Genesee Gateway: An historic commercal space returns By Barry A. Muskat; photos by kc kratt A derelict block of structures on Genesee Street between Oak and Ellicott—icons of neglect for decades—has now been rehabbed into a handsome complex of good-looking, relevant commercial space. The individual buildings were contructed over a period of eighty years (the earliest in 1840). According to Doug Swift, a partner in City View Development (the company leading the rehab project), the row of structures “is an incredible microcosm of Buffalo’s early small-scale commercial development during its heyday in the nineteenth and early twentieth century.” After two years of work, the construction on the complex is done and extremely successful. The overall shell, mechanical systems, and infrastructure are complete. The end result delivers quality commercial space with character. Genesee Gateway was redeveloped as one continuous entity with connected interior space, but it’s compiled of individual buildings with different profiles and silhouettes. As a result, Swift says, “This was one of the most intricate and complicated projects that I’ve ever worked on… the different floor layouts, the eclectic variety of buildings.” There are ten different buildings merged into one, including one new build that was infill on an empty parcel of land between buildings. Adding to the complications, Genesee Street itself is not laid out on an ordinary orthogonal grid but expresses the geometry of Joseph Ellicott’s original radial plan. The trapezoidal shape of the property and the differing depths of the original buildings challenged the creative team. But finally, the commercial space is ready to be rented to large users or subdivided for smaller businesses. It’s a nice blend of the old and new with elements such as the glass stair tower visible from Oak Street. A new structural steel contemporary canopy with glass panels near the center of the block announces the main entry for the complex. Gateway’s first tenant, the United States Passport Office, had its grand opening at the end of October. This is not just another governmental agency renting space. Rather, it’s significant because this is the only full-service passport office within four hundred miles. It’s a place where citizens can actually get one on the same day they apply for it, so it will encourage people who need documents quickly to spend a night or day. Swift reports that there’s a surprising amount of interest in the project: “People seem to like the feel of it, the location, the exposure and visibility.” Swift adds that he can’t talk about the Genesee Gateway without again expressing gratitude to the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation for their participation, stressing “What they have done to remove this blight from the central business district is truly a gift to the city.” Barry A. Muskat has followed this project for our readers since the rehab began. SUBSCRIBE NOW Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top