Delaware Court - DEMOLISHED 2014
232-260 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY
Northwest corner of Delaware and W. Chippewa

Erected: 1917
Architects: Lansing, Bley & Lyman


Click on illustrations for larger size -- and additional information

Delaware Court erected on property once owned by Dr. Ebenezer Johnson

House built by Philander Hodge in 1835

Two story commercial building with Classical styling and flat roof

Background: Hutch Tech H.S. on Elmwood

Neighbor to the north: Hotel Touraine

Left: Delaware Court
Right:
Hotel Touraine

Central entrance


 

Corinthian pilasters flanking French doors

Ancones and modillions support balconet

Greek key design


The architectural firm of Dietel & Wade had offices in Delaware Court

Far left (west) side of building





EXCERPTS: Big Deal: Uniland Buys Delaware Court Building

 By wcperspective
September 7, 2012
Buffalo Rising
Online


A subsidiary of Uniland Development Company has paid $3 million for the northwest corner of Delaware Avenue and Chippewa Street. 

BTC Block 20 Inc. paid $2.95 million for the circa-1917 Delaware Court Building at 234 Delaware Avenue, a two-story curved façade building with 54,612 sq.ft. of space and surface parking lot.  Delaware Court GP was the seller. 

233 S. Elmwood Avenue, a "J"-shaped parcel at the corner of S. Elmwood and Chippewa was purchased for an additional $50,000.

The combined parcels are approximately 2 acres and front Delaware, Chippewa and S. Elmwood.  It is one of the largest single-owned parcels in the central business district.

According to Uniland Vice President Michael Montante, the company plans to restore the building while considering long-term plans for the site.  Uniland plans to incorporate the existing façade into the any future designs.

"A Delaware Avenue address is in high demand and synonymous with prestige in business both yesterday and today," said Montante.  "Whether the uses are office, retail, or residential, this site calls for something special, something unique, with a mix that meshes old with new."

EXCERPTS: Uniland Moves to Expand its Downtown Buffalo Presence

By Jonathan Epstein  
September 6, 2012
The Buffalo News
Online

Uniland Development Co. has acquired a prominent and sprawling downtown Buffalo property, with a retail and office building, parking ramp and gas station, in its second big bet on the Delaware Avenue corridor.

The Amherst-based real estate developer paid $3 million to buy the Delaware Court building at 250 Delaware Ave. from the Denz family, through Delaware Court GP.

The original Delaware Court was built in 1917 on what was once part of a 30-acre country estate for Buffalo's first mayor, Dr. Ebenezer Johnson, who built his home on what had then been rural property on the outskirts of Buffalo in 1834. It included an artificial lake, a deer park and an orchard.

After two successive owners, it was later acquired by the Buffalo Club as that establishment's second location from 1870 until 1887, when it was purchased by Francis Root Keating [Francis Root Keating]. It became a rooming house in the early 20th century before it was demolished in 1917.

Today, the property includes a long and squat two-story building, with 45,000 square feet plus a basement, that primarily faces Delaware and Chippewa, plus a parking ramp in the rear for at least 80 cars and an attached Valero gas station that fronts on South Elmwood Avenue.

For now, he [Michael J. Montante] said Uniland's plans call for the property to remain a mixed-use investment, with retail and restaurant space on the first floor and office space on the second.

The developer does plan to refurbish the Classical-style, flat-roofed building and restore the range of architectural features and moldings built into the facade.

"We like the visibility. The accessibility is great as well," he said. "Restoring that existing façade is something we look forward to do."


Photos and their arrangement © 2005 Chuck LaChiusa
| ...Home Page ...| ..Buffalo Architecture Index...| ..Buffalo History Index... .|....E-Mail ...| ..

web site consulting by ingenious, inc.