Christiano's On Connecticut
It was around four years go when Harvey Garrett first took Mike and Tony Christiano through a burned-out old vacant eight-unit flophouse on the city's West Side. Now, after working on the apartment building for two and a half years, the brothers are only couple of weeks away from renting the four units and 2800 sq.', first floor commercial space. It took twenty-five dumpster loads of debris before work could even begin on the interior. The exterior had been boarded up with wood for years and years. The former owner moved to the outskirts of town and left the building to literally rot away. It took the vision of Harvey, Mike and Tony to gut the interior and start from scratch.
The building is located directly next-door to the for-sale Horsefeathers building. It is also just down the street from Phu Thai market, a brand new First Niagara Bank (built as a Greater Buffalo Savings Bank), the recently relocated (from Elmwood) Flowers, etc., Mineo and Sapio, the Armory Restaurant and D'Youville College. It was the college that gave the brothers the incentive that they needed... they wanted to make sure that there were thriving institutions in the neighborhood that would take advantage of a restored property. If they were going to be looking to get rents for between $795 and $895, then they wanted to know that their investment would attract paying tenants.
So they added forced air with A/C, wood floors, washer and dryers, dishwashers, stainless steel appliances, and new windows. They also knocked out every non-load baring wall. Wallboards were pulled away to expose the natural brick interior, and the drop ceilings were yanked out to show the eight-foot high ceilings. The rentals are spacious and feature stairwell wainscoting and skylight, alarm system, bay windows, shared back porch (between two units), and offer a surprisingly quiet atmosphere.
At one point, this building housed the Connecticut Street Hardware Store on the first floor. The only details remaining from that business are the wood beams across the ceiling and the sturdy column supports. A brand new modern industrial concrete floor was recently poured to accommodate a commercial tenant (rent is between $1000 and $1200). There is a full basement that goes along with the first floor space as well as a parking lot and green-space.
The building is located at 334-336 Connecticut Street and is being leased through Gurney, Becker and Bourne.
See and image of the building as it was in a post by Harvey Garrett.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
The Wait is Almost Over - BR's New Site
As we mentioned in our previous post, we’re in the process of changing the Buffalo Rising site. We’re almost there as we expect to launch the new site on Friday, December 19th.
In the meantime, posting will be light as we log new stories in the new publishing system which will only be viewable when we launch on Friday.
As always, we appreciate our users’ patience as we make this transition but we promise it will be well worth it. With faster load times, a comment view … - Dec 18th 2008, 11:32am
- Continue Reading
- 5 Comments
-
A Kennedy Visits Buffalo
Caroline Kennedy was in town for a visit with our mayor yesterday. A possible choice to succeed US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Kennedy's name has been mentioned along with that of Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo) and our own Byron Brown, among others.
Certainly, Kennedy has "been around politics" all of her life, which is to say she was born into a family of politicos and lived in the White House--neither of which would necessarily f … - Dec 18th 2008, 7:55am
- Continue Reading
- 32 Comments
-
Downtown Free Fare Zone May be Axed
Free light rail rides on downtown's above ground section could be derailed thanks to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's budget mess. That is the news coming out of a Buffalo Place meeting this morning. Facing a budget shortfall and reduced State operating assistance, the NFTA is scrambling for new revenue sources and is contemplating charging for rides along the lengthy downtown pedestrian mall.- Dec 17th 2008, 4:40pm
- Continue Reading
- 48 Comments
-
The NFTA Santa Ride
Well it is Christmas time in the city and the NFTA helped put people and especially children into the mood in a very festive and fun way. One of my favorite memories of childhood was taking the train downtown with my grandfather. I would gaze out the windows and watch the tunnel speed by. It always felt like we were going a million miles an hour.
Then there was the ability to stand up and walk around during the ride without the need to be strapped down. It was always a fun time … - Dec 17th 2008, 4:34pm
- Continue Reading
- Join the conversation
Comment Options
bison716
Good news people! Keep it moving.
Report this
wizardofza
Awesome building that deserves such a nice renovation. Here's hoping they can find some decent tenants.
Report this
comptart_lws
Are these Christiano's the bakery people? Does this mean the aroma of baking bread will waft throughout the neighborhood? Ooooooooooooh, I hope so!!!!
Report this
NBJOHN
Keep it rolling all the way to Richmond... Take back the city from blight and neglect
Drive up property values and make you neighbors want to keep up with the neighborhood.
Report this
gaustad
very nice project, seems like west side is making a comeback....who is the comercial tennant
Report this
bison716
Great positive comments on a positive project.
Report this
queenseyes
Mike is the owner of Left Bank Restaurant. They do not have a commercial tenant yet.
Report this
sbrof
One step at a time, these kinds of front runner projects into areas can carry a lot of weight to turning around a neighborhood. Especially if you get renters who want to become buying and have come to appreciate or love their current neighborhood.
The building looks very solid and it would be hard pressed to imagine this from what was there before. QE. what about getting some more before and after shots of projects like this. I am sure someone must have a picture of that old building, interior / exterior.
I need fodder for my guns when I run into people who think that every vacant build should be tore down before there is no hope or worth in renovating it. Dollar figures would also a nice.
Report this
STEEL
Only 4 Units! What the ! : )
Each methodical drop eventually adds up to a full bucket - (as long as the drops equal more than evaporation of course). I think Harvey and those like him will eventually have that tap open full force. Good job!
Report this
stephenjames716
looks great!
Report this
ktl2277
Is it me or have we been hearing several nice projects happening on the west side from D'ouville to this to several others a couple of months back, like STEEL sais each of these adds to a nice total !!!
Report this
Tesla
Connecticut is coming back.
Word up.
Report this
GDC
Maby now, someone will take over the old Horsefethers Buidling next door and do the same? West Side, Stand Up, your coming back Baby!
Report this
GDC
For the first floor, how about a cafe or bookstore? perhaps combined?
Report this
JohnMartin
I find it interesting that is so very little back and forth debate about issues on the West Side. I honestly think it has a lot to do with the written assault that will come one's way from the furious fingers of Harvey if you dare question the progress. Then comes the second wave of people who log in and say "Yeah, me too!"
I find it interesting still that it takes such a heroic effort and public/non-profit financing (See CPC sign in window) to accomplish developments like this. Will it be anything more than an outpost in a neighborhood that is still on the edge ...an oasis in a sea of urban blight like the Granite Works (two years without commercial tenants)?
Will the private money come into the area to accomplish projects in a shorter timeframe to sustain density? Interesting subject but one that will not receive sustained intellectual discussion primarily due to the overwhelming force of positive hyperbole that emanates from Harvey both here, on BIA, and on other local sites.
Report this
RisingDamp666
Often in these transitional neighborhoods, the "commercial tennants" first arrive simply as residents. As people acclimate themselves to the changing neighborhood and feel the strong pull of upward momentum, they begin to take those risks or tell friends who will. It's low level buzz that gets those storefronts filled, not glossy front page press. This neighborhood is ripening and Mr Garett's 'march to the river' is a pretty huge indicator. It matters little if ground level spaces are empty for a while. The point is that they are renovated and are ready to go. Very different from the urban abandonment that has gone from characterization to mere caricature here.
Report this
JohnMartin
Mr. Garrett's "March To The River" is seven years underway and we're but 2 blocks in. Traveling on Mass Ave, after Chenango, you have to get all the way down to Columbus to find civilization, that's a lot of real estate.
How many people on this site would be willing to walk the periphery of Mr. Garrett's neighborhood at dusk or later? Let's a take a stroll down Brayton, Lowell, 15th, or Normal and see what happens when the crime that used to be on Chenango and Essex migrates two blocks south. The crime isn't going away, it's just moving block by block until it's another neighborhood's problem.
*Cue Steel coming in with "I guess we should just leave it to rot then and all move to Amherst"
The point of this is to suggest that hyperbole and masterful spin doctoring isn't necessary. I believe it actually hurts the cause and paints a rosier picture than exists currently, which would discourage private money when investments don't pan out as successfully as Harvey would lead people to believe they can. Essentially, there are a lot of people sinking a lot of money into buildings that they will never realize a return upon. That is not a sustainable growth plan.
Finally, is RisingDamp suggesting that urban abandonment and blight is but a caricature in Buffalo? That the problem isn't real?
Report this
Colin
I don't get the criticism. Noone would claim that there aren't still rough parts of the West Side. But they don't invalidate the positive developments that are obvious to anyone who cares to look.
And it's true that spin and enthusiasm won't change things, but they will play a part in the change. "Realists" who insist on a constant reiteration of all the ways that things are bound to fail rarely manage to change things, for obvious reasons.
full disclosure: Jersey Street homeowner
Report this
Billups
JohnMartin,
I don't really understand your point. You describe the blight and danger of some streets and then say that trying to point out the positives of the neighborhood isn't necessary. Perhaps Mr. Garrett needs to relay a slightly rosier image of the area to counter the negative perceptions held by people who wouldn't otherwise consider or visit this neighborhood that IS improving itself.
The two scenarios that seem to be presented are: 1) investors buy into the rosier picture and are discouraged when their investments fail or don't realize the level of success they expected. 2) investors don't bother coming into the neighborhood and those buildings that you assume will never amount to anything, do exactly that because nothing happened and no one tried.
You state what you feel is not a sustainable growth plan, but you don't discuss one that is sustainable? It seems that you are saying that we should just leave the problems of this neighborhood where they are instead of sweeping them into another neighborhood. Poverty and the accompanying problems are not inevitabilities. Groups like PUSH working to lower energy and rent costs for West Side residents are helping this situation. With some development occurring in the area, the extra disposable income of these residents can be spent locally and circulate within the community. Something sustainable for you...its late, goodnight.
PS. Taking a walk down Brayton at dusk is actually pretty pleasant. Grab a snack at Fast Mart and enjoy.
Report this
sbrof
The idea isn't that we just push poverty around but disperse. Poverty is a burden to everyone in society. We all pay for welfare, Medicaid etc, whether you live in Amherst or not but concentrating the majority of the region's poverty into two small areas only leads to mistrust, and more poverty. We need every neighborhood to share the burden of poverty, so that the cycle can be broken by providing impoverished with access to jobs. Right now that is something many don't have. Bringing people with disposable incomes will only eventually lead to businesses and entrepreneurs to follow. Those bring in some jobs that help to employ those who need it.
If it is is wrong to push poverty out of one neighborhood into another, then wouldn't you agree it was wrong to pack up and run away from it to begin with?
Plus two block in 7 years that's not bad for a place that 7 years ago was totally off the radar. At least now it has some accomplishments, momentum and people are not so scared to venture one or two blocks from Richmond.
Report this
HarveyAGarrett
JohnMartin,
I'm sorry to be so disappointing to you. I'll try to do better.
Harvey
Report this
RaChaCha
JohnMartin, one of the benefits of the "Halting the Madness" tours of the west side which have been offered recently is the opportunity to walk around and see close up the many projects underway, and talk directly with many of the people working on them. You may want to check out one of those when they're next offered - Harvey would have a handle on when - and see if you may change your perspective. If you do - or perhaps feel your view is affirmed - I think people would be interested in hearing your thoughts about why.
Billups, last year I did happen to take a walk on Brayton (and Rhode Island and W. Utica and Chenango, etc.) not at dusk but at dawn - just as Urban Roots was opening - and even grabbed coffee at FastMart. As you say, I found it pretty pleasant.
What I love about the revitalization activity on the West Side is that despite the necessary talk about property values and crime stats, it seems to me that much of the work seems to come from the heart - from people who feel they're part of building a better community, inclusively, and place to be proud to call home and live their lives.
Report this
hertelhardware
One item this article failed to mention was that the construction work was performed by Johnson & Son's. They did an amazing job.
Thanks Paul & Adam!
TC
Report this
hertelhardware
One item this article failed to mention was that the construction work was performed by Johnson & Son's. They did an amazing job.
Thanks Paul & Adam!
TC
Report this
SLEEPL8
STEEL...Thanks for the stick you SOB! JUST KIDDING. You are right. 8 nice new residences in a couple days....I will keep a running tally of all the "drops". I'm not bitter about this one because it isn't on Main St. The interior looks awesome...I like when you guys include multiple photos of the properties, it brings it to life.
Report this
mmjazz
SBOF and Colin you are making lots of sense, This by SBOF is fantastic.
"The idea isn't that we just push poverty around but disperse. Poverty is a burden to everyone in society. We all pay for welfare, Medicaid etc, whether you live in Amherst or not but concentrating the majority of the region's poverty into two small areas only leads to mistrust, and more poverty. We need every neighborhood to share the burden of poverty, so that the cycle can be broken by providing impoverished with access to jobs. Right now that is something many don't have. Bringing people with disposable incomes will only eventually lead to businesses and entrepreneurs to follow. Those bring in some jobs that help to employ those who need it. If it is is wrong to push poverty out of one neighborhood into another, then wouldn't you agree it was wrong to pack up and run away from it to begin with?"
Positive and negative comments both have impact. Does anyone question the postive impact of this publication BRO? I think "Be positive, but tell the truth" is a good moniker. You can't welfare your way out or redistribute poverty. You must create a grassroots movement of entreprenuers who learn to help themselves, draw corporations with tax credits, and create a positive wave of marketing Buffalo's strengths-all through mentoring and schools.(we beat a dead horse on this, but its true) The best thing anyone can do is to show them how to run a business in their area of passion. We need a shift away from beauracratic thinking toward entreprenuerial thinking-past thinking to foward thinking. In Toronto, there is a company Ive worked with callled strategic coach.com that explains this so well. It's almost as if they have used Buffalo as a case study against beauracracy. It's good mentoring for business people. We think this shift to eradicate poverty.
Report this
mmjazz
SBOF and Colin you are making lots of sense, This by SBOF is fantastic.
"The idea isn't that we just push poverty around but disperse. Poverty is a burden to everyone in society. We all pay for welfare, Medicaid etc, whether you live in Amherst or not but concentrating the majority of the region's poverty into two small areas only leads to mistrust, and more poverty. We need every neighborhood to share the burden of poverty, so that the cycle can be broken by providing impoverished with access to jobs. Right now that is something many don't have. Bringing people with disposable incomes will only eventually lead to businesses and entrepreneurs to follow. Those bring in some jobs that help to employ those who need it. If it is is wrong to push poverty out of one neighborhood into another, then wouldn't you agree it was wrong to pack up and run away from it to begin with?"
Positive and negative comments both have impact. Does anyone question the postive impact of this publication BRO? I think "Be positive, but tell the truth" is a good moniker. You can't welfare your way out or redistribute poverty. You must create a grassroots movement of entreprenuers who learn to help themselves, draw corporations with tax credits, and create a positive wave of marketing Buffalo's strengths-all through mentoring and schools.(we beat a dead horse on this, but its true) The best thing anyone can do is to show them how to run a business in their area of passion. We need a shift away from beauracratic thinking toward entreprenuerial thinking-past thinking to foward thinking. In Toronto, there is a company Ive worked with callled strategic coach.com that explains this so well. It's almost as if they have used Buffalo as a case study against beauracracy. It's good mentoring for business people. We need this shift to eradicate poverty.
Report this
sbrof
mmjazz, I totally agree with what you say, a lot of poverty can be related back to a basic lack of education. People need skills to get jobs just as they need access. Obviously skills bring about better job opportunities but even if you were the best blacksmith around how do you get to the jobs if they are 20 miles away in some industrial park in Amherst or Clarence.
Toronto can really focus on the training aspects of the issues because they have the support of a regional government that has invested piece by piece in a good transportation system while trying to grow as need arises not just because it is their god given right.
A part of my re-distribute poverty comment, was about how to break the cycle of access issues as well as psychological ones. When children grow up in neighborhoods where the only people who seem to make money are drug dealers and gang members then they gravitate towards what they see. If they have to leave their neighborhood or city to try and find food or jobs then that creates a burden. One that few break out of. Not concentrating poverty is showing them what hard work can accomplish. That way they people can make a more informed choice in life.
Report this
STEEL
Hey sleep,
I gave you 5 stars!
Report this
SLEEPL8
Thanks....Im touched
Report this
RisingDamp666
Get a room, you two.
Report this
ChocolateShake
JohnMartin, you make some interesting observations regarding private investment role as really turning a neighborhood around.
However, I would disagree with your observation about Brayton - that's a nice little strech of homes. I walk my dogs down that street all the time. Perhaps the sight of a black man such as myself walking two standard poodles down Brayton is scary in itself. My apologies.
Report this
HarveyAGarrett
ChocollateShake,
JM has a few things wrong in his comments. First of all you are right about Brayton. One block is almost 100% homeownership now and the other one is pretty nice. We are far more than 2 blocks in on our project given the property value increases you can see all the way to 14th / 15th street - roughly have way to the river abnd a only a few blocks away from the stronger Columbus Parkway neighborhoods JM referred to.
As far as private investment - this is the reason we are seeing success. In an earlier post on Chenango Street we reported over $1.5 million in private investment on a small three block street that previously housed 12 vacant abandoned properties. Private investment is the key, and our strategy, for bringing back the West Side. The Christano's are funding this project on Connecticut Street with their own money. CPC has helped them secure low interest loans but the money is private.
Despite my cheery disposition I'm not a fan of hyperbole (which by the way can come in the form of overly negative attacks as often as overly positive claims) - I try to provide facts to back up the progress we are seeing and I'm willing personally to show anyone who is interested in seeing for themselves.
The West Side is coming back - anyone who questions it just needs to come see for themselves.
Harvey
Report this