The 1st stage of Canal Side is getting a bit closer to completion. The pedestrian bridge is coming in piece by piece as are the windows on the new museum.

ATB brings to you the 1st images on the internets of the 504 Washington loft conversion…


I said earlier this week about the three projects going on Pearl Street that will add more life to that street despite serving as the rear end of many Main Street Buildings. Washington faces the same problem, but to make matters worse, the AM&A’s structure is huge and abandoned, killing any opportunity for a restuarant or cafe to succeed (see “Cafe Lococo of Buffalo ‘66 fame).
504 is a great addition to the street, its real close to the Ellicott Commons and right accross the street from Holling Place.
Add a fully rehabbed AM&A’s, throw in a Hotel Lafayette that doesn’t house crazies and Washington Street can really come back to life.

A lot of the old guard of Buffalo are vehemently opposed to the Gates Circle condos coming up (in case you haven’t noticed). Now, I’m all for people having different opinions but not if they’re supid.

Here are the biggest arguments used so far…
1. Park Lane restaurnant is an historical old building! How can you tear that down??!?!?!!
Well um…it was built in the 1970’s and designed obvs to emmulate a 18th-19th century (?) bavarian look. Sooooo you’re wrong.
2. It will obstruct the views of the residents nearby!!! How dare you take away their views!!
We live in a city. In most cities there are tall buildings…even Buffalo (!) If you live near prime real estate, you should anticipate possible growth around it.
And my favorite one…
3. “THE DESIGNS ARE UGLY!”
Uniland hasn’t release a damn thing yet. Nothing. At all. Sad thing is I’ve heard that be said by at least ten people.

Oh old Buffalo, you’re so funny sometimes when you’re not preventing the city from evolving.

Pearl street might have a pretty dead feel to it since it serves as the rear end of the Main Street buildings but there are some good construction projects going on there now.
Pearl Street Brewery is in the middle of adding a 2nd floor outdoor extension, The Guaranty Building is in the middle of a serious renovation, and now the Webb is being rehabbed by Rocco Termini.
I took these pics on Monday but my roomate keeps screwing with my internets. I took care of the problem though (and not in a Soprano’s type of way…although sometimes I think about it)

I called Dragon Express today. I asked him if he was going to fix the window and his answer was

“Yes. [awkward silence]”

So then I asked him when and he said

“End of this month.”

A loquacious man for sure. We’ll see if they actually do fix it.

Savarino finished the office building on Missisipi but haven’t touched the (IMO) more important aspect of their Cobblestone project-”Cobblestone Lofts”. That “Cobblestone Alive” sign has been up since 2005 maybe 2004 and its just as alive as it was back then.
They are gutting out that truck depot thingy though inbetween the two structures, I’m assuming that it is for the Irish pub. That location is going to blow though. It’s isolated. It faces huge surface lots and is concealed by its surrounding structures. Good luck to them if that really is their location.

Really exciting times in the cobblestone district [end sarcasm]. They’re laying in the foundation for some temporary goodness. They have a parking lot paved already. So if you happen to be taking a stroll over to the Perry Projects, don’t forget to check out whatever this thing is going to look like.

Well not only did they not fix it while I was in DC but it actually looks worse! Good for them!