Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 25th, 7:43pm By West Coast Perspective

Hundreds of people have moved into downtown Buffalo in recent years trading cars for bikes and walking instead of commuting.

Organizers of Buffalo Homecoming are keying up to let you experience the housing surge first-hand. On June 28th the third annual Downtown Housing Tour will showcase some of the attractive and spacious lofts, luxury condominiums, homes and apartments that are available in downtown Buffalo. The event, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., is free and open to the public.

The tour is meant to expose participants to the changing face of downtown.

For those who are making the decision to move downtown, stylish lofts have been the home of choice. Units at nine loft buildings will be open for viewing during the tour including The Belesario, Buehl Block, Ellicott Commons, Elsinghorst Building, IS Lofts, Lofts @ Elk Terminal, the newly renovated Market Arcade Apartments, Warehouse Lofts and Webb Lofts.

Though downtown as a neighborhood is still a work in progress, the experience is getting better everyday. Interest in downtown for-sale product has been strong. In the case of Waterfront Place, one of three condominium properties on the tour this year, that interest has been converted to sales with over 65 percent of the units pre-sold. A model townhome unit at the $30 million development will be open for viewing. Plans for a second tower were recently confirmed.

Other condominium developments on the tour are UniQuest’s Avant mixed-use project and Sunset Park’s, The Whitney, located at 65 Whitney Place in the Historic West Village. Both will be previewing their redevelopment projects.

There is a wide variety of housing options available in and near downtown beyond newly built lofts and condominiums. This year’s tour will also feature historic properties and single-family homes. Several homes and gardens will be open on Johnson Park, the city’s first public park.

“We’re very happy that we have been included in the tour this year,” says Marilyn Rogers, Director of the West Village Renaissance Group. “Although many may come to look for apartments that are fresh and new, we also feel there are those that still desire an old-school neighborhood in an historic home.”

There will also be two homes open on Rabin Terrace, a quaint infill single-family development built in the shadows of City Hall in the mid-1980’s.

“This year we have a blend of what makes downtown vibrant – modern city residences and noble historic sites,” says tour organizer Mark Russell. “The new housing has changed the personality of downtown for the better, and that is attracting not only additional residents but also businesses."

Like residential construction, downtown Buffalo has seen an uptick in commercial development. On the tour, the public will be able to discover some of the revitalized properties that have beckoned entrepreneurs to downtown.

A number of interesting loft-like commercial spaces have been created downtown. Commercial space at 210 Ellicott Street will be open for viewing. Also inviting the public to their renovated properties will be chocolate shop Choco-Logo at 141 Broadway, Washington Market at 461 Ellicott Street, and architectural and design firm Carmina Wood Morris at 487 Main Street.

CityView Properties will be showing off its plans for Genesee Gateway. The redevelopment of the Genesee Block located between Ellicott and Oak Streets will be underway this summer. Windowless and gutted for more than two decades, the high profile block will be transformed into a mix of retail and office space.

New Era Cap Company has taken up residence in the former Federal Reserve Building at 160 Delaware Avenue. The headwear manufacturer recently completed a restoration of the building and is inviting the public to visit their flagship store and headquarters with tours each half hour from 2 to 4 pm.

A tour map and guide may be picked up at the Market Arcade building located at 617 Main Street on Saturday. The event, 1 until 5 pm, is self-guided. You go to the buildings you are most interested in seeing in the order you choose.