I'm not going to ignore the conditions of some of those neighborhoods and the fact that people will be hestitant to invest a lot of money into that building.

I think we need to save those buildings from destruction, but most of the energy should be placed on revitalizing Main Street first...you have to tear down the barrier...not just hop over it.

I'm not critical of your ideas and hopes...but if you're going to tell me I'm wrong for pointing out the obvious, you're living in fantasyland.

Perry,

It is not such a preposterous leap to extrapolate your comment to other projects in edgy areas that have proven successful. You say that Buffalo is not generating a need for new space and I say look at the buildings that have been renovated. They have created the need.

Taking a position that saving buildings like this is not possible will guaranty that it will not be possible.

STEEL,

"There you go again!"

I give up! Love your articles because I love Buffalo's architecture.

Nowhere did I take a position that "saving buildings like this is NOT POSSIBLE." (Emphasis mine)

On to other things.

Don't fall into the trap regarding the city's loss of population. Many cities in the northeast and midwest have lost half if not more of their populations. That is no reason to give up the fight to preserve these buildings.

Letting them sit and rot is not an acceptable option. If nothing else, they should be protected and made weathertight until they can be developed.

Steel and Perry,

I don't know any blogs that don't have commentors who take small things out of context, or "hear" a tone that isn't there and respond to it. It's one of the downsides of blogs. Frankly, I love these long posts with umpteen responses, but the bickering is usually the result of misunderstanding.

Writing for the public is not as easy as it seems because nobody really knows you enough not to take your words as written, or as snarky, or as playful, or as nasty. And now everyone is writing for the public as easily as they email their friends.

It's an excellent point to make that we hope one block east of Main Street in that area MAY not yet be viable. Rather than say, don't be negative, why not point out what may be positive. Queenseye (a.k.a Capt. Positive - and I mean that in a good way) promptly mentioned that it's only a block away from a fairly rapidly improving Main Street. I mentioned that the building next to it is on the market for $1.6 million. These aren't gratuitous remarks - they are facts. We can also say the area is a disaster. Both are true, but attitude is the difference between having the confidence and energy to face the obstacles that will no doubt come up. Attitude may be the difference between sticking with the project till it's a success or giving up and adding another failure to the city's roster.

So I abhor the anti-preservationist venom I read (it seems grounded in despair though) ... and I see obstructionism disguised as preservationism as well. As a reader and community member, it's my job to know which is which, but it certainly isn't black and white. It's safe to say, however, that nobody thinks being practical is a bad idea, and also that it's possible to be realistic AND optimistic at the same time. It takes some skill, but the skill level of readers of this site is pretty high.

So in many ways New Buffalo is all about a positive attitude. Being a dreamer is not a bad thing to be if you actually make things happen, and I think dreaming AND doing is what the phrase New Buffalo is all about. One element is kind of pointless without the other.

Well said Green

The last time I was in the neighborhood a saw the orphanage and fell in love with it.

I was comforted because it had signs saying that it was being redeveloped into housing.....and I didnt question it because I saw that the Packard Building and the Squire Mansion were redeveloped...I just figured that it was next.

Now for all those people talking about the Main Street barrier....its buildings like this that are going to make people rethink that barrier! Plus its light rail accessible.

Thanks BR for bringing this building to our attention....now that its spring we should keep people calling and complaining to the city and the developer to get this building protected and redeveloped!

A good and fair point, greentessier. The written word means a great deal to me, too, and I try to understand what any writer really means to say, and expect the same. (Reminds me of the exchange in Alice in Wonderland when Alice says that she says what she means, or at least means what she says, and that anyway they are the same thing. To which the Mad Hatter (I think it is) replies, "They are not the same thing at all."

And to Hamp and Steel both, I couldn't agree more that the people who are attracted and will be attracted to our older cities, however shrunken in population, are attracted in no small part by the wealth of historic architecture. A number of times on this site, I have expressed a wish that Buffalo adopt a policy with teeth that no sound building be needlessly destroyed until all options have been exhausted. But there's no denying that first, last, and in the middle it's people, jobs, density, and taxes that support our cities and maintain the built environment.

There are federal tax credits available to restore historic buildings such as this into housing (mostly low income and senior) I think the credits range from 5 -30% of the investment!

1. 'Mojo Jojo'...why not change your tag name to 'Mojo WOJO'...in honor of the mildly retarded detective 'Wojohowicz' on the 70's sitcom 'Barney Miller.' It would work well with your moronic commentary. 2. WHERE are the preservationists? They seem to define 'Johnny Come Lately' in this town. 3. Who owns the property? 4. The location has a lot of potential--and the building design and facade is extraordinary.

Merely an observation:

The definition of iHumilityi is to realize that you have an answer to a certain problem but, in all likelihood, it may not be the best one so you are willing to accept other peoplesi alternative solutions to the same problem and in the end the problem is solved.

Its Friday people n CHEERS to NEW BUFFALO!

Perry--I don't quite understand your point. Here's a building with terrific potential, in an area where I have already seen old victorians rehabbed, near other up and coming projects. Bringing up the spectre of jobs, population, and what is "realistic" does seem to dampen the enthusiasm that's infecting more and more people--let the market decide if this building will rise again, and right now nobody really knows what the market or potential market is.

Rome, go up half way and read my post re: the owner of the property.

You can find out the taxes and ownership of any address in the city of Buffalo by calling the tax office at City Hall. You get a mailing address and name, often of a faceless corporation, and the tax amount (which gives you an idea of how useful the ity thinks the property is) plus, if I remember correctly, if the taxes have been paid. This is public information and easy as pie. So for anyone scouting for investment opportunities or just wanting to find a responsible party, this is really the first step.

Fair enough, Eric.

It will be interesting to watch this unfold. It is undeniably an extraordinarily special building.

Lack of jobs and population ain't exactly no spectre in the future of Buffalo, but very real. I'm pulling as hard for the city as I can from this distance.

Only until that area of the city is stabilized via small residential revitalization will the larger aforementioned project become viable... Small projects are the key to brining back Buffalo - block by block...

Here's an idea for the City: Deed those boarded up neighborhood homes to young professionals under a mortgage/promisory note with an agreement where they would (x.) renovate the home and (y.) make that address their primary residence for no less than 5 years. Failure to agree to those terms would result in a debt that would follow them such as a federal student loan. I would enthusiastically sign up for a such an agreement.

Furthermore, the use of labels to slander folks with whom you disagree (i.e. Old Buffalo v. New Buffalo) is so lime green polyester Jimmy Griffin. Let's discard that tired practice and argue about ideas and not labels. Nobody owns a monopoly over love and affection for the city. Intelligent persons can respectfully disagree.

Sigh!!!!!!!!! Where's the font size button? I want to make that a ten foot sigh! I'm glad to see sooo much passion about our city. I love to sit back and 'waste' a few minutes here and there on these back and forth blogs, but people please commmon! Can we use our educations and the brains we put them into and speak a little more kindly...more to the point than the person? That's all I've got to say about that! THTHTHTHTH! I come here for the positive flow. Have faith. Thank your maker for what he WILL accomplish with this building...and trust me it has a way of happening. Everyone who wrote here and everyone who reads this...wants this...just say a thank you tonight as if it's a done deal, renovated...just do it for the fun of it! Watch what happens! I've seen it done. It's weird...but for some reason it works! I have found the bigger the task though, the more faith there is that has to be behind it. Get ta thankin! ;-)

rifle dude, just who are these "young professionals" going to be. People are scared shitless enough of moving onto nicer parts of the westside much less a scary-as-hell black ghetto. The only yuppie spillover will onlyhappen when Buffalo actually gets an ecnomy and the most desirable hoods (elmwood, allentown) become gentified enough that housing prices become inflated enough.

Until then, where are the urban "pioneers" going to come from, Amherst? Pshhht

JD: Where is the Black ghetto you are referring to?I havent seen what one looks like?

No your wrong...the way to save these homes and buildings is to replace the BMHA with vouchers and stop the government competing with private landlords

Combine the ECIDA and the Dept of Urban Renewal and the BMHA to use all funds for mixed income residential and commercial development.

JD,

I'm sorry you have such a negative and incorrect impression of living in town. Come down and have lunch here... go shopping... take a walk. The city isn't as scary as it once was... it's the impression of very mild, often sheltered people that this is somehow a dangerous place. It's SO hard to find a house for a reasonable price in the Elmwood Village anymore. This IS the West Side. A house down the block from me, a cute one that needs absolutely everything, was for sale for an incredibly low $70,000. The real estate agent was, I think, a suburban person and underpriced it. It sold in 2 days with NINE offers. There's a lot of the West Side yet to bloom, but it's really changing quickly because everyone who can't find a house on Ashland or Lexington on the "nice" side of Richmond has bought up Richmond, and now they are moving west and south.

It's a shock that these impressions still have such influence, and facts mean less.

Buy Buffalo now anywhere you like and in any structure you like beccause the value is only going to rise. Its the new homes building that has taken a recent 10% drop which is good for used homes and rehabbed homes. Buy the most challenging (and cheapest) house on the nicest street you can find...that's the key to successful gentrification. And that's what I am seeing a lot of these days. Wait until this building season is over and the changes that people begin to see are underway or nearing completion. The motivation will get into highgear. Ten years ago 300,000 home prices and 1,600.00 rentals would be nearly unheard of. Now its becoming commonplace. Better invest now.

when i have to go out to the suburbs, and i mean have to. it is not something i do willingly-- that is a scarry thing to me. everyone drives like their tail is on fire because they have to drive everywhere just to get daily errands done. when you finally meet these folks outside the safe confines of their car, they are often not very warm people. the effect of living so sheltered from one-another out there in the suburbs has created a new sort of people who are afraid of each other. it is no wonder they are afraid of buffalo. we talk, we meet at cafe's, we walk around, shop, go to open air markets, play frizbee in the park with our dogs and kids, watch the philharmonic, oco and other great bands in the parkway in the summer (can't wait!), shakespeare in the park, cultural festivals, we form rallys, clean up groups, neighborhood organizations, the list goes on and on.

to anyone afraid of the city, my response is 'BOO!'

sheesh.

MICHELLE.......you wanna see a black ghetto...try walkin thru the fruit belt area!! a beirut style decimated neighborhood. where poverty breeds crime and destruction. where greed and the quick buck artists flip houses on the internet, much to the politicians' naivety . where people's lives are wasted because of the lack of hope that exists to get anywhere in life. where society has a blind eye to what will become the last and final frontier for the "new buffalo' to turn its' attention to!! shall i go on..or do you get the idea??

Implode the damn thing. I'm sick and tired of everyone in Buffalo whining like a bunch of damn babies about how everything has to be saved. Everything doesn't have to be saved. I agrea that a few buildings should be saved for historical purposes, but that's it. People, crawl out of your pathetic shells and realize that we need change if this city is to ever recover and move forward. Blow it up and build a set of new energy efficeint condos.

Now there's some creativity...thanks for the input Shawn! I bet you've tossed away your family photos and heirlooms, they're old afterall, right?

Shawn it is you who is in a shell. Your shell of unwarranted anger is keeping you from seeing that it is Buffalo's historic buildings that are causing growth and change in the city. Not parking lots, not big box stores, not shovel ready sites.

Why all the anger toward Buffalo's historic infrastructure. Direct your anger at the wasteful suburban sprawl and poor planning that has decimated Buffalo's real treasure and its real hope for the future... Its history and its uniqueness

Joe D I know all about internet flipping ( I am the one who began investigating this and am the founder of the Anti flipping taskforce) Also I know all about the conditions on the East side, I am an East side resident and housing activist,You are preaching to the choir, I take offense to the calling of the "scary as hell black ghetto" I work in the Fillmore district and have no fear

Not to be a crank -- oh, okay, I'm going to be a crank, and one with a raised voice -- but the correct spelling of the restored mansion on Main Street is SQUIER. Really. SQUIER, not Squire. See:

http://preserve.bfn.org/bam/main/stvin/index.html

This part of town is still too run down for yuppies to take interests. Buffalo is trying to change, but still is lacking on high paying jobs to even create more yuppies (people with money) to the area. Til then, focus on who's actually willing to stay and invest in your area before you chase more away.

I think some people are being very shortsighted about this. I was one of the first renters/artists in a rehabbed industrial building. Now it is a wildly popular address and we're priced out. I see the above building and think it would be great for artist space. It's beautiful! Being an artist, of course I cant afford to buy or rehab it, but lots of artists will flock to it when it's ready (and we aren't too fussy about the ammount of rehab). Then we'll help make it a popular address and you can price us out! That could be taken as sarcastic, but I love this city and am glad to see formerly unusable property become wildly popular. If that's how I can help, I'll do it....

elmwood village charter school: food for thought... this building is just as much in the elmwood village as the proposed building for the new elmwood village charter school is. wouldn't this make a better school? it has grounds around it, quiet, residential street and it's one block off main. couldn't the building on elmwood in allentown become a temporary space - if it isn't already - and start working on this one for the future location?

Mollie,

Great idea.

This building and related campus is just a stones through away from the development happening on Michigan Ave. Two Charter schools further down on Michigan and 45 million to be pumped into the neighborhood in the next few months...Performing Arts High School and Artspace!

Off to take pics before the sun set!

clearly this needs to be reused!

Theres nothing to be angry about....we lost the German RC Orphanage (except for a few buildings) we certainly cannot loose this one. This is a no brainer it has enormous character, charm and is extremely livable and re-useable....which makes me wonder why nothing is being done with it but then I cannot understand the delay in the Greystone either.

Where are the Buffalo Common Council members? I would think that they would be championing buildings in their districts that they know would be anchors to stabilize the surrounding community.

Where is the surrounding community? Doesnt Main Street have a business association similar to Forever Elmwood that could raise the visibiility of this building?

In other places, they have these City Living festivals where they group real estate agents, propertis for sale, banks and lenders specializing in the city and pre-qualifying people....

Why cant we get rid of all these salaried people in the Department of Urban Renewal and the BMHA and offer vouchers, tax abatements and low interest loans...

Other than BR, where are all these marketing wizards...that could shine a light on Buffalo's communities. The silence is deafening!

St Vincents is the type of building that people would live in even though the surrounding neighborhood hasnt gentrified yet....because it is just so incredible....the German RC orphanage by Humboldt Park is equally incredible. Someone should do a post about that too!

These buildings are like church's and schools...they have enough of a presence to anchor and stabilize a community. They should NOT be underestimated!

L. and others...

The former German Roman Catholic Orphan Home on Dodge Street is owned by the CAO of Erie County. It's in rough shape and during their 2 year ownership they've done nothing to the place. Parts of it are wide open.

I had the unique opportunity to tour the place on several occasions last year. Recently with Chuck LaChiusa in preparation for a bicycle tour I'm leading this summer with the Preservation Coalition. Chuck and I had the opportunity to get inside with the CAO's maintenance guy last fall.

Here's a post with history links and an interior and exterior slide show.

http://tinyurl.com/r4nkq

Information about this summer's bicylce tour is available on my site...

Make sure you take a look at David's St, Vincents slide show. http://flickr.com/photos/fixbuffalo/sets/72057594090774599/show/

Thess images will create both amazment and disgust. So much potential just being washed away with each rain.

These must be saved...these are legacies that must not be denied from our city but the question really has to be asked...where is the Buffalo Common Council member's voice regarding his district!

It sickens me that the Mayor and members of Common Council dont step out of their office or take an interest in the communities that voted them into office!

There are certain buildings that act as anchors for the surrounding community and when elected officials ignore them...they are ignoring their community!

I was under the impression that Cash Cunningham owned this property...the same who owns the Squires Mansion.

is st. vincents property actually for sale? and for how much?