Evolution of Lower Delaware Avenue Continues
Glass and steel appear to be the new design theme for lower Delaware Avenue. The latest building getting a make-over is the three-story circa-1950 commercial building at 255 Delaware just north of W. Chippewa Street. Owner First Amherst Development Group is planning façade repairs, a modern glass canopy and interior upgrades. 255 Delaware joins a growing list of projects recently completed or planned in what is downtown's most active development area.
First Amherst expects to spend $1 million on the project. Common areas will be renovated along with improvements to the building entrance and mezzanine.
“We bought the property several years ago because we liked the location and the off-street parking available behind the building,” said Benjamin N. Obletz, President of First Amherst. “We were patient and wanted to wait and see how we could best maximize our investment. We will redevelop this property into one of the best Class 'A' boutique office buildings on Delaware Avenue,” Obletz said.
First Amherst has owned the 20,000 sq.ft. building since March 2000. There are several suites available on the third and fourth floors ranging in size from 2600 to 5300 sq.ft. Work is expected to be underway later this year.
Get Connected: First Amherst Development Group, 716.839.1400
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Comment Options
chris69
youd think for that kind of investment they could have added bigger windows to the upper floors, maybe even added a 5th floor
the only thing that looks remotely akin to an improvement is the glass awning...
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chris69
its a dissappointing investment upgrade for an area that is seeing such an increase in value, appreciation and demand.
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STEEL
I hope they get rid of the silly little shrubs in front of the commercial windows.
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flyguy
I've alwasy found that building to be rather boring looking. Its an improvement. I would have liked to see a bit more done with the blah windows on the upper floors as well but at least the first floor imporvements are respectable.
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tjhorner1
Why is it that so many people feel the need to criticize developments, as in "I would have prefered this", or "this is disappointing?"? First, one million dollars is not a ton of cash to renovate a building like this, and two, even if it was, it still doesn't give anyone, other than the developers, a say on the project. So much of what is wrong with Buffalo is rooted in this type of attitude. I'm AMAZED that the Health Now project made it! Any renovations in Buffalo are a positive, regardless of whether it fits your personal preference! Embrace it, and realize that you may only "like" 50% of the projects as they are designed, but 100% of them are good for the city, and the region. Whether it's preservationalist roadblocks, Donn Esmonde, or the typical Buffalo Nay Sayers, YOU are holding YOUR city back.
Change is good...embrace it!
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BuffaloBloviator
Maybe he will pull off his old giant clock trick.
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BuffaloBloviator
Dear Bernie Obletz,
I suggest PLM Design, just for a few more ideas. Have Paul stop by for a quick look. His website is http://www.plminteriordesign.com , (716) 903-6077 I'm using him up the street at 153.
Howard
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RonR
I would rather have them do as little as possible on the outside and spend the money on the inside.
What you have to realize Chris69 is you are never going to make money for them. You are never going to move into this building. The are not doing this to make it pretty.
What they are doing and what downtown needs is building quality office space for companies. If .95 of every $1.00 was spent on the interior, I would be happy. This is where companies are going to look for improvements and where the developer is going to make back his money.
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Jay
more good news for delaware. if any area of the city is truly stirring with investment activity it's right here.
oh and i agree with tjhorner, stop being upset with every architectural concept...cough....chris69. you sound like you're three when you say...they should add a floor...or they should make bigger windows...this isn't sim city, this is real money and real investment in buffalo, sit back, relax, and enjoy, and please for the sake of everyone improve the commentary.
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Hospitable
I don't know what it is about Buffaloanians that makes them think every single building needs to be archiecturally significant... take a look at Manhattan or Chicago and you'll see tons of buildings that aren't "special"... I don't get it.
You have your mix of significant and standard... not all of one or all of the other.
Its not great... but I've seen worse and they could have knocked it over..not everything can make the cover of architects digest!!!
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jerkface
a million dollars to add a floor and enlarge all the windows! HAH!
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TheWhyNotGuy
"I don't know what it is about Buffaloanians that makes them think every single building needs to be archiecturally significant"
I'm with you to a point. Not every building can - or should - be a masterpiece, but in this day and age there's also no excuse for poor design. Take that new building on South Elmwood where many of the Federal offices moved... please! It's butt-ugly, regardless of where your taste in architecture lies. Compare that with the new M&T building on Delaware which manages to be practical and attractive, or the New Era rehab, which respects the old but looks toward the future at the same time.
I understand the economic realities of life in the 21st century, particularly in a rust belt city. I know cost is a huge factor in any project, and the opulant days of showplaces like City Hall, Sheas or the Guaranty are likely gone forever. But that's no reason to settle for ugliness.
By the way, these comments aren't necessarily attached to this particular project. It's more of a general rant.
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sally
The new building on Elmwood looks far better and much more cohesive than that abominable tacked on glass and aluminum facade that they put on the New Era building. The new Era alteration looks like crap it's even worse than the integration of th gas works into the Blue Cross buiding.
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chris69
oh please......people add larger windows to their homes everyday....and its well within the incomes of average worker.....so if its within reach of the average worker...its going to be within reach of a downtown property owner.
You know....if your going to do a project then you do it right. If your property values are going up because of the new courthouse and the new statler and the new dulski and the new M&T etc....then one should expect some sort of excellence redevelopment. This isnt the eastside where property values havent appreciated in 30 years...this is one of the hottest locations...and people should see this redevelopment for what it is....its a 1st floor redevelopment with a glass canopy.....the upper floors are a complete disappointment both in what they add to the facade greeting the tenant and to the interior tenant that would appreciate some good lighting and a view.
yes....every dollar spent in Buffalo is a good dollar for the most part..but I still say that the owner is cheap and stingy....wanting to ring the highest rent for the least investment....thats not what I would really call someone who is contributing to Buffalo.
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UrbanBody
..kudos to Jav and tjhorner1 for their comments re: chris69---someone (like me) that has never contributed to the physical development of downtown. Breathe people--it's all ok--it's all movement in the positive direction...just be happy.
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RonR
Chris69,
Please be realistic. This building is circa-1950 and most likely has not seen any improvements since. Bringing up a circa-1950 building to "A" specs is going to cost a lot of money.
Let's project that 50k is spend on facade repairs, a modern glass canopy. This leaves 950k for the interior. With 20,000 sg feet of space, that is under $50 per sq foot for improvements and finishes. They will most likely being using high end materials in the common spaces, these cost $$$. They most likely will be improving the HVAC system or even adding it. Remember AC was not a "must have" 60 years ago. They most likely will need to rewire 100% of the building with CAB5. They will most likely be adding a security and sprinkler system.
ALL OF THESE THINGS COST MONEY. These features are what people are looking for when paying for "A" space. NOT BIG WINDOWS OR A 6th floor. Heck, one of the advantages of this building is parking. If a 6th floor were added, this would reduce the spaces per unit and lower the value of all. In regards to windows, the current layout is more conducive to multiple business. An example is a doctors office. They do not like being in buildings with floor to ceiling windows for obvious reasons.
So please stop with your fascination of making every project taller and newer.
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Hospitable
Deleware district has always been my favorite..variety is key.. can't have every business in a skyscraper.
.thank you RonR, Jay... its good to see other people with a heads on their shoulders.
Not only are chris69s rants boring but they're relatively similar... bigger bigger bigger... HUGE FUCCILO..HUGE NEW SKYLIne...6 floors hell lets ad 10 because we can?
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BROKEEPSBLOCKINGME
chris69 probably doesnt have two nickels to rub together and prob works for the city, county or state and suckles the taxpayer nipple for the rest of his life
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jerkface
chris69, your posts speak volumes about your ignorance of such things. You doing replacement windows at home does not compare to enlarging all the windows on a masonry 20,000sq.ft. commercial building. And as far as adding a floor, that's ridiculous. How can you assume that the building was designed structuraly to accomodate such an addition?
"so if its within reach of the average worker...its going to be within reach of a downtown property owner." Your logic is comically weak.
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rickyrick
Is retail included (marketed) for the first floor? or will we see more blank windows?
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nonono
man, and I though I was bitchy!
I agree with sentiments that a million dollars is chump change for the mildest renovations and repair on a building of this size.
This is another 'Br' non-story / developer generated press release about a building that is simply being properly maintained and moderately updated. For you ladies and queens, its like Botox and a lid lift, but on a building, no biggy. I'm with urban body, relax and breath.
It's just going to be loitered in and puked on by the denizens of Chippewa Street anyway. Hey... now there's an idea! How about an L.E.D. skin so we can project blinding Starbuck's and Cellino and Barnes adds all over the front of it 24 / 7?
As far as that other pinhead.... there are not many 'unremarkable' or 'standard' buildings in Manhattan, I lived there for 16 years. What we have in Buffalo is the worlds largest collection of tarmac parking lots and a legacy of some of the worst architectural atrocities of the 60's 70's and 80's. It's like being forced to 'LOOK' at ABBA music all day!
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STEEL
If my memory serves me, back in the day when Chippewa Street was a different place than we know today this building was a hotel which had, shall we say..uhm...a local flavor so to speak. Some time in the 1980's it was fixed up. The wood trim was added and the color of the brick was changed.
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chris69
I think "nonono" said it better than I did....this is another Br non-story ....a generated press release about a building that is simply being properly maintained.
Other than a glass awning...this is little more than cheap stingy maintenance in a district that has seen major MAJOR appreciation....and the design flaws...are NOT being corrected on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th stories (and dont give me some BS about doctors offices....on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors...you get both views and privacy idiot!)
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pgf1948
Why waste a dime on such a building? Worthy of the boardwalk in Coney Island or Asbury Park ca 1955, but not Delaware Avenue at any time.
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Hospitable
Typical New york city right there... OONONO SAYS:
" there are not many 'unremarkable' or 'standard' buildings in Manhattan"... okay you've got the greatest collection of architecture in the world and more than your fair share of "regular" buildings..its not that much different than any other city. We just have more places to park!!
Good point though... I've often wondered how our parking lots look from a throne in Manhattan... ya "pinhead"??"
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WCPerspective
Here's the real story.... I was passed along renderings from a third-party. I asked First Amherst for some details. They wanted to make sure I had the most current renderings. I did. First Amherst sent additional information and a quote from Ben Obletz. And a post was born. No drama, no conspiracy, no kick-backs, no free rent at a loft, no job offer.
Anyone spending a million dollars on a home renovation, commercial building, or cosmetic surgery, please contact me and you too can see your name on BR.
Thanks! WCP
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Biniszkiewicz
$1 million is not chump change on a buidling of this size. $50/square foot is a higher rehab cost than many buildings downtown sell for. I take heart that this will be a noticable improvement based on the track record of the developers (Elk Street Terminal and Granite Works, for example). This building wasn't horrid inside before. Offices on the third floor were used by an engineering firm about three years ago (I don't know if it's occupied now; there was modern HVAC then, and reasonable finishes--'80s-90s stuff, though much of that now needs updating).
I suspect the $1 million will be pleasingly visible. This is more than just doing reasonable upkeep.
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