Buffalo Rising Online

Nov 3rd 2008, 12:00am By RaChaCha

We all have our dreams, some large, some small. Developer and preservationist Doug Swift has never been one for small dreams, as the projects he has played a lead role in can attest: redevelopment of the Larkin Building—so large it’s like a skyscraper laid on its side, the resurrection of the Roycroft Campus, the preservation of Graycliff. But throughout his career, the gleam in his eye has been the Genesee Gateway complex. For a generation, this derelict eyesore has greeted everyone coming off the Kensington Expressway into downtown Buffalo with a less-than-favorable impression of the city and its prospects. Doug has long dreamed of finding a way to resurrect this largely intact, but hollow, remnant of 19th-Century Buffalo streetscape—a metamorphosis of this long ugly caterpillar into a thing of beauty and value. This week, the realization of that dream began on site, in the midst of a roomful of people who are helping make it come true.

The complexity of this project required “all hands on deck” from the community’s leadership, and there was a seemingly endless set of people and institutions to be credited and acknowledged—a testament to the long history of bringing this project to fruition. Among them was Doug’s development partners Bill Jones and Joe Petrella, Triangle Development’s Scott Fisher and Jessie Schnell, Willard Genrich (who originally purchased an stabilized many of the buildings), ECIDA, and BURC. “The people who are here are the people necessary to get things done in Buffalo,” Robert Knoer, a land use attorney, commented to me. Tavernkeeper Eddie Brady was also given special recognition for his perseverance in the block, and, of course, for his famous fried bologna.

Many of those invited to the microphone commented on how the project has affected them. Mayor Byron Brown joined many who mentioned the block’s long presence as an eyesore on the edge of downtown, saying that he has been looking at the buildings since he was in college—although he declined to say precisely how long ago that was. The Mayor went on to proclaim that this project was nothing less than a symbol of the transformation of downtown.

Architect Peter Flynn of Flynn & Battaglia, one of Buffalo’s deans of preservation architecture, alluded to the buildings’ recent history as one of Buffalo’s largest pigeon roosts, when he mentioned that he had “noticed the previous inhabitants flying around” on his way to the event.

Catherine Schweitzer, Executive Director of the Baird Foundation, and a driving force behind the recent preservation consolidation, put the project solidly in its preservation context. She especially praised the diligent efforts to assemble the properties as a collection, saying that the preservation of the entire block (even including the voids) was a vision ahead of its time, and a strategy that will increasingly be a feature of preservation in the 21st century. She pointed out that preservation has evolved on a continuum in the 20th century, from the emphasis on individual buildings and sites, to now encompass entire blocks, districts, and neighborhoods.

And it’s hard to imagine a more significant collection of buildings to signify downtown’s 19th century heritage. Doug noted that they are downtown’s largest set of intact 19th-century storefront buildings. Catherine noted its location on one of the most important radial streets from Ellicott’s 1804 plan. The buildings represent a range of architectural significance from high-style beaux arts to vernacular. Architects represented include such Buffalo notables as Richard A. Waite (who also designed the Livery on Jersey Street) and Esenwein & Johnson (who designed the nearby Electric Tower) to “unknown.” Many architectural features that have been lost over the years will be restored, including a replica wood-frame Mansard roof on the end building which will replace the current cinder blocks. That is an exciting change from an earlier concept, here.

But the extraordinary number of people involved with bringing this project to fruition is just half of the story. This project would have remained a dream were it not for a unique financing mechanism, being used for the first time in Buffalo. Doug called the financing a “program-related investment,” referring to the involvement of the Wendt Foundation, which advanced funding in a situation that conventional investors would shy away from. In this case CityView Properties is solely providing development services, instead of seeking the rate of return that typically attracts a developer to a project. In a very real way, this project is a vote of confidence by the community in both Buffalo, and the role that her heritage can play in her economic future.

Attorney Robert Knoer was optimistic about that. He referenced the recent Buffalo News article about the financial crisis, suggesting a glimmer of hope amidst crisis for Buffalo. “It helps put us on a level playing field.” And because it will leave governments at all levels cash strapped, “it will force them to implement better policies” in areas of development and land use—which will work to the advantage of cities.

After the numerous credits and remarks, the group posed for an “old fashioned” photograph—complete with a wooden tripod camera, and photographer in a bowler hat—in honor of the building’s former life as Werner’s Photography Studio.

Then Doug took everyone on a guided tour of the building, including the former photographic studio space. Without question, this is one of Buffalo’s most unique interior spaces—its large window area provides many unique views around a rapidly revitalizing section of downtown, including a direct view of the former Chippewa Market site. One can only imagine the sights and sounds from this vantage when it looked out over the largest outdoor market between New York City and Chicago.

And speaking of Chicago, Buffalo is blessed to have one of the most significant pieces of architecture by one of the 19th Century’s most significant architectural firms: the Ellicott Square Building, by the Chicago firm of Burnham & Root. About that building—the largest office building in the world, at its opening—Daniel Burnham said, “make no small plans, for they have no magic to stir men’s blood.” This week’s commencement of the Genesee Gateway project shows that Buffalo still attracts those who will take on big projects, and make big things happen—and that big things can be done with the preservation of Buffalo’s rich heritage. Financial crisis or no, that bodes well for the future.

Image credits (top to bottom): CityView Properties (2), Fred Schrock, Rebecca Stadler (2).

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