Final Push to Save Bethlehem Steel Today

The Bethlehem Steel Administration Building may be headed to the landfill officially as news sources report demolition was slated to begin yesterday. Owners have been reluctant to see the building reused, even after conversations that detailed multiple approaches to save the building in a profitable way.

Don’t forget, this piece of our heritage didn’t get this way overnight. The owners neglected this building for the better part of three decades since they have owned it. The building hasn’t made any friends with Mayor Szymanski either, as he has been a proponent of its demise from the start.

In previous news reports Szymanski said, "Pittsburgh adjusted, Cleveland adjusted. Buffalo has not and if we don't start making moves and start getting rid of stuff that is unusable, than we are going to continue to stay where we're at, which is nowhere."

He must not have been aware of Bethlehem, PA “getting over it” as they reinvented their shuttered steel mills and created an incredibly successful tourist attraction that is the pride of the city.  I have to assume he has never left Lackawanna to come to nearby Buffalo and see how we have leveraged our historic assets like the Hotel Lafayette, Larkin District, and so many more.

The degree of shortsightedness in Lackawanna is startling and considering what has been accomplished in Bethlehem, PA with their steel mills, serves as a great example of what could have been and still could be if the right path is taken.

Join those who have been fighting to save this architectural gem, which is National Register eligible.  People will be on site today starting at noon with protest signs in hand in an attempt to make a final push to make the owners and the Mayor see past the deterioration and realize the irreplaceable building they have. There will be a fire to keep warm and to roast marshmallows and media will be present. Dana Saylor, one of the most vocal and active supporters of reuse, has said, “This is a protest/rally, not a funeral. We are fighting this one though until the end.”

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Scharf's Schiller Park Restaurant Going Strong

Scharf's Schiller Park restaurant is currently enjoying a renewed appreciation by new and former customers. The owners announced that they might have to close and/or relocate due to dwindling customer base in July. Shortly after that announcement people began to flock to the restaurant to support it in the time of need and they haven't stopped. I've been to Scharf's about six times since the closing was announced and almost every time the place has been filled with people enjoying the authentic German offerings.

The building has had a long and interesting life; the portion that the bar occupies was originally built as a small chapel. Later it was expanded and converted to a bar. During Prohibition it served as a popular speakeasy and it has been Scharf's Schiller Park restaurant since 1967.

Schiller Park has lost most of the German institutions that were once prominent in the neighborhood like the Deutsches Haus on Genesee Street, which closed over fifteen years ago.

The atmosphere at Scharf's is unlike that of any other restaurant in the City of Buffalo. Many old time customers can be found at the bar enjoying German beers while speaking in their native language. Their oldest customer just celebrated his 103rd birthday at the restaurant and has been going to Scharf's for as long as anyone can remember. The location is quite unique as well.  The restaurant is located at the end of residential street and next to a park. Neighbors are welcoming and those who have been to the restaurant always have something positive to say.

For those who have yet to enjoy the many great dishes at Scharf's I recommend starting with one of the fine beers on tap, ordering potato pancakes for an appetizer, the wiener schnitzel for the entrée and then finish off with the apple strudel. Trust me, you'll go home full and satisfied every time. It's the perfect time to go if you're doing your last minute holiday shopping at the Walden Galleria and want something much better than the food court offerings, it's less than 10 minutes away.

Scharf's Hours:

Monday & Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday & Thursday: 11am to 8pm

Friday: 11am to 9pm

Saturday: 4pm to 9pm

Sunday: 4pm to 8pm

For additional photos of the Schiller Park Neighborhood, check out my Flickr page by clicking here.

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(Potentially) Historic Tax Credit Ready: Duffy Silk Mill Co.

I say potentially because this building is currently not a certified historic structure. However, there has been a positive indication that it could potentially be certified as historic. That of course, means the potential of utilizing historic tax credits for qualified rehabilitation work.

The building is located at 1270 Broadway and was built primarily in two periods between 1905 and 1912. The eastern wing of the complex was the first to be built in 1905 followed by the western portion in 1912. The building was expanded multiple times towards the rear of the site from 1913 to 1950 based on city records.

Although the building isn’t as architecturally exciting as something like the Guaranty Building, it was designed by the prominent firm of Esenwein & Johnson. That alone adds a lot to its historic value and significance. Although Esenwein & Johnson designed some industrial buildings, they worked primarily in highly detailed homes and buildings with a focus on Neo-classical and revival style elements. Some other prominent buildings by the firm include Buffalo Museum of Science, Electric Tower, Lafayette High School, and the Pumping Station just to name a few.

The mill is shaped like a “h” and faced entirely in red brick. The building is topped with a simple, but elegant corbelled brick cornice that is present on all elevations. The building varies in its condition, but it is still possible to get the sense of what it was inside and outside. The segmental-arch window openings are very tall, allowing natural light to flood the interior. Unfortunately, it has been quite some time since the inside was bathed in natural light; many of the windows are covered over or replaced with non-transparent materials.

Historic Interior photo, date unknown

Duffy Silk Co. built a total of three factories in Buffalo, one of which was also designed by Esenwein & Johnson and still extant at 207 Guildford Street. The company produced a variety of silk goods and later moved into producing nylon products as silk became difficult and costly to acquire. It’s reported that the company produced silk for parachutes during WWII.

The building is currently available for purchase ($57,000) and is just short of 100,000 square feet. According to the listing, the land has been tested and is reported to be toxic free. It is also registered as an Empire Development zone and Federal Development zone. Considering the extremely low purchase price, the availability of tax breaks via the Empire and Federal Development zone designation, and the potential for utilizing historic tax credits, rehabbing the building for residential and/or a commercial tenant could provide a nice return for the right kind of developer.

Below is a brief and estimated budget for rehab that includes an estimated historic tax credit (HTC) benefit if the building can qualify for the program. The price per square foot is based on another building I’ve working on that had similar needs and was of a similar construction. Please note the numbers are just placeholders and estimations on the conservative side.

Square Footage: 97,000

Price per sq. ft. for rehab: $205

Total Project Cost: $19,885,000

Potential HTC: $7,954,000 (20% state, 20% federal)

HTC cash value for syndication: $5,965,000

Project Cost minus HTC cash value: $13,920,000

For additional photos of the building, check out my Flickr page here.

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Views of Buffalo Flickr     -     fixBuffalo     -     The Atlantic Cities     -     The Urbanophile

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