A historic church undergoing conversion in Buffalo, New York

A historic Linwood District church – which dates back 152 years – has been sold and will soon find new life as an apartment-anchored mixed-use development.

Local investors 67 North St. LLC paid $450,000 for the circa 1872 Church of the Ascension at 67 North St., according to documents filed May 13 in the Erie County Clerk’s Office . The church, long vacant, belonged to the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York.

John Daly, principal and developer of Trautman Associates, and his sister Melissa Littlefield are principals of 67 North St LLC.

Tentative plans call for parts of the church property, including the rectory and parish house, to be provided with market-rate apartments, while Daly has indicated a suitable tenant for the church.

“Whatever we do, it’ll be a good mix,” Daly said.

“To me, it’s a beautiful building in the heart of a beautiful neighborhood,” Daly said. “I’m going to work with the neighbors and the neighborhood to do something wonderful there. We will be good building managers. »

The real estate closure ends a long chapter for the Episcopal Diocese since the church closed in 2014 due to dwindling membership and the congregation moving to the Church of the Good Shepherd – now l The Church of the Ascension of the Good Shepherd on Jewett Avenue, near Darwin Martin. Home.

Several redevelopment efforts, including senior housing, have been proposed, but all have faced either strong neighborhood opposition or funding problems.

The first stone of the Medina sandstone church was laid in May 1872 and the first services were celebrated there in April 1873. A presbytery was added in 1898 and a parish house was built in 1920.

Located on the corner of Linwood Avenue and North Street, the church serves as a dual gateway to Buffalo’s Linwood Avenue neighborhood and also as an eastern gateway to the Allentown district.

Designed by architect Gordon Lloyd, the church boasts amenities such as a Medina sandstone exterior, a Gothic ceiling, a loft-style gallery, leaded and stained glass windows, and hardwood floors.

The church hall was partly designed by famous local architect EB Green.
The deal was negotiated by Gurney Becker & Bourne agents Gary Greco Jr. and Liz Daly.