A few projects are moving forward even in trying economic times. Architect Karl Frizlen and contractor Paul Johnson’s 257 Lafayette LLC have started renovation work at the former Catholic Academy School. The pair are converting it into a mix of commercial and residential space.
The three-story, 1928 school building on Lafayette Avenue near Grant Street will be transformed into 20, two-bedroom loft apartments and 11,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Johnson and Frizlen will also be relocating their offices into the building and Frizlen’s wife will run a day care center in the building.
“Our goal is to reinvigorate a school that has been empty for nearly three years,” says Frizlen. “We see the area close to Grant Street as coming back with an interesting mix of immigrants, younger families and Buffalo State College students. There’s quite a bit happening there.”
The project carries a $3 million price tag. Frizlen and Johnson paid $200,000 for the property.