LPCiminelli is Parkside Bound
LPCiminelli is moving its headquarters and 200 employees to Parkside. The general contractor purchased the former Greater Buffalo Savings Bank HQs at 2393 Main Street from First Niagara Bank for $4,698,000. LPCiminelli will consolidate its current offices at the Cyclorama Building and 325 Delaware Avenue into the new location next spring.
“We have been looking for just the right location for the last several years and at long last, I believe we have found it,” said Louis P. Ciminelli, Chairman & CEO of LPCiminelli. “We will be able to consolidate our 200-plus employees into one location in a part of the city that I believe is poised for some tremendous revitalization.”
Ciminelli had considered several different office locations over the last few years, all were within the City of Buffalo. The firm came close to purchasing the Tishman Building on Lafayette Square but backed out of the deal.
“We are committed to the redevelopment of Buffalo, we are proud of our work on the historic Buffalo Schools Reconstruction Program and we want to be right in the middle of all that is going on,” said Ciminelli.
The property at Main Street and Jewett Avenue is a former Pierce Arrow showroom and later the former home of the Tinney and Braun Cadillac dealerships. Until earlier this year, it served as the headquarters for Greater Buffalo Savings Bank before it was purchased by First Niagara.
LPCiminelli, ranked as the 150th largest construction group in the nation, will occupy about 40,000 sq.ft. of the 72,000 sq.ft. building. First Niagara Bank will lease 8,000 square feet for the continued operation of the branch currently on the site. LPCiminelli will look for tenants for the balance of the space.
The one-story structure where the bank branch is housed was constructed in the early 1920's (entry image by Steel). An additional two-story building was added in 1933. Greater Buffalo Savings Bank established its headquarters at the site in 2002. First Niagara acquired Greater Buffalo Savings in February 2008.
LPCiminelli will be vacating second floor space in the 16-sided Cyclorama Building at 369 Franklin Street in the Theater District where it has been located for nearly twenty years. The circa-1888 building, nearly demolished, was completely renovated in 1989 by Ciminelli Development Co. In 1991, the Buffalo Building Owners and Managers Association awarded the Cyclorama as Historical Building of the Year. The Cyclorama space will be available for lease.
Get connected: LPCiminelli, 716.855.1200
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buffaloweiner
The only real historically significant building is the showroom..and I certainly hope they give it a power wash.....its masonary and terra cotta filthy.
Unfortunately it doesnt look as though there are plans to expand the building to the sidewalk...shame really....but its another win for Main Street...plus its a boom for all those wonderful parkside homes from Medaille all the way to what Amherst Street (maybe even Hertel).
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Hoss
Now would be a good time to get a restaurant/bar into that Parkside Candy Shop a block away at the corner of W. Oakwood. That place with the giant Kettle could also make a nice luncheonette type place.
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platt4
HAHAH. Funny comment from Buffaloweiner, the King of Filth himself. Clean up your own act before preaching to others.
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sbrof
Tony's Ranchouse will enjoy the new business... haven't been there in years. Fun times.
This kind of company with this kind of wealth will hopefully spur a lot of good things for that section of Main. It is a good move for this section of main which is right on the cusp of becoming a nice commercial strip from CPG's to Sister's Hospital.
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dagner
The scheduled (next summer?) reconstruction of Main Street may inhibit business development in this section. I hope it flourishes afterward. As an owner of one of those lovely Parkside homes, I can report that the neighborhood lacks social spaces, like cafes. With Sister's Hospital, Canisius, Medaille, the Zoo, St. Mary's, the Darwin Martin House, Tri-Main, a coffee-shop population (I see my neighbors at Caffe Aroma all the time), and now Ciminelli, you would think one or more would exist already.
I believe the Parkside Candy shop is occupied by a day-care center.
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Hoss
I actually just looked in the windows of Parkside Candy. It appears to not be in use. A ladder, and a bucket of joint compound is about it. All the old booth seating still appears to be in it. Woodwork and mirrors looks intact. It's actually a pretty sizable place. The day-care center has a sign up front, but is actually located in a separate building behind on Oakwood. Though it also didn't look to lively. There was talk at one point of the Buffalo/Niagara film commission setting up shop there, but I haven't heard anything lately.
A cafe and a decent restaurant and/or bar are definitely needed in this neighborhood. It's not like there is a lack of disposable income there.
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r129
Next time you're over here, pay attention to the 4-way traffic signal at the center of the intersection. It's a Crouse-Hinds model DT, known as the "Art Deco" design. These signals date from the 1940s-50s, and this is one of the last remaining examples in Buffalo. They used to be pretty common around here, but they've been disappearing rapidly over the last 5-10 years. Unfortunately, this one will be gone as soon as they start the road construction. I always thought it was appropriate that there was an "Art Deco" signal here, since it matches this building. You can especially see the art deco design elements at the top and bottom of the signal. See this site for more information: http://www.kbrhorse.net/signals/crouse-hinds01.html
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RaChaCha
Great news - I've loved this building since first seeing it on my way to a Parkside tour.
Would this create the opportunity to return the Cyclorama building to its original purpose--? What a cool cultural resource that would be - even in these IMAX days - as well as an awesome venue for community events. Thinking strictly in terms of highest and best uses for the Cyclorama building, "Cyclorama" would win hands down over "office space" as a cool and unique asset for Buffalo.
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bfloboy86
It's sad that the Cyclorama Building is being abandoned yet again. The building has been used for multiple purposes in its 120-year history, typically in rhythm with changing trends.
I'd like Cyclorama to be used for entertainment again, possibly to expand the Theatre District's activities into and around Main Street's 700 block.
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sbrof
I don't think there is any other building in this region that has spawned so many copied or inspired other designs as this one. just look across jewitt or at ever new branch bank that Greater Buffalo Savings Bank built.
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Hoss
Greater Buffalo Savings Bank designed all the new builds they created off that building. It was part of their branding strategy. I do my banking at this branch, and the interior is quite stunning as well. Plus there is never a line. I hope First Niagara keeps this branch in operation for a long time.
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dagner
The branches weren't individually inspired by the original. The design and a take on the building's outline was part of their branding strategy.
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