Historic Church Being Repurposed in Buffalo, New York

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

Local investors 67 North St. LLC paid $450,000 for the circa-1872-era Ascension Church at 67 North St., according to documents filed May 13 in the Erie County Clerk's office. The long-vacant church had been owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York.

Trautman Associates Principal and developer John Daly along with his sister, Melissa Littlefield are the 67 North St LLC principals.

Tentative plans call for portions of the church property - including the rectory and parish house to be anchored by market-rate apartments while Daly said a suitable tenant for the church.

“Whatever we do, it will be a nice mix,” Daly said.

“To me, this is a beautiful building in the heart of a beautiful neighborhood,” Daly said. “I will work with the neighbors and neighborhood to do something wonderful there. We will be good stewards of the building."

The real estate closing ends a lengthy chapter for the Episcopal Diocese since shuttering the church in 2014 because of dwindling membership and shifting the congregation to the Church of the Good Shepherd —now the Church of the Ascension of Good Shepherd on Jewett Avenue near the Darwin Martin House.

Several redevelopment efforts, including senior housing were proposed but all met with either stiff neighborhood opposition or funding issues.

The church’s Medina sandstone cornerstone was laid in May 1872, with the first services held there in April 1873. A rectory was added in 1898 and a parish house was built in 1920.

Located at the corner of Linwood Avenue and North Street, the church serves as a dual gateway into Buffalo’s Linwood Avenue neighborhood and also the eastern lead into the Allentown District.

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

The parish hall was partially designed by noted local architect E.B. Green.
The deal was brokered by Gurney Becker & Bourne agents Gary Greco Jr. and Liz Daly.