One month ago we featured a property for sale at 408 Amherst Street that was in need of a caring owner. I’m happy to say that that property recently sold, and shortly we’ll have some updates on who the buyer is and what he is planning on doing with the commercial space. In the meantime, we have another property on the market that, although much larger in size, is ready for a new life. This building is located within eyeshot of the Peace Bridge and The Armory. It could play a major role in the advancements on Connecticut Street, and is situated in close proximity to the waterfront, Front Park, D’Youville College and the future Niagara @ The Front Lofts. If the right owner bought the property it would be a game changer for this area.
*This listing is the second in a series of spotlighting buildings for sale that could help to transform both residential and commercial neighborhoods. We will be looking at buildings on the West Side, downtown, Black Rock, etc. These buildings are in need of an owner – that is clear. Even more than that, these buildings are in need of people with resources and vision. If we can get a few of these structures back into the functioning fabric of the city, then we will have made great strides in helping to mend the neighborhoods that are both on the upswing and in need of an initial catalyst. Most of the buildings that we will be featuring will be brought to us from realtors who have the information that we need to showcase the true nature of the property.
From current owner Bryan Lohr:
The building at 885 Niagara was designed in 1903 by Sidney H. Woodruff, architect of the original Pierce-Arrow showroom on Main St, for the Buffalo Milk Company, a Medina sandstone and Roman brick structure in the neo-classical style. I believe construction started in 1905. The Buffalo Milk company soon after merged with the Queen City Dairy (the photo was in a book published in 1909 where it is called QCD)
That McMenamins project (see below) is similar to my original vision for the building… One difference is that I wanted to have full-time salaried artists working hand-in-hand with scientists and engineers to help bring ideas to light, and maybe new inventions would come out of the partnerships… I wanted a prototyping studio, among other things.
From listing agent Larry Bartolomei:
It was a rather elegant building for its purpose, featuring beautiful stone and brick construction, huge arched windows, interesting architectural elements and quite elaborately detailed office spaces. Sadly, only small remnants of the glorious interior remain – it must have been incredible its heyday!
The complex is currently for sale for $200,000.
The building covers nearly the whole northern end of the block bounded by Niagara, Massachusetts, Prospect and Rhode Island (approx. half an acre) and contains almost 40K SQFT of above grade space and a full basement (approx 16K SQFT) with very high ceilings and large window wells (mostly bricked in now). This building would make an awesome mixed use property: amazing lofts with soaring windows and sweeping views on the upper levels, hip office spaces in the middle and cool restaurants, cafes, galleries and boutiques on the ground level. The rooftop affords incredible 360 degree views of Buffalo and Canada. There’s ample space for off street parking and room for a wonderful outdoor terrace and gardens on the Massachusetts Ave side.
For those familiar with the McMenamins venues in and around Portland, Oregon you’ll agree that this building could be developed into a fantastic version of their amazing concept. They actually employ a full time staff of artists (with salaries and benefits) to create art for their many eclectic venues. Buffalo, with its abundance of artists and musicians, could certainly support this concept! 885 Niagara could house restaurants, a brew pub, pub movie theater, live music venues, boutique hotel, rooms for private parties and special events – check out The Kenendy School (former elementary school) and Edgefield (originally a poor house) to see what I mean.
It would be wonderful for someone with the vision and wherewithal to to create a unique and exciting new life for this beautiful and worthy old building. The West Side location is prime for redevelopment – near the Five Corners area on Massachusetts Avenue, the emerging Connecticut Street corridor and the Peace Bridge, not to mention the beautiful Niagara River!
Get connected: Larry Bartolomei, Nothnagle Realtors, 716.525.3141, agentlarryb@gmail.com