A three-story commercial building is in line for significant façade improvements under the state’s East Side Commercial Districts program. Owner Uzair Ahmed is bringing plans for the renovations to 657 Fillmore Avenue to the Preservation Board on Thursday. The proposed work consists of storefront repair, repairs to masonry, and window replacement.
The building was identified as contributing to the Broadway-Fillmore Historic District, a certified local Historic District by the National Park Service. Plans prepared by in.site.architecture include:
- Complete extensive repairs required at damaged masonry.
- Remove masonry/glass block and other infill from original openings.
- Repair/rebuild existing historic windows where they remain, preserving historic reeded glass where possible and providing safety new safety glass, re-glazed in the frames where possible.
- Where windows have been fully removed, install new aluminum-clad wood windows with frame & sash profiles to match historic examples extant in the building.
- Repair/rebuild historic wood doors, with new safety glass, re-glazed in the frames where possible.
- Repoint/repair masonry knee walls where required.
- Remove stucco from South wing and repair/repoint masonry as required.
- Re-paint only currently painted masonry surfaces; color per architect/local preservation board approval.
- Construct new fiber-cement panel and trim in existing sign-board zone, per bid drawings. Provide blocking for future tenant (individual sign letters on stand-offs). Provide wiring for future tenant lighting (linear lights as shown in rendering, to be submitted for approval). Paint sign-board zone; color per architect/local preservation board approval.
- Repair cornice, parapet and roof as required to fully weatherize, per bid drawings and construction standard best practices. Paint cornice; color per architect/local preservation board approval.
The property is nearly across the street from 662 Fillmore Avenue that Buffalo Brewing Co. purchased and plans to renovate. The East Side Commercial Districts Program provides matching capital grants for building renovations in four investment areas—Jefferson Avenue Commercial District, MLK Park Business District, Broadway-Fillmore, and Kensington-Bailey.