In early June, I drove through the streets of the Cold Springs and Fruit Belt sections of the city and discovered 11 rehabs spread across Riley, Dodge, Northampton, Laurel, Glenwood, Woodlawn, Orange and Peach. Most were recent starts. By late July, as you can see, many had progressed. Various contractors took part in this work. The house on Riley and one of three rehabs on Laurel were sponsored by the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA).
On the Facebook page Buffalo Rehab and Reuse, a number of commenters pointed out the use of vinyl siding and vinyl windows on these rehabs. While vinyl siding seems to be the siding de jour, the discussion about vinyl windows was informative and thought provoking.
The original wooden windows can often be repaired at a cost that is less than the cost of new replacement vinyl windows. Wooden windows give authenticity to rehabs while vinyl window replacements are often ill-fitting in original window spaces. A maintained wooden window will last longer than vinyl windows which need to be replaced every 15 years. Used wooden windows can be obtained at Reuse Action on Northampton Street.
It’s good to see these rehabs on the East Side, an area of Buffalo that is often only associated with blight.
