'Urban village' planned for 800 block of Main Street

[steven]

A derelict strip of commercial buildings in the 800 block of Main Street in Buffalo is about to reborn as an "urban village."
First Amherst Development has kicked off its long-planned renovation of seven vacant structures, stretching from 844 to 850 Main St., at the intersection of Main and Virginia streets. Crews have begun performing asbestos abatement and interior demolition of the buildings, with reconstruction to start in late July.

While there are a few financing details to finalize on the $5 million project, it's expected the transformation to housing and retail space will be complete late next spring, said Ben Obletz, of First Amherst.

The buildings will be converted into 29 apartments, with rear parking, plus 4,600-square-feet of commercial space. Even though the site won't welcome its first tenants until next May or June, Obletz said the firm has already received inquiries from prospective residents.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial...10/1067513.asp

[WestCoastPerspective]

City officials are right in saying this stretch of Main Street is critical to provide a connection between the Medical Campus, Theater District and Allentown. It is literally at the crossroads. The 700 block of Main is filling in presently and will almost be completed once Clover starts the condo project on the site of the Schmidt Bldg. The only portions of that block with question marks are the corner property where Downtown Graphics used to be (kitty corner to Studio Arena), the Vernor Bldg., and the three story building next to Stoke Seeds. Everything else has been renovated.

Now only if the Red Jacket could find a buyer who could polish up that building (corner of Main and Allen).

[300miles]

I thought the Medical Campus also wanted to extend Allen east of Main St, instead of ending at the metro station....

Opening that up will provide an even more direct link to the Medical Campus and Downtown

[WestCoastPerspective]

That is my understanding- the Allen-Hospital station was going to be reconfigured so that Allen Street could be extended. I think Federal money has been lined up to make it happen. They were also trying to get funds to put medians in Main Street but I don't think they were successful in finding the money in the latest round of federal highway funding.

[WestCoastPerspective]

Rebirth for 800 block
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After long delays, work is under way to bring vacant eyesore back to life

6/19/2005

The 800 block of Main Street is undergoing a revitalization that has been a long time coming - in fact, too long.
First Amherst Development has started its renovation of seven vacant structures, from 844 to 850 Main St. It is good to see crews out working on the buildings, giving hope that their current dilapidated state will soon be transformed into an attractive urban streetscape. Currently, crews are performing asbestos abatement and interior demolition of the buildings. Reconstruction is expected to begin in late July.

This is a $5 million-plus project that will turn a slum into housing and retail space with 31 parking spaces behind the building. Completion is set for late next spring. For neighbors and the community, late next spring cannot arrive too soon.

The road to rehabilitation has not been an easy one. The 800 block of Main Street has long been an eyesore and a haven for vagrants. After having been neglected by an earlier developer, an April 2003 fire ripped through two of the buildings, prompting a court battle about whether to raze the structures. After preservation groups won their fight to prevent the buildings' destruction, the preservationists and First Amherst had to work out a dispute that pitted historic preservation goals against the developer's redesign plans.

As one delay led to another, hope began to dim as the buildings sat and further deteriorated. The interiors reflected the dim shell. Mold covered some walls. Darkness pervaded throughout and rickety staircases led to what once were prime spaces. A clutter of bicycles and a neatly arranged living space could be found in the upstairs of one of the buildings, taken over by an urban squatter.

Still, the developer continued to push forward and the mayor - finally - began to register his impatience with the state Historic Preservation Office more vociferously. Finally, the developer and preservation officials came to an agreement that will save interior elements where possible. Meanwhile, the exteriors will retain their 19th century flavor.

Signs of life are already beginning to creep into the buildings that will sit directly across the street from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. Pretty soon, instead of staring at a squalid embarrassment, researchers will be looking at rejuvenated facades and signs of retail and residential life.

In a way, it's a nice symmetry. As the folks at the medical campus seek to save and prolong human life, First Amherst is in the process of doing the same for the urban landscape in the 800 block of Main Street.