Genesee Gateway is nearing completion with renovations expected to wrap-up in the first quarter of 2011. Buffalo Rising recently toured the property under the guidance of Hunt Commercial Real Estate brokers’ Chris Fetter and Heidi Nuessele and documented the exciting progress.
On October 18th the United States Department of State Passport Office officially opened and is the first tenant to occupy the newly renovated Genesee Gateway. “The new passport facility is a long-term investment in our community and will enable Western New Yorkers to more easily conduct cross-border commerce,” said Congressman Chris Lee.
This office provides a much needed amenity to downtown Buffalo by shortening the passport process from weeks to days and acting as a destination retail stop for Western New York, Northeast Ohio and Northern PA.
The project’s architect, Flynn Battaglia Architects, created reuse plans for the block that are now becoming reality and have illustrated their expertise with this challenging row of historic buildings. This project is a positive example of how reuse and rehabilitation of historic structures can breathe new life into abandoned neighborhoods. The entire row of buildings has undergone complete reconstruction and now provides common lobbies and collaborative space, vertical access and leasable space for retail or commercial custom design and build out. Spaces throughout the project have many exciting design options including rooftop patios and/or outdoor space.
Tenant parking will be provided at the corner parking lot of W. Chippewa and Ellicott Streets directly across from the project which includes Eddie Brady’s restaurant. Spring of 2011 will bring a new park and an improved streetscape along Genesee Street between Elm and Washington streets.
Chris and I stopped in the project block’s restaurant, Eddie Brady’s, for some great food. Chris praises Eddie for his enthusiastic support of the project, “Eddie has been a great local spokesman for the Genesee Gateway project and deserves some recognition for all the years he stuck it out as the only occupied building on this block.” Eddie has been in his current location for 21 years and purchased the bar as a turn-key operation.
Eddie explained, “There was no competition at the time and it was a great deal, I am excited the passport office folks are here and looking forward to even more businesses, both retail and commercial next year.”
Completion of the Genesee Gateway is just around the corner. This block will once again be a destination address and beautiful gateway to downtown Buffalo.
Get Connected: Heidi Nuessle and Chris Fetter, Hunt Commercial, 716.880.1923