Coe Place... key to the East Side?
There is a little street called Coe Place on the western edge of the East Side. It quite possibly could serve as a catalyst for reinvigoration of a large part of this long suffering area of the city. It has endured many of the ravages common to much the East Side but survives mostly intact today. The tight composition of houses, pushed up close to a narrow street with small scale sidewalks, creates a quaint, remarkably cohesive neighborhood. This unique street started out as a brick paved private way. The houses were built as a group in 1890 and 1891 by George Chadeayne. The neighborhood around Coe Place is near upcoming major public and private investments, including a $16 million Artspace project, directly adjacent in the former Buffalo Electric Vehicle Company building.
As part of a spin off effort, the City is rumored to be planning significant improvements along Coe Place, including a reconstruction of the street in a brick herringbone pattern. One distinctive house on the south side of the block, the Hamilton Ward house is particularly historic. Its front elevation is commanded by a 3 story tower giving it a special presence on the street. It was once the home of Hamilton Ward, Jr. (1871-1932), a prominent Republican politician who served as New York State Attorney General from 1928 to 1930. You can read much more about this house and Hamilton Ward at Greater Buffalo Blog.
So why is this little street the key to saving the East Side? Because it is a little pot of gold waiting to be taken and enjoyed. The problem is that the pot of gold is on the East Side and the long standing fears and negative perceptions of the East Side make it very hard to see the glint on that pot of gold. This charming little street in combination with major investments in the neighborhood can be a bulwark for changing attitudes about the East side. Great architecture, when recognized, can be a powerful tool for redevelopment of a city. People are more and more looking for the unique living environments that streets like Coe Place can provide. Piece by piece the East Side of Buffalo can be rejuvenated by leveraging the attractive assets provided by streets such as Coe place. A developer with imagination could bring this street up to its true potential and kick start real change in the area.
To get frequent updates and reports on possible exciting new developments on Coe Place check in with Fix Buffalo. This site is dedicated to reinventing this part of the city and has many interesting posts on the neighborhood.
Photos courtesy Fix Buffalo and Aaron Ingrao
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Comment Options
Lou
Yes, Coe place is one piece
downgrading the Kensington to a Parkway between Jefferson and downtown is another
and extending Buffalos Light Rail to the Airport is another
and removing the toll boths on the I90 entering Buffalo is another
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mj
It is an interesting street. There are so many of them on the east side.
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&ss=coe%20place%20buffalo%20ny&cp=42.906846~-78.866259&style=o&lvl=2&scene=225386&sp=adr.Coe%20Pl%2c%20Buffalo%2c%20NY%2014209
There's the link to Windows live local. I love the bird's eye view shots. Its amazing how many houses are still on the street and just how tight they are in there. The parking lot behind the north side leaves something to be desired, but you have to start somewhere. The amount of "open canvas" on the east side always amazes me.
Zooming out, its appearent just how much the New Delta Sonic expansion leaves an open wound in the streetscape of Main St.. At least it is a living one and not an abandoned one. You'd think someone would be able to draw up a structure that could blend in and still house the functions of a gas station etc. I know I have sketched out a few, but an achitect I am not. Nor is a developer pry willing to pay any extra build costs.
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Charger
Nice piece. Readers should be aware that the Hamilton Ward House is currently threatened with demolition by its owner, Belmont Shelter Corp.
For more on this unfortunate situation follow the link to the Greater Buffalo Blog above the image of the house (above).
If you feel like contacting Belmont Shelter Corpt. they can be found at http://www.belmontshelter.org/contact.php. Please remember to be polite and concise if you choose to contact them.
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david
Steel,
Awesome post.
Here's a link to Chris Hawley's groundbreaking work about the "Hamilton Ward House" aka 19 Coe Place.
http://tinyurl.com/93dbn
Let's remember that the current owner, Belmont Shelter will also be the property manager of the adjacent Artspace project. Here's the latest about Artspace:
http://tinyurl.com/c9jb8
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Mark
I am a designer who recently passed through Coe Place and found it to have the potential of being quite charming, as I am sure it once was many years ago.
I am saddened by the blight of Buffalo, which seems to permeate the majority of the city. Admittedly, being the middle of winter doesnit exactly help the scenery either.
But, I digressOe
I am also a preservationist at heart and would love to be part of a group effort, grassroots movement, to resurrect this one block, extremely unique neighborhood but I am concerned as to the safety of living in this area.
I would think that this would make an ideal gated community, which may, on the surface sound terrible but it may draw to attention the need for people with the monetary funds to help save these late Victorian buildings from being further neglected. Every house on this block clearly needs some form of attention.
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Mark
For anyone interested...
19 Coe Place is listed as being owned by a Alberta Commarano and is assessed at $7000.00
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lee
coe place is adorable. the homes have so much potential.
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quinnyarch
I was pumping my gas across the street, spotted Coe, and decided to drive-by and see what the fuss was about. Here was my honest to goodness experiece: two cop cars were parked on the left hand side, officer on the sidewalk. other vehicles were parked and the right hand side and it appear people were in the process of moving. As i reached the end of the short block, a third cop car came whizzing by down Ellicott. As I made my way back to main street a two more police cars were at the intersection (presumably one of the was the vehicle which whizzed by), attending to a car crash (?) involving a vehicles which transports caskets. strange, huh? I hope that's not normal . . .
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