A controversial demolition proposal is returning to the Preservation Board September 21. Norstar Development USA is seeking to demolish the remaining portions of the Shoreline Apartment complex. The north end of the development was demolished to construct the affordable Niagara Square Apartments, eight new buildings with 48 units at the corner of Carolina and Niagara streets.
The Shoreline complex at 270 Niagara Street sits in the shadow of City Hall. It contained 472 units on 9.5 acres and was designed by modernist architect Paul M. Rudolph and completed between 1970 and 1974 under the Mitchell-Lama program. Demolition work on the north end of the complex was completed in 2015.
Unlike the Rudolph buildings, the new buildings along Niagara, Carolina and Seventh streets are being built close to the street with parking internal to the complex. Stieglitz Snyder Architecture designed the project.
Demolition plans for the remainder of the complex was originally presented at the City of Buffalo’s Historic Preservation Board’s July 7, 2016 meeting and was denied without prejudice. At that meeting, Norstar presented their preliminary mitigation measures and was asked to return to the Board after the measures had been further refined in conjunction with the New York State Historic Preservation Office. An outdoor sculpture utilizing a preserved portion of a courtyard and a three-sided kiosk honoring Rudolph are proposed.
Buildings at the following addresses would be demolished: 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 105 7th Street, 85 7th Street, 65 7th Street and 45 7th Street.
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Buffalo Rising | September 17, 2017