If there was ever a building that shows just how down and out Buffalo became, it’s this one. 521 Main Street is an embarrassment to the city. It shows how little we cared for historic character at one point in time. The facade hack job is an architectural joke, with its cartoonish fake windows.
Like so many other once forlorn buildings in Downtown Buffalo, the future of 521 Main Street now looks bright. The building was recently purchased by mild mannered developer Roger Trettel, who has become somewhat of a super hero when it comes to rescuing these types of architectural significant edifices.
Trettel picked up the building for $395K, which is lower than the owner’s original asking price. In the end, the new owner has got his work cut out for him – it will be interesting to see exactly what is left sitting behind the bizarre Dryvit facade.
From the listing description:
• 6,240 sq.ft.
• Four floors and basement
• 10 car parking in rear on Washington
• An outside elevator could be easily built
• Ideal for office, retail, condos or apartments
• Built in 1900
Whatever does eventually happen to this building, it is important to remember the way it looks right now, in its current state of despair. There is a story to be told, which is a reminder of just how bad things got on Main Street in Downtown Buffalo. As for Trettel, it’s the perfect size footprint for him to tackle. Past/current projects include the stunning Buehl Building and 5-7 Genesee Street (underway with Carmina).