At Last- Work Begins on Genesee Block
The collective cheering you hear? Downtown boosters celebrating the start of construction on the Genesee Block. Genesee Gateway LLC has begun preliminary work on its $12 million plan to convert the string of vacant 19th Century at 99-125 Genesee Street into a mix of retail and office space. CityView Properties is teaming with the Wendt Foundation to revitalize the properties. Flynn Battaglia Architects is architect.
A recessed mid-block, one-story building next to the ornate Werner Building was recently torn down. It will be replaced by a new four-story structure that will solidify the street wall (photo and rendering above).
In early-September, CityView Properties purchased 85 and 91 Genesee Street from Triangle Development giving it control of the entire block except Eddie Brady’s tavern. CityView has not announced its plans for the additional properties.
Get Connected: Donna Kostrzewski, CityView Properties, 716.856.8400 x109
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sbrof
and a collective sigh of relief is heard around the county...
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MeliQ
That building with the curved glass (the white brick one) is going to be absolutely amazing for either a business or a lucky tenant! I'm so glad someone stepped up to the plate with these buildings. I wish I made a lot more money than I do as I would love to get involved with some smaller scale project like this.
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Bufago
Just in time for the collapse of civilization as we know it.
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Biniszkiewicz
First impressions mean a lot. Thank you Wendt and City View. Visitors to Buffalo will be charmed a year from now when this project greets them at the entrance to downtown. The in-fill four story building is exactly for what urban advocates on this site often lobby: elimination of a vacant lot (and inconsequential modern single story concrete block bunker) in exchange for appropriate looking new building. No more gap teeth on this block.
I've said it before, but it bears repeating: Thank Bill Genrich (after cursing him). Yes, he sat on these properties way too long and didn't have enough faith in his vision to risk completing the project. Shame on him for blighting Buffalo's entrance for so long. But give him credit too, for without him these buildings would likely have been demolished years ago. He's the one who gutted them and made them structurally secure (new roofs, elimination of walls and floors he replaced with steel skeletons, etc). They have looked awful on the outside for decades, but because of his preservation endeavors when he bought them these shells could stand another 100 years in their current condition. Thank City View and Wendt that we won't have to look at them that way anymore.
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chrishawley
The renderings seem to show the original storefront windows on the Werner photographic building would be removed and replaced. The charm and historicity of the building would be far, far better expressed if the original glazing and recessed entryway are retained and refurbished.
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STEEL
Please - NO shrubs in front of the storefronts!
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urbansoul
Downtown still doesn't have a really good sports bar. One with multiple tv's and tickers. One was supposed to open up neat Cobblestone, but that never happened. With this close proximity to Chippewa, would it be an ideal site?
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gaustad
urban, I have often said the same thing....however, people in Buffalo are couch potatoes, they would rather sit at home and watch sports than go out and socialize.....in any other city, everyone goes out to watch their favorite sports team
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bflorox
@ gaustad
I know you relish your role as Resident Troll but I'm responding anyway...you should take your own advice and leave your computer for a while and go out and socialize. The "tan" you've gotten from your monitor has left you a little pasty.
You can't go anywhere and not find people gathered together watching the game, Bills or Sabres. Hell, even the Valu around the corner from me plays the broadcast instead of muzak.
OK, troll fed, go back to sleep under your bridge now and dream of BROKEEPS et al.
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onestarmartin
yep, thats what buffalo needs, another bar
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dagner
STEEL: why do you oppose shrubs in front of buildings?
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