130 Pearl Mixed Use Conversion

Even small renovations can make a big impact…the renovation of 130 Pearl Street is a love letter to Buffalo’s architectural heritage and is a great example that downtown’s success comes one project at a time. Once a white terra-cotta companion to the legendary Guaranty Building, 130 Pearl had lost its identity through decades of alterations.  

The historic building now boasts 18 fully-leased apartments and a generous street-level commercial space looking for the perfect storefront tenant.  Tenants enjoy amenities that include private rear-courtyard patios for first-floor residents, on-site fitness, bike storage, and pet wash.

And while the success of the mixed-use program is important to the project’s success, the highlight is in full public view and focuses on the building's 1916 terra-cotta exterior. While the upper floors retained some original elements, the street-level storefront had been stripped away.  Local artisans cast replica pieces, ensuring the new storefront is indistinguishable from the originals.  Our efforts to reverse an unsympathetic mid-century modification restores the historic character of the Pearl Street corridor, providing an authentic context for its National Historic Landmark neighbors.