Even though I’ve been inside the Pierce Arrow administration building (at Elmwood and Great Arrow), I’ve never seen the entire building until today. My reasons for visiting in the past included stops to Neglia Ballet and Florencio Glass – two of the art groups located inside. The tour was given by Harold Burch of Pierce-Arrow Holdings LLC, who was excited to show us a couple of the interior assets that not many people actually knew anything about.
I certainly did not expect to see the two cavernous ‘auditoriums’ that some say might have been used as an automobile showroom, then a theatre… while others are a bit more imaginative regarding the history. One thing that we are fairly sure of is that Buffalo rockstar Rick James used one of the rooms for band practice. There is still a red runway and stage area outlined on the floor (see below). Some people say that this is where Rick would party the night away, drink, smoke, and get his groove on. Rumor has it that he was also known to unload rounds from his 32-caliber pistol into the walls (we think we found the place where he might have been aiming).
The Pierce Arrow administration building was not one of the locations chosen by Buffalo State to house students. Harold told me that he has been working on different ideas with the owner (Joseph Hecht), but as of yet they have not nailed down what the use will be. Student housing is still not out of the question. The businesses currently located inside the building will remain and leases are being renewed, though the spaces that are vacated will remain empty until a comprehensive plan is forged. In the meantime, some work will be done to the interior and exterior to combat a few of the maintenance problems.
The question on everyone’s minds is… “What would be the best use for the 134,000 sq.’ building?” That’s what Harold would like to know… does BRO readership have any suggestions? Should it be mixed use? Dedicated to students… or the arts? The ceiling heights range from 15′-18′, so lofted apartments are possible. And how can the two auditorium-sized spaces be reworked into a functioning asset? Harold told me that the industrial beams that were added in the ’60’s could be removed and affixed along the floor with a cement covering. After owning the building for two and a half years, the company is looking to move forward with a plan… what should that plan be?