Buffalo Rising Online

I am unfamiliar with the Atwater House, what would be it's credentials for protection ? This appears from my limited knowledge to be a good project executed correctly.

IF Pano does in fact implement his new plans and not just level the Atwater for a new parking lot I belive it is a step forward. Let's hope he does go with his new plan.

It is a true shame about the Atwater house as it is a beauty. On the other hand, these plans look great [better than the cinder block mess that now calls itself "Pano's"], We can only hope the buildout looks half as good as the artist rendition. The only setback is the parking lot expantion, I hope it is in back and not on both sides as that would look very Transit road.

It's a shame this house was allowed to deterioate by its current owner. Even in its run-down state it looks a lot more interesting than the white washed cinder block of Pano's restaurant. And as for the expansion plans, oh, yes, they look great on paper but if you read the BN news article Mr. G's son was quoted as saying they will proceed with expansion plans "cautiously". "Cautiously"? You know what that usually means? It means we're in no hurry to expand and have no time table to do it. That plan is nothing but a PR stunt created to time with the court hearing. I hope I'm wrong, I really do but, frankly, I really think a lot of people have been had. The only thing that will come of it will be 12 more asphalt parking places. And as we all know, houses with medina sandstone porches are just so run of the mill these days. Ho-hum.

Extra jobs? As in a dishwasher, prep cook, & a two new waiters? Also, if the new addition turns out looking anything like the rendering I'll eat my proverbial hat. Not everything is worth saving but this structure surely was, Jefferson nailed it when noting that Pano is the culprit for the ruin of that place through neglect and outright vandalism on HIS part. He is a slime and I haven't been there since the proposed demo & I won't ever return.

zen, you are not taking into account construction jobs, contracts w/ architects and engineers, landscapers, and the list goes on. let the guy grow his, for what its worth, small business. the man is obviously weathly and willing to drop some cash into the city...if we don't drive him out then maybe further investments will follow. i know you must really love that house, but i really see nothing but good things from Mr. Pano.

Does Pano Georgiadis get it? Read Don Esmondes column in the Buffalo News yesterday, The prestigious Zagat Survey rated the Mansion on Delaware, the faded 1870 eyesore turned into a boutique hotel, among the five top service hotels in the land. The building would have been demolished and made into another parking lot, instead of a world-renowned hotel. The exposed sandstone and old-growth woodwork and hand-milled details of downtown buildings make them better than bland new builds. Their worth grows. Character means commerce, it means communal identity, it conveys pride. Pano has a perfect opportunity (exactly what he wants) one mile down Elmwood (same side) in the large vacant Don Pablos building surrounded by a massive parking lot. http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20070207/1052639.asp

I'm with the group that will believe the constuction jobs when I see them. The "proceed cautiously" jumped right out of the Buffalo News article. Talk about setting oneself up for not going ahead with "promises".

How many buildings have we lost to false development promises that still remain parking lots to this day? This tempoaray parking lot will pry be there till the day I die with the fancy drawing above all that we will ever see of the new addition.

Maybe we can allow him to drop some more money and demolish the rest of that block for parking that will really let Elmwood flourish like Main St. a half mile away. Many buisnesses on Elwood do not have thier own parking and are the ones I choose to go to. If you want to stare at an asphalt parking lot while eating there are many other options in the 'burbs.

I can't believe we blocked the demolition of the other end of the block with non-descript houses for a first class urban botique hotel/retail with hidden/underground parking and yet allow the Atwater to come down for a surface parking lot with no firm commitment to building improvements.

And to top it off, In the same edition of the BN, we read how "The Mansion" has become a top 5 hotel stay in the country in a building that was deemed unsalvagable. Luckily a select few can see the value of buildings with the type of construction and high class materials that we will never see rebuilt again. The "easy" route always seems to trump any lessons learned by others.

The Atwater House has seen better days BUT that is due to the fact that Pano allowed this building to deteriorate (as well as help it along thanks to a nice little interior demo party held by his son a few years back). This building was in fair to good condition in 2003 when it housed Parkway Hair and Carriage Trade Pastries on the first floor as well as two occupied apartments on the second floor.

While not every old building is in need of preserving, this house does have characteristics that are not very common in the housing stock of Buffalo. People visit cities because they are unique unto themselves and not like anywhere USA. Why the heck do you think people go to European cities? Buffalo is unique because of its incredible architecture and well laid out street grid (of course the people as well).

When we no longer care about our built environment we lose our sense of place and history. Buffalo may never be a huge tourist destination but the sense of place is incredibly important to its residents and visitors from out of town. I would encourage BRO readers to look into books on placemaking, the public realm, and issues dealing with sense of place.

I do not believe for a second we will see the plans for the addition come to fruition. The plans presented for the addition to Pano's would be much better than what currently exists but again I fear it will not be built. If you are infavor of this new development, please put pressure on Pano and the local government to ensure that this gets built and was not just smoke and mirrors presented to the public. It would be ashame to have a vacant lot that is paved over to accomodate new parking.

It may be time for residents and preservation organizations join together to create a historic preservation district along Elmwood Avenue. If that is unrealistic, then at least inventory and select buildings that need to be listed on the National Historic Register.

New development is needed along Elmwood Avenue and other commercial district throughout Buffalo but it needs to be done in a responsible fashion. The new Hotel would have been an excellent addition to the street and no tears would have been shed for the homes that would have needed to be demolished (many examples of this style of architecture throughout Buffalo).

The real issue at stake here is that the city is setting a precedent that allows building owners to tear buildings down only on the basis that its not a landmark. So, if next year, 5 other restaurant owners on Elmwood purchase the neighboring building and all want to tear it down for a parking lot, how do we tell them no. The reality is that none of these buildings are truly "landmarks," and individually are probably not all that significant. But all of them standing side by side in such a great urban neighborhood is something of major significance that we can not let erode away.

While yes, it is just one house, next to one successful restaurant, the city is being completely irresponsible in the way they are setting policy for future development.

Welcome to Buffalo. We have parking on every side of every building. Can your city make that claim?

Just a prediction for a future Buffalo marketing campaign.

this is a shame. it would have been nice to see pano knock down his current restaurant and make the atwater house into the new pano's! one can only dream.

I could see if the were expanding a good restaurant- but Pano's sucks. I haven't gone back since I got cold eggs for the second time. They should demolish Pano's and leave the Atwater House alone.

Antonio's right. Nearly everyone raves abt the quality of the food at Pano's, I haven't been there in a while but it's no Hutch's for Christ's sake. It's french fries w/gravy, prepackaged gyro meat, & f-iing eggs. The closest thing to authentic Greek food around here is 90 miles away on the Danforth in TO. Different situations, but look at Stavros, he bought the old fish market on Elmwood & turned it into an eclectic decent place to eat a cpl of doors down from Ambrosia.

It was a good day and a bad day for Buffalo..

It seems we really do never learn.. even when it literally smacks us in the face. I hope everyone really takes the people who talk about precidents and law to heart because this really does open up the door to anyone anywhere to just demolish a building for the simple fact that it isn't listed on the historic preservation list... well that isn't the point of that list and well. How frustrating... how many more buidlings are we going to demolish before we actually act like real progressive cities that make a focus of their history. Hell at this rate Raleigh and Savana are going ot have more history left than we will in 50 years.

as an architecture student I totally understand the arguement of the need and desire for sense of place, especially in terms of Buffalo's strong architectural character. However my studying in Europe has also taught me our culture and city government is not the only one who wrestles with the balance of preservation and erasure. a second lesson i've learned is that some "significant" structures most be lost for progress, for example the orginal St. Paul's basilica ( roman ) for the current St Paul's ( renassiance ). I know that's on a radically different scale but hopefully you can see the point.

I again apologize for my ignorance of the specific structure but for true vibrant living urban environments a layering must occur. as other posts have mentioned there are similiar buildings of comparable character located nearby and along Elmwood so perhaps the loss of one structure is not the end all. like previous posts i will be strongly discouraged if the proposed project does not occur, yet I will give Pano's the benefit of the doubt until he is proven to not be trusted.

Viking, not to be a prick but it's "obvious" not "oblivious" Also, Pano owned that building for quite a few years before raising the issue of expansion, hence demolition. At the time of its purchase there wasn't as great of a public outcry for preservation plus nobody automatically assumed that his intention was to take it down. For years it housed viable retail establishments & apartments.

Zen, youre shortsighted and ignorant. Why didnt u buy the house when it was for sale? Why didnt Tim Tielman and his groupie preservationists buy it and turn it into a boutique hotel? Oh thats right, youre all broke, have no pull, and are probably among the same nimby's who shot down the EV Hotel.. So just shut up and let the real business men in his city work. Next!!!

"so just shut up"

that's an intelligent post

Here are the facts: 1.Panos is the busiest restaurant on elmwood. 2. Panos is responsible for bringing a great deal of daily traffic to that part of elmwood. I think they get like 600 or so patrons a day! 3. Panos makes everyone else on that street busier because it is the anchor tenant on the block. 4. Expanding Panos means increasing the visibilty of all other businesses in that area.

Change is good people. Tear down all those houses and put up a hotel and a bigger and better Panos. Then we may actually start seeing some cool business concepts in other cities come our way.

blue, that's an interesting comment. maybe if all these business become more successful because of proximety to panos they too could buy a house next door, let it rot for several years and then tear it down for a parking lot expansion. then we'd attact cool businesses from all over! sounds like a great way for buffalo to change.

nyc - buddy, you may want to turn your attention to the scumlords that run some of our city's worst properties if you are worried about abondoned properties. Pano has done one thing wrong in my eyes. He hasn't demolished that building yet, which contributes to the blight on that street. But knocking him for boarding up that house is a stretch my man. Bottom line; the house is ugly and he has a plan to expand his business and beautify that neighborhood. And you want to stop him because you want to save that house? Please.

Im against a parking lot expanision near the street. I like the plan above with the parking lot in the back. That will enhance the street and his business ten fold.

I agree, the scumlords who buy property that's in decent condition only to sit on it and let it rot should get alot more attention and should be held accountable for their action. People like, um, um, let's see, I can't think of who,.. oh wait, Pano!

and look at the rendering with the wider view - parking at the sidewalk and curb cuts both sides of the building. that's not beautification.

Actually Burger King is probably the busiest restaurant on Elmwood, so perhaps the city should tear down more structures to allow other fast food chains to establish themselves. As far as vacant buildings...this is Elmwood, not the Fruit Belt.

nyc- you're right. shame on Pano. The atwater house is so beautiful and the houses that are on its left just add to the beauty of the street. In fact, let's tear down Panos and build another atwater. Let's make elmwood into a street of atwater houses. get rid of parking lots, get rid of panos, get rid of any development that is linked to parking lots on its side or behind its building.

And you wonder why people are leaving in flocks. No hotel, Why? Because it obstructs views of its neighbors and you can see into houses behind the hotel No expanded Panos, Why? Because it eliminates an ugly building that has no historic value.

Its not like these projects are replacing great buildings and masterpieces. Just look at that block right now? It's ugly. These projects aim to beautify the street and increase traffic and increase business. These projects also will attract new clientele from all over the region and from Downtown Buffalo.

But no wait, let's just do what nyc says and scratch these plans. Let's pass by the atwater house each and every day and marvel at its beauty. And don't forget about those gems on the left.

People like you need to realize that our city needs new investors to grow. Elmwood needs anchor tenants to grow. The parking lot issue I agree with. NO street side parking lots should be aloud. I hate parking lots.

Bottom line: A boutique hotel and an expanded panos will attract better businesses on that street. Why are we letting the suburbs win in development. Let's build commercial districts that attract people to the area and keep them there for a while.

no disrespect to nyc, I just clearly have a different view.

Blue, it is a street side parking lot, in fact in two locations, at each side of the building. I want infrastructure that offers a different alternative to the suburbs, not compete with the same old shit, this is not good urban infill development

Surface parking with yellow accent striping is much better than a century old medina porch and turret. And it is indded infill: parking filling in the space left by a house that is still there ;)

The block is ugly? Well we are now putting a surface lot in for the ugliest building on the block.

Maybe Elmwood needs a master plan to publicly finance demolition for parking next to each building so it to can prosper and become a replica of Transit Rd. Hell that new facade (which will never happen) and parking lot will make it feel just like I am at an outparcel Starbucks on Transit. Unless the pretty wall in front of it will be made out of Medina Sandstone...hmmm...

blue, i think you have the same view as i do you just assume i am a preservationist obstructionist or whatever you call us. If they want to tear down everyhouse from the atwater to the corner of Forest for a multistory mixed use project with street facing retail and other decent treatment that was built to the sidewalk and had hidden parking i would be all for it. - This pano plan has parking to either side of the building with an additional drive over the sidewalk and he can tear down the atwater without being required to build the new sturcture. so we know what this site is going to look like a year from now.

Elmwood is an asset to the city because it is an attactive pedestrian environment. By putting in parking and curb cuts and tearing down a contributing building without a decent plan for redevelopment it like taking the outer harbor and putting in a sewage treatment plant expansion (maybe an exaggereated example but none the less). it doesn't make any sense. they city needs to not only build off its assets but understand what its assest are in the first place. Elmwood isn't growing because of convinent parking.

you sissies who reject modernity, you slay me. This is the 21st century! Buffalo could do without more of those dark dingy old buildings. Pano's place now is a beautiful clean white structure & a gleaming example of capitalism at its finest, look at that lot, always full. Frankie numb-nuts is right, let the businessmen make the decisons and we'll all be a lot better off.

this has nothing to do with architecture or modernism. actually what is happening here has been happening in buffalo for the past 60 years. tear downs and parking and hasn't it made buffalo great. nothing contemporary about that. the city has every right to protect itself economically just as well as individual business owners. the more the pedestrian character of elmwood is protected, the more people will be attacted to the city and more likely they will linger and spend money in shops and invest in neighborhood housing. elmwood is growing because it is a livable street and people are attacted to it. shops open and the tax base grows. when buildings are demolished for parking the tax base will begin to shrink as the effect elmwood has on the surrounding neighborhoods will diminish. i know you think this is only one project but it is a bad precedent to set.

NYC, you sound like a typical hippie. It is all about cars and parking lots. I hate going to Elmwood, you've got to always walk a block or two wherever you go. If anything Elmwood needs more lots! Lots=Commerce, Commerce=$$$ If you want proof just look at the Galleria, Blvd Mall, or Eastern Hills. That's where the real action is you dope.

that's a pretty funny post!

a block or two is about the minimum you walk to a store in the galleria from your car in the parking lot.

To all the goofball's against the tear-down....

I'm not even going to touch the fact that the house isn't worth saving.

I WILL mention the fact that this is NOT about PARKING. SHUT UP about the parking lot, you wont even be able to see it from the street. You're all grabbing onto thin air with that crap. He's gonna put like maybe 10-15 more spots BEHIND the expansion. And he SHOULD.

Bottom line: Pano's is jam-packed to the gills with a long waiting list all day and all night every single day of the week all year long. The place is never slow. People walk out all the time because they don't feel like waiting. The guy is trying to expand his restaurant. He's a local guy. Let him do it.

This is not corporate progress. This is a family neighborhood restaurant that needs to be bigger due to its popularity. The sacrifice was a house. An old house. I'm all for preservation, I really am, but that house wasnt even all that cool anyway!

And once again, shut UP about the parking.