Catholic School Living Quarters

Catholic School Living Quarters

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If architect Karl Frizlen and developer Paul Johnson have their way, the city's West Side will soon see a vacant 35,000 sq.', three-storey, 1928 school building converted to modern loft apartments. Karl and Paul are planning on turning the former Catholic Academy, found an 257 Lafayette Street, into a mixed-use project consisting of 20 apartments and an 11,000 sq.' office/daycare space.

This $3,000,000 privately financed proposal is a short walk to a number of destinations, including Guercio's market, Big Orbit Gallery, Left Bank Restaurant, Essex Pub, Quaker Bonnet, Prime 490 Restaurant and Urban Roots. It is also just down the street from Prish Moran's big project on Grant Street, where on Friday, June 6th, The brand new Grant Street Gallery will be hosting its first show featuring the works of R.J.Witzel (RJW Retrospect Show on Friday, June 6th at 4:00pm). This summer will also see the transformation of the Lafayette/Grant corner into café, bistro, flower shop, and artist community center.

lafayette-rendering-buffalo.jpg It is interesting to note that part of the Frizlen/Johnson proposal is to house offices for both the architect and the developer on the first floor. Plus, the 4000 sq.' daycare center would be an early childhood feeder program for the Aurora Waldorf School. The team is seeking national and state historic designation for the building in order to secure tax credits. In order to move forward, on-site parking in the front of the building would be required in order to meet the city's minimum parking requirements. From Karl:

"We have received community-wide support from the neighborhood residents, blockclubs, the Church of Annunciation, the Sisters of St. Mary next door and the Grant-Ferry Association. There will be a public Planning Board meeting on May 20."

feed your soul buffalo

What Others Have To Say

  1. WilliamZabkaAllStars

    2 ratings12345
    May 15th, 08:30

    Looks like a nice project for this end of the street. What sort of prices for the apartments? Going to be a tough sell in that area for the upper end of the market that Johnson has targeted so far.

    As for this Frizlen-Johnson partnership, is it safe to say they've grossly overestimated the market for upscale townhomes and condos in the area? Projects on both West Utica and Lafayette have yet to begin, have undergone drastic plan overhauls, have had significant price cuts and are no closer to completion than they were a year ago. Buffalo ReUse did a nice job with the vacant house on Lafayette... but that's about it.

    Sales a lot slower than anticipated? Either way, I hope this think big strategy doesn't burn them here. Hopefully the day care and office component drives the project through.

  2. GDC

    0 ratings12345
    May 15th, 08:59

    So because of the "City's Parking Requirments" , we have to lose this great green scene for a parking lot, win some, lose some.

  3. Lizliz

    3 ratings12345
    May 15th, 10:34

    Not to dwell on the past (here I go anyway) but when our charter school was looking for a building, this school was empty...unfortunately the catholic diocese doesn't allow charter schools to occupy their old properties. They even put a clause in their documents that the buildings they sell must never be used to house a charter school. It would be nice, for future schools in Buffalo, if the diocese changed this policy...

    Oh well. I wish them the best.

  4. Sal

    1 ratings12345
    May 15th, 11:13

    Lizliz - When the St. Francis de Sales Rectory (401 Northland Ave at Humboldt Pkwy) was sold by the Catholic Diocese back in the early 1990s, they tried to place restrictions on the deed but such were wiped out when the building was foreclosed on for back taxes. The Diocesan lien was also wiped out, losing a healthy amount of the proceeds of the sale.

  5. MJWorthington

    0 ratings12345
    May 15th, 12:16

    get a varience on the parking. If anything the city should have a maximum limit to keep the perdestiran nature of the city in tact.

  6. AnnunciationGrad

    0 ratings12345
    May 15th, 13:40

    When O'Brien Hall burnt down in the 70's the building's marker stone was salvaged and administration at this school (originally Annunciation) allowed us, the student body, to decide what to do with this marker. We decided to have it placed on the front lawn hill in front of the school which faces Lafayette Ave. What will happen with this marker once the lawn becomes a parking lot? I hope that it will be given to the convent or church to be placed in one of their gardens. This was a very special time in our lives and that marker takes me back to that time and those special people. I hope that this little piece of memorabilia doesn't end up in pieces and hauled off in a dumpster.

  7. DanielSack

    2 ratings12345
    May 15th, 16:19

    Parking in front of a building they are seeking to designate historic for tax credits?

    The three storey apartment building on Elmwood at Breckenridge has no parking. The three storey building (apartments + retail) on Elmwood and Lexington has no parking. The four storey apartment building on Elmwood and Anderson has no parking. The three storey building (apartments + retail) at Lexington and Ashland has no parking. Mixed use buildings on Elmwood and Bryant have no parking. And there are many other examples.

    The City will not insist you have parking. Please.

  8. DanielSack

    0 ratings12345
    May 15th, 16:22

    I meant that the building at Elmwood and Breckenridge is retail + apartments, not the Elmwood/Lexington building.

  9. STEEL

    1 ratings12345
    May 15th, 22:08

    Why are they changing the color to pink? ;-)

  10. MiesvanderDoh

    3 ratings12345
    May 16th, 04:11

    I mean I'm glad something is being done with the space, but karl frizlen architects is one of the lamest, most generic, vision-lacking, bland architecture firms I've ever encountered. Seriously, grow some balls and get some individuality

  11. platt4

    2 ratings12345
    May 16th, 08:20

    Mies- Did you miss the part where they're attempting to get historic designation? DOH!

  12. MJWorthington

    0 ratings12345
    May 16th, 12:34

    there should be zoning for no parking between structures and the street. I just realized that was the front view and how aweful it looks with the parking there.

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