The Episcopal Church of the Ascension at Linwood Avenue and North Street will be converted to senior housing. Ascension parish has chosen to move to the campus of the Church of the Good Shepherd at 96 Jewett Parkway in North Buffalo. The last service on Linwood Avenue will be on January 6. In recognition of their new address, Ascension decided to rename itself The Church of the Ascension Church at Good Shepherd.
The project will be developed by Episcopal Community Housing Development Organization and the apartments will be managed by Episcopal Community Housing, Inc., both subsidiary companies of Episcopal Church Home & Affiliates.
The development team will identify, in conjunction with community input, a community-oriented use for the church sanctuary. Initial plans for the senior housing component of the project call for 25-30 affordable senior apartment units to be developed onsite. Wallace said his organization hopes to move through the various approval processes in order to begin work by late 2015.
Interior photo from Buffalo as an Architectural Museum site.
“This is an example of our Diocese’s commitment to making sure a congregation survives while insuring that our historic buildings continue to serve people and contribute to a better quality of life in Buffalo and all of Western New York,” said Bishop Franklin.
The Gothic Styled church was completed in 1873 and designed by Gordon W. Lloyd.
Meanwhile on the East Side, the former School 59 at 769 Best Street is also going residential. Parkview Apartments will contain 26 units in the four-story school located at the southeast corner of Fillmore Avenue and Best Street. The school was built in 1901 and designed by Architect Charles D. Swan. It closed in 2002 and is still City-owned. Inclusion Development Associates’ Rhonda A. Ricks is spearheading the project.
The City Planning Board will review plans for the school conversion when it meets Tuesday morning.