Genesee Block North. Don’t Get Your Hopes Up
The properties, located at 441 Ellicott Street, 130 Genesee Street, and 324, 328 and 334 Oak Street, are a missing link in an emerging neighborhood east of the Theater District. Nearby developments include IS Lofts, Ellicott Commons, Ellicott Lofts, Oak School Lofts, Electric Tower and the upcoming Genesee Gateway project.
Frizlen envisions a mix of renovation and new construction:
The site is lined with three-story brick buildings in disrepair. The proposal retains most of the existing building frontage along the sidwalk and adds new infill construction to match the scale, massing, and character of the existing buildings.
New retail and commercial uses on the ground floor are complemented with residential housing above. In the core of the block, a new medium-rise, large-footprint building rises above ground-level parking. The transparency of its facade allows the historic buildings to take center stage.
Buffalo Properties Ltd. has owned the buildings since 2000.
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- 13 Comments
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GDC
This would be freakin AWESOME if it came true.
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RaChaCha
This article couldn't be more timely - I was looking at these buildings just yesterday, wondering what might become of them.
While it's great to embrace the architecture of the end building as a design concept for the whole, I'd be concerned about the impact of the plan on the second building in the photo, which is the one that especially caught my eye yesterday. It appears to be an - increasingly rare - example of a type of commercial building often built in the pre-Civil War period with a roof sloping to both the front and back. A throwback to less populous times (and colonial-era building plans). As sidewalks became more common in larger cities, people stopped building these buildings - which shed rainwater on the heads of sidewalk users - in favor of the plan represented by the building on the end, which sloped drainage toward the rear. It looks like the front bay window was added later in an attempt to "update" the building, and the street-level retail facade probably underwent changes, as well.
To make a long story short - and no pun intended - this building, in its structure alone, has a long story to tell, and is an all-too-rare remnant of a particular era of urban architecture in Buffalo. From what I can tell, the current project plan appears to erase all of that - whether permanently, or just hidden from view, I can't tell. I believe that an equally great project plan could be developed which protects, embraces, and shows off that uniqueness, rather than covering it up. Fortunately, as you say, WCP, there is still plenty of time.
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stephenjames716
if you build it...
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Biniszkiewicz
Genesee Gateway(across Genesee Street) is real. When progress begins to show there, something will happen here across the street.
I agree with RaChaCha about keeping as much of the authentic fabric here as possible, particularly the oldest stuff.
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Boz
Take a look at what's been done in downtown Washington, DC -- around F Street near Ford's Theatre. They've kept the original facades of old buildings and built new modern ones behind them, keeping the original structures as the street-level entrances and face of the block. It looks really good, and Buffalo could learn from this success.
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UrbanGuy
everyone happy....is that enough windows for everyone? Whether or not it comes true, just the exercise of exploring possibilities is a great step forward. This corner is probably the number one gateways into downtown that has the most potential by being like a blank canvas for development. (I'd say Niagara St. exit of the 190 may be #2). Even if it took a year for some activity to start there, I'm sure once CityView gets the other corner looking nicer, the interest will only increase.
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STEEL
Looks like a decent plan. Too bad they are obliterating the nicest little building on the block though.
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manski
News item from March 15th (architects web site)? Hmmmm... if the owner was going to carry out this plan I would think there would have been a little more publicity.
Maybe it's for the best, because I would hate to see Western New York and the city of Buffalo lose this wonderfull example of a roof all in the name of development and progress for this area.
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jt1983
i WISH this would happen. that homeless shelter there needs to be moved if this is going to be a place where people live and shop.
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SLEEPL8
Hey look! More go nowhere renderings! Thanks BRO. I will be sure to print these renderings on nice soft paper and use them to...
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NBJOHN
What BFLO could be....
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STEEL
Manski
Its not about the roof.
Most of Buffalo's recent development and progress has been BECAUSE of historic buildings like this one and in spite of thoughtless removal of hundreds like it.
The policy of "demolish everything" in Buffalo is a failed policy and it does not equal progress.
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nick
Please let the 1st floors on the historic buildings just be renderings, if those buildings get that modern aluminum and plate glass storefront treatment they might as well just be torn down and new buildings erected. At least try to relate the storefronts to the historic appearance of the building.
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WilliamZabkaAllStars
Agree with STEEL and nick.
Personally, I’d hope these plans do NOT come to fruition. Yet another appalling example of Frizlen’s mediocrity at his chosen profession. There are plenty of talented architects in this area, yet somehow this hack keeps getting high-profile projects.
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davvid
WilliamZabkaAllStars, I completely agree. This would be much better with a firm like HHL. I wonder if Frizlen reads this blog and designs exactly the nostolgic crap that people here ask for. Its pretentious and in the most boring way.
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Downtownjunkie
I for one like the renderings and they are exactly that just rendering jeez guys...no need to get ur panties all up in a knot over this post
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Metropolis
Oh, those renderings are awful, frankly. Looks like scaffolding at the street level. Not very creative AT ALL.
For this being the most prominent redevelopment project in the city in years, I would surely hope that something a bit more classy comes about. I mean - really integrate these old buildings into the design and usability, not just like BCBS did, throwing something up behind them.
If that's the case, then I say just tear it all down and build a condo.
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brokeleg
None of this shit will happen if our transportation infrastructure stays the same. Oak and Elm Streets need to be narrowed from four lanes to 2. As of now that has to be one of the least pedestrian friendly intersections in the whole city. Not to mention you have those disgusting office parks accross the street, somebody please blow those up. Downtown will not be able to connect with the near east side with those one story reminders of the suburban mentality of urban renewal. By the way i always thought that building on the northwest corner of Oak and Genesee would make a great Italian restaurant
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GDC
I still hope this idea comes true. We need some life and new additions to this end of Downtown.
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MJWorthington
I love the hidden parking, either covered or uncovered. This should be the standard for urban infill zoning.
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tudorguy
Maybe that title should be our city's motto: Buffalo, NY - Don't Get Your Hopes Up (of course this could go with the current line: Buffalo, NY - Strive to be Mediocre; and Buffalo, NY - We Used to Be...)
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SLEEPL8
well said tudor.
Buffalo NY...a great place to leave. Buffalo NY...a city near water. Buffalo NY...man its cold. Buffalo NY...the best place in the world to be unemployed. Buffalo NY...gettin famous for deep friend chicken parts. Buffalo NY...no championships but pleanty of alcohol. Buffalo NY...the city of good neighbors who dont have any money. Buffalo NY....god it sucks here. Buffalo NY...where the train killed Main St...not the mass exodus of people due to a faltering rust belt economy. Buffalo NY....Toronto's ugly cousin. Buffalo NY...hey is that Canada over there? Buffalo NY...the city where Willis McGahee used to live. Buffalo NY...check out our renderings!
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wizardofza
brokeleg is right. The road configuration in that area is downright dreadful. The Elm-Oak speedway was designed as a downtown bypass to funnel traffic between the 33 and 190 as quickly as possible with zero regard for pedestrians actually trying to cross these streets. And don't get me started on those hideous sluburban office park wannabe buildings.....
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mepolo
sleepl8 & tudor...why are you here? what is keeping you here?
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sb16
wizardofza - yea that intersection area is crazy, I once was entering downtown from Genesee and saw a truck come from the 33 and didn't stop at the light on Oak and Genny and demolished the car in front of me and careened into one of those buildings. Honestly one of the scariest things i ever saw in my life.
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Joshua
nick - good point about the aluminum windows on the first floor. It would be best if the historically correct facade was brought back to life.
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SLEEPL8
mepolo- my family and friends
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