Paul Kolkmeyer is planning to introduce several new uses to his recently acquired Marine Trust Building at Main and Seneca streets. According to Business First, Kolkmeyer expects to put 25 condominiums on the building’s top five floors, open a banquet facility in the grand first floor banking hall, put a small boutique hotel into the third floor, and consolidate office tenants into the remaining levels.
Kolkmeyer bought the Marine Trust, Roblin, and Stanton buildings from David Sweet for $3.2 million in October. He is also expected to purchase the Rand Building and Main Court Building from Sweet in coming weeks.
Residential and ground floor commercial space is planned for the Stanton Building at 251 Main Street . Built in 1873, it has the only five-story cast iron façade in Buffalo. Thirty-six apartments are planned. Sweet restored the building’s ornate façade in 1986 and changed its name to the Stanton Building in honor of his father, Stanton Sweet. Kolkmeyer will relocate his offices to the building’s first floor. Kolkmeyer is working with Preservation Studios to obtain historic preservation tax credits for the restoration work and Wylier and Associates is designing the project.
Plans for Marine Trust and adjacent Roblin Building according to Business First:
Marine Trust Building at 241 Main St. will see its top five floors converted into 25 condominiums — with five units per floors. Commercial office space will remain on floors 4 through 11 and the first floor will be renovated into an upscale banquet center. A small boutique hotel, with somewhere between 20 and 24 rooms, will be built into the third floor.
The six-story Roblin Building at 251 Main St. will house the kitchen facilities for the banquet center, indoor parking for the condo residents and some commercial office space.
Current office tenants in the three buildings who may be displaced by the new development plans will be offered space in either the Rand or Main Court buildings – a move that will increase occupancy in both properties.
Work on the three buildings, expected to cost $37 million, will start early next year.