Ellicott Development has succeeded in demolishing The Bachelor apartment building. Wrecking crews did their thing on Saturday. For those who are concerned about preservation efforts in Buffalo, this is a heavy blow. For those who want to see more shiny modern buildings being built, this will make them happy.
In the end, The Bachelor never really stood a chance. Seeing a development like this (see below) waiting in the wings, it was only a matter of time. Mega dollars for new buildings will usually win, especially when you’re talking about a relatively obscure building such as The Bachelor.
It won’t be long before this building is forgotten, just like so many others that have fallen by the wayside. In a city that is overrun with sprawling parking lots, these decisions are real head scratchers. In a “new” Buffalo, where adaptive reuse is all the rage, it’s a wonder why The Bachelor could not have been incorporated into the plans, even if the exterior was preserved and the interior was made a shell.
Either way, what is done is done. With all of the talk by The City about preservation efforts, and knowing the countless buildings that we have already lost, it’s too bad that this one couldn’t have been saved.
The future: 500 Pearl Street would include a 109-room hotel, 28 apartments, 30,000 sq.ft. of commercial space, a parking ramp, and a restaurant. The Buffalo Christian Center building at Pearl and W. Tupper streets would be incorporated into the project.