The former Buffalo Public School 44 on Broadway has sat vacant for a few years after the Buffalo Public Schools moved its alternative academy program out the building.
The former School 44, located at 1349 Broadway at Person Street, will house 82 units of affordable housing under plans to be reviewed by the Planning Board next week. The $26.8 million project is being spearheaded by Stuart Alexander and Associates, SCG Development, and Dr. Rhonda Ricks, the development team behind The Forge project closer to downtown at Broadway and Mortimer Street.
It will be great to see some new life injected and investment to this part of Broadway.
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The Howard Beck-designed school was built in 1907 and expanded in 1930. Plans for the three-story, 114,000 sq.ft. building call for 55 one-bedroom units, 16 two-bedroom, and 11 three-bedroom units. The project will utilize State and Federal Historic Tax Credit eligible site and will be renovated per the Secretary of Interiors Standards. Eighty parking spots are proposed on the south end of the site along with a new playground.
Here are some design plans fro the building: (click on images for full view)
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How very exciting! I graduated from “Lincoln School Dear 44” on 1962. Every time I pass it I sing our Alma Mater, which was written by music teacher Miss Gall, using a borrowed tune. It’s wonderful to see something positive happening in the old neighborhood. Now if they would only take on the Terminal.
That’s cool, Linda.
I remember Ms. Gall toooo our Music Teacher. I graduated in 1969, Mr. Barrett was the Principal.
Can’t wait how do you apply for an apartment?
I don’t think apartments are available yet…but I am sure info will be available in coming months.
I LOVE THAT SCHOOL I GRADUATED FROM THAT SCHOOL WHY DID THEY TAKE CLASS OUT OF SCHOOL ,44 I LOVE THAT SCHOOL ME AN MY FRIENDS HAVE GOOD MAMMORIES WHY MAKE APMTS SO PEOPLE WALK OUT OF THERE APMT TO GO TO BATHROOM THATS NOT GOOD
Best school I’ve ever attended lunches were amazing teachers were good lol kids I got along with from what I can remember anyways some one told me everything was left as is the poor has water still inside dirty of course. A fire was inside near the office I also was told. I miss it and wish I could go back to do a walk through before anything’s done. A dream it would be to take my grandkids with me. Brings back a lot of memories for sure I love that school I’ll miss it!
Great idea for the community. However as the Pastor of Mt. Hope church for over 6yrs just a block away, I would love to see some of the community people employed in some capacity of laborers to have a stake at helping to maintain the integrity and safety of the new tenants and the resurgence of the Broadway neighborhood. This is only the beginning!
Affordable is a relative term….what are the ranges of rents??
Are credit checks apart of the application process?
Bad idea….this community needs a walk to elementary thru 7th grade school, perhaps a charter school as a reuse. Some alternative use to public schools? The community does not need housing of this type. The police are against this project and have not been consulted publicly at all. This is simply a ‘creative reuse’ which is meant to ‘cycle money’ to construction companies, and will externalize the cost onto the tax payer of the eventual failure . There are NO SUPPORTING businesses in the 15 minute walkability area surrounding it. Unless it is subsidized housing (BAD) it will go vacant.Simply put…. another BS central planner idea ……
Agree
I think this is a great idea. I went to PS44 in 1959. Any idea whatever happened to the wonderful long (at least 10 feet) oak tables that were up on the second floor in the sewing room? My father and grandfather made those tables at their woodworking studio, Liberty Store Fixtures!
P.S.#44 was more than a school; it was an institution of higher learning for the students, @ least in the era that I attended there, 1965-1970. The teachers in retrospect were superb, (save a couple-for 1, Ms.Mulcahey Art teacher-Ughh), but the gym, cafeteria, swimming pool were state of the art as was the cirriculum when I went there. Great era to be a kid growing in that neighborhood-then; 44 is just a reflection of virtually that entire area that my Ukranian post WW-II immigrant father described as: Paradise. It’s degradation as virtually entire neighborhood, presents itself, is the poster child, of what transpired after the exodus of the population of Polonia from that era..late 1800’s -to the early 1990’s. What took 120+ years of sweat & toil to build, was pillaged & destroyed by the new inhabitants in 10-15 years. The memories of a bygone era remain; Buffalo then, was its own “Mayberry.”
Mr.Ferintindo and Mr. Benbenic were my principals the prattle stick was huge food was amazingly there was swim gym wood works music best school but should still be reopened and managed differently kids need education then ADD A WALK THROUGH SYSTEM MEDAL DETECTOR ETC.GUARDS POLICE WHICH EVER IF NOT ALL . Apparently apartments I don’t think will work but money wasted again maybe but I dought it
Mr.Ferintindo and Mr. Benbenic were my principals the prattle stick was huge food was amazingly there was swim gym wood works music best school but should still be reopened and managed differently kids need education then ADD A WALK THROUGH SYSTEM MEDAL DETECTOR ETC.GUARDS POLICE WHICH EVER IF NOT ALL . Apparently apartments I don’t think will work but money wasted again maybe but I dought it