What's Up With The Greystone Building...
Plans for the renovation of the Greystone Apartment building at 24 Johnson Park have literally fallen through. Ellicott Development has decided that the ornate six-story structure cannot be economically renovated. Carl Paladino purchased the property in March 2002 with plans to convert the complex into a market rate, upscale apartment building. Work came to a halt after a worker fell through an upper floor while gutting the building.
Opened in 1897, the former Berkeley Hotel was designed by Carlton Strong. The vacant columned building is an early example of reinforced concrete construction. Unfortunately, this grand dame of a building looks doomed under present ownership even as its neighborhood is seeing millions of dollars of new investment. The West Village and Johnson Park areas continue to solidify, Chippewa Street is within walking distance, Uniland is poised to begin construction of a new office building in the 200 block of Delaware, the former Buddyis is being rebuilt as a supper club, and Ani DiFrancois transformation of the Asbury Delaware United Methodist Church is wrapping up. Lets keep our fingers crossed that Paladino can make the numbers work or another developer steps forward with a redevelopment plan for this diamond in the rough.
photos courtesy of Steel and NYC007
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NYC007
WCP, Thanks for the photo credit, but Steel deseves it all. I wasn't able to come across any photos wothy of publishing. Thanks Steel, and thanks to you WCP for bringing this beautiful building into the spot light. It is such an amazing space and would make a cool inn, or boutique hotel. Maybe even a youth hostel or Bed & Breakfast. There are so many possibilites, which are enhanced (as you pointed out) by its amazing location adjacent to beautiful Johnson Park and the West Village.
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david S
What a shame that such a beauty sits rotting. There is no reason that this building should not be economically viable. So many of Buffalo's treasures have been labled as too expensive to renovate. Without persisitance and logic we will continue to loose these treasures.
Many more of Buffalo's great buildings would have been lost if there were not people with forsight to make sure they were brought back to usefull life.
A short list of buildings that many condemned to the wrecker but were thankfully saved :
Guarantee Building ECC City Campus Market Arcade Building Theater Place (not to mention the whole theater district) The Mansion (AKA Victor Hugo) Ani DiFranco's Asbury Delaware The Squire Mansion
The list could go on and on. All of these buildings were said to be economically unviable. Many fought to have them demolished. And yet today they HAVE been renovated and they still serve the city in a far higher capacity than another shovel ready site or God forbid new parking.
The Gray Stone should and can be returned to life!!!!!
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Jadahaha
I've got an idea....have uniland scrub their plans for a new office building in the 200 block of Delaware and renovate this building....
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Jadahaha
I've got an idea....have uniland scrub their plans for a new office building in the 200 block of Delaware and renovate this building....
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M Rodgers
Thank you all for jumping in on the concern for this building. The West Village Renaissance Group, Johnson Park Association, and Neighborhood Preservation Collaborative need bodies to write and make noise regarding this travesty.
Remember, this was another building that Paladino wanted to raze for a parking lot orginally. One wonders if the fall through the roof wasn't staged. If a professional developer works on a project, they should have more sense than to send heavy equipment up on the roof without first establishing it's load limits.
This building is on the National Register - it's a stand alone - and needs to be protected and rehabbed. Anyone iwth ideas, let us know via this site or by return e-mail to westvillageren@ msn.com.
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Lou
I aree, this building is on the National Register and its one of the few remaining buildings that give Buffalo is urban character.
I dont care what the developer says, we the people together with the city and the preservation society need to step up to the plate and help save this building before we loose another opportunity.
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JuneBug
I agree with most comments here, except that Lou says this building "is one of the few remaining buildings that give Buffalo its urban character."
I'm all for saving everything we have, but I think that Buffalo has quite a few...MANY...buildings of architectural significance.
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Lou
JuneBug, the Greystone is both Architecturally and Historically significant building.
Yes, your right, Buffalo has quite a few but I was referring to fabric and continuity that make the Greystone so valuable.
Buffalo right now is not a wealthy city even though it is gentrifying. No building we replace is going to integrate into the fabric of the community as well as the greystone.
If this were an architecturally and historically significant building surrounded by parking lots, then it might actually hinder redevelopment since developers would have to develop around it.
In the case of the Graystone, its presence is very well integrated into the surrounding buildings and neighborhood. Its redeveloped presence actually creates a better dynamic for redevelopment than a build new approach.
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M Rodgers
Thank you, Lou. The WVRG and all residents really want to open up communication for positive action with the Graystone. I happen to treasure the postcard they used in this article - have used it in my home as a target for the future.
Please contact us if anyone wishes to work with the WVRG in partnership with the Neighborhood Preservation Collaborative in attracting the right owner/s and getting it out of Paladino's hands. Again, many thanks to all who have shown their care and consideration for this masterpiece.
Marilyn Rodgers
westvillageren@msn.com
mjrodger@courts.state.ny.us
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