The exterior makeover of the one of downtown’s most unsightly buildings started this morning. Crews are chipping away at the stucco façade of 5-7 Genesee Street that fronts Roosevelt Square across from the Hyatt.
Architect Steve Carmina is working with Roger Trettel, a pioneering downtown developer with other properties on the 500 block; Steven A. Carmina, an accountant; and Joe Piccone, owner of Bison Electrical Services, on the project.
Carmina is liking what he sees so far of the newly-exposed brick. “It’s not too bad,” says Carmina. “The top of the wall on 5 Genesee looks rough however.”
The interconnected buildings will become residential and commercial space. The front façade will be restored and later additions to the rear of the building will be removed to create a courtyard. The owners of South Buffalo’s Brick Oven Bistro & Deli are leasing the ground floor.
Two, large two-story units, one with 1,350 sq.ft. the other with 1,650 sq.ft., are planned on theupper floors along with a one-bedroom, single-level unit with 745 sq.ft.
Carmina and his wife Brenda are renovating 9 Genesee Street next door as their new home with a small amount of ground floor commercial space that will be occupied by Just Fries. Paul and Sandra Wilkins are finishing up renovations at neighboring 537 Main Street as their new home and restaurant, Raclettes.