A prominent Delaware Avenue mansion that had been owned by Canisius High School is returning to its residential roots. 891 Delaware LLC is working with architect Karl Frizlen to rehab two buildings and construct four new townhouses on the site. The project was approved by the Preservation Board on October 23 and the Buffalo Planning Board will review the plans on November 18.
The mansion will contain four units and a rear carriage house will contain one unit. Two new buildings will be constructed on site, each containing two townhouses.
891 Delaware LLC is the second investment group to eye the property for redevelopment as multi-family residential. Foster Manor LLC paid $850,000 for the property that includes the main 8,200-square-foot mansion and two large carriage houses in 2011 from Canisius High School. The Foster family home at 891 Delaware Avenue that had been donated to Canisius High School in 2006 by Michael J. DeRose and family. Foster Manor sold the main house and one of the carriage houses to 891 Delaware LLC in April 2013 for $777,000.
The main building is a three-story, 8,274 sq.ft. mansion with European granite and marble exterior, mahogany interior hardwood floors, leaded glass, exception private offices, and wood burning fireplaces on each floor. The site currently has a parking area for 60+ cars but that will be sharply reduced with the new construction.