DEVELOPMENT Renovations underway at the Gateway By Barry A. Muskat; Genesee Gateway photos by kc kratt. The Werner Photography Studio occupied space near the center of the block A Victorian bar is located at street level. A new floor will be inserted into this space at 109 Genesee. A rendering of the finished project. The south interior wall of 111 Genesee illustrates the extent of reconstruction necessary. foundations and brick-work needed major repairs. There’s excitement building around a row of derelict structures on Genesee Street. As reported previously here (in December 2008), City View Development has undertaken a project that will restore and revitalize the entire block between Oak and Ellicott. This block—situated at the entrance to Buffalo’s downtown—represents a vital project for the city; its redevelopment can destroy the impression of a downtown core that appears horribly depressed. After years of disappointments and unfulfilled dreams, this row of structures has become a highly visible symbol of a city’s decay and deterioration. In some way, all onlookers have a vested interest in the project’s success, and their collective pessimism will benefit from an attitude readjustment when the project is complete. From a visual standpoint, progress is not yet remarkable. But work has been consistent, and much of it has taken place behind the façade. Doug Swift, a principal in City View, reports that the project is on course from the original schedule, confessing that “we’ve been working for six months and spending lots of money and people are still asking when we’re starting!” In fact, there’s been substantial progress. The steel structure has been reworked in all sections and the deteriorating foundations and structural walls have been shored up. There’s noticeable change at the east end of the block along the Oak Street side, the area that had been severely damaged and suffered collapse. There’s even a new foundation in the middle of the block at the void next to Werner’s, ready to accept new construction. According to project architect Peter Flynn (Flynn Battaglia Architects), marked changes are coming soon. Flynn notes, “You have to have a certain amount of patience with a building that’s under construction. Often, it looks like an ugly duckling and is a work-in-progress until it springs to life when completed.” Windows should be installed by the time this article appears, and the boarded-up openings will be replaced with gleaming glass. Some of the original window frames and sashes are being restored. New windows will be used where no originals exist. Color selections for all the storefront framing and windows have been made. The east end of the building will be treated uniformly. Other areas of the running façade that are more unique have been treated differently, with sensitivity to their individuality. The infill building at the middle of the block will be faced with an iron-spot brick—a golden orange—to complement and contrast adjacent storefronts and the photography studio façade. Space from 500 to 60,000 square feet is available for possible tenants. Swift notes they are expecting to cater mostly to small to mid-size businesses, but that large spaces could be customized for bigger users. The developers had assumed that the flowing office space on upper floors would be the easiest to rent, but—although no tenants are signed—the most serious interest in leasing space has come from prospective retail tenants. “They see potential, like the visibility, and want to be a part of the project,” notes Swift. That seems a great omen for success and for the major impact this project will have on the entire downtown community. Stay tuned to monitor the progress, as we follow the construction activity on the Genesee Gateway in future issues. This longtime ugly duckling will start to look beautiful soon. Barry A. Muskat is Spree’s architecture critic. He is a businessman and an architectural historian and sits on the City of Buffalo Preservation Board. SUBSCRIBE NOW Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top