Preservation Buffalo Niagara is recognizing outstanding preservation projects and those contributing to preservation efforts at its annual awards ceremony May 30, 11:30 AM in the Statler’s Golden Ballroom. Award categories were established to acknowledge distinguished contributions to our community through preservation activity. Recipients will be recognized in several areas including: preservation craft; rehabilitation/adaptive use; stewardship; neighborhood conservation; planning/reconstruction; and preservation journalism. Buffalo Rising will profile this year’s winners leading up to the May event.
ArtSpace Buffalo is being recognized in the Rehabilitation/Adaptive Reuse category.
Artspace Projects developed this mixed-use low income housing project for local artists and their families. The developer has constructed many of these around the country, but this was the first Artspace project in New York State.
The project involves the adaptive reuse of the Buffalo Electric Vehicle Co. building at 1219-1233 Main Street, an historic daylit factory building, into 36 hard loft units, gallery, storefont and common use space, and the construction of 24 new townhousestyle hard loft buildings on the rear of the property (19, 29 & 33 Northamption Street).
Renovations to the historic building included updates to all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems as well as, hazardous materials abatement. Specific work included masonry restoration, restoration of steel windows, replacement in-kind of historic wood windows and replacement of roofing with an adhered EPDM roof. The project, which utilized historic tax credits to augment funding, was compliant with both State Historic Preservation and New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal standards.
The design of the new buildings and site employ the artistic principles of this new residential community, while integrating into the existing context of the surrounding mid-town Buffalo neighborhood.
The project was started in 2004 and completed in 2007. HHL Architects was the designer and Savarino Construction Services was the general contractor.