#larkin district

[whatsnewbuffalo]

The Wind and Sun Are Bringing the Shine Back to Buffalo

The New York Times has created an article recognizing not only Buffalo’s trend towards revitalization but that it’s being fueled by renewable energy. Such renewable energy benefits include Steel Wind, the Solar City factory, and Niagara Falls. The region’s affordable renewable energy and temperate climate has attracted companies like Yahoo! as well as other data centers.

In addition the NYT takes note of other Buffalo revitalization success stories including Terry Pegula’s HarborCenter, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Larkinville, the new Workforce Development Center, the attraction of startups, the stemming of emigration, and the decline in unemployment. Reminiscent of a NYT title from 2013 the article states:

“After decades of providing the punch line in jokes about snowstorms, also-ran sports teams and urban decline, the Queen City of the Lakes is suddenly experiencing something new: an economic turnaround, helped by the unlikely sector of renewable energy.“

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Frank Lloyd Wright and the zombie building boom

The Guardian features Buffalo’s city-wide homage to one of America’s greatest architects - Frank Lloyd Wright. The article gives an overview of the seven Buffalo Wright masterpieces past and present calling the three postmortem architectural tributes “zombies” insinuating that Wright still builds from the grave.

In the article Tim Tielman claims that the resurrection one of the most coveted demolished Wright works, the Larkin Administration Building, seems serious that it will be erected. The idea inspired enough hope to create this Buffalo Rising article - a gemstone to crown the revitalizing the historic hydraulics district.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Larkin Administration Building For Sale Ad

There was once a chance to save the world-famous Larkin Administration Building designed by the one and only Frank Lloyd Wright. Alas, it was not to be but today the rest of the Larkin District is being brought back to life. For more information on the history of the Larkin Administration Building check out this comprehensive blog.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Buffalo. For Real TV - Larkin Square Opening for the season tonight (and every Tuesday until late October) is  Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin Square. This Buffalo. For Real TV episode comes just in time to show the remarkable change in what had once been an abandoned manufacturing district known as the Hydraulics Neighborhood. The Zemsky family built the public square, encouraged First Niagara to move in next door, and are now starting the Hydraulic Hearth. A preservation movement has begun to save the nearby Larkin Power House from demolition. The increase of both businesses and social events in the Larkin District is just one indicator of an entire eastern sector of Buffalo coming back online. A hydraulic canal once ran through this neighborhood powering some of Buffalo's earliest businesses then giving way to the Larkin Company dynasty at the turn of the 20th century erecting the buildings that still stand today. Yet, the crown jewel of the empire, the Larkin Administration Building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, does not stand among them - a victim of demolition over preservation.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Rehab Projects Transforming City

Buffalo Rising covers four new residential rehabilitation projects that are contributing to the revitalization revolution spanning the city. These repurposed buildings include 1285 Main Street in Midtown just north of the Medical Campus; 550 Seneca Street in the blossoming Larkin District; 5 - 7 Genesee Street Downtown in the Roosevelt Plaza featuring commercial space; and 505 Pearl Street which will also double as a commercial space. These projects are a sign that Buffalo continues to trend upward in 2014.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Once Just a Punch Line, Buffalo Fights Back

The New York Times covered Buffalo's revitalization efforts yesterday highlighting Matt Enstice, president and CEO of the nearly billion dollar Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and Howard Zemsky, the head of the Larkin Development Group. Both men, with the help of scores of other Buffalonians, have helped the city refresh its image after the manufacturing and population decline of the latter half of the 20th century.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Larkinville

The Atlantic Cities has posted an article about the rebirth of Larkinville. The neighborhood has reignited the East Side completing Buffalo's revitalization triad, which also includes Canalside and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. The article gives credit to Howard Zemsky for beginning the project while he passes the credit forward to First Niagara thankful for their $1 million contribution that brought his ideas to fruition. The success of Larkin at Exchange inspired another investor to buy and refurbish the neighboring Larkin Center of Commerce. Check out Larkinville for yourself this Thursday as The Filling Station hosts Scrabblefest in Larkin Square.

[whatsnewbuffalo]

Views of Buffalo Gazes at Main Street

Views of Buffalo, run by Mike Puma, is a weblog dedicated to architecture, history, and current events going on within the city. The above images from VoB show the transformation of one building known as The Oakwood on Main Street. The 89 year old building has been renovated returning to wide windows and a focus on the ornate architecture. This stretch of Main Street, along with other projects on Grant Street and the Larkin District, have been able to be renovated thanks to the Main Street Grant Program.