The building at 810 Main Street in Allentown, former home of Oxford Pennant’s headquarters and workshop, is being purchased by GLYS WNY, to serve as its permanent home along with the Pride Center of WNY. Both organizations currently lease space in separate locations, neither of which is adequate to meet the growing demand for their programs and services.
“Finally we will have a space for everyone,” said Ed Drantch, chair of the GLYS Board of Directors. “This begins a whole new chapter in our history.”
GLYS Western New York primarily supports LGBTQ+ youth and young adults through affirming programs, resources, advocacy, leadership opportunities, community connection, and supportive services. Founded 1983, GLYS serves more than 1,700 LGBTQ+ youth and families each year across all eight counties of Western New York.
The Pride Center of Western New York serves the broader LGBTQ+ community through health and wellness initiatives, outreach, education, support, community programming, and connection to affirming resources. Founded in 1998, the Pride Center serves more than 3,500 LGBTQ+ individuals each year. medical and mental health resources and referrals to critical social programs.
The purchase includes 8,000 square feet of office space and a 5,000-square-foot former manufacturing facility with more than 25 dedicated parking spaces at the adjacent 8 St. Louis Place.
In January, Oxford Pennant announced that it was moving its operations to a larger, more efficient 16,088 sq.ft. building at 775 Seneca Street in the Larkin District. GLYS has hired inArchitects of Syracuse for the project.
“The possibilities are enormous,” said Jack Kavanaugh, Executive Director of GLYS WNY. “Not only will we have a fully accessible building for all of our programs, we will have room to grow and community space for other groups who share our goals and values.”
Among the groups that have expressed interest in using the space are:
- Nickel City Treble Makers
- Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus
- Upstate Black Latino Pride
- Buffalo-Niagara LGBTQ History Project
“This will better serve our youth, better serve our seniors…and everyone in between,” said James Zawodzinski Jr., a GLYS Board Member who is chairing a 25-person committee that will raise funds for the purchase and renovation, which is expected to be more than $3 million.