PUSH plans to open School 77 in spring

The transformation of School 77 into affordable housing, which began construction in May, is at the halfway mark.

The rehabilitation of the property at 429 Plymouth Ave. is on track for an early spring opening, Marjorie McAllister, project manager, said.  

“We are 50 percent complete. We just installed the windows and floors in the building,” McAllister said.

The project is being directed by People United for Sustainable Housing Buffalo, and its housing development company, Buffalo Neighborhood Stabilization Company Inc.

The 90-year-old building will feature income-based housing for residents 55 and older, as well as become the new home for the Ujima Theatre Company. The building will include offices for community programs, including PUSH, which will be consolidating its offices and moving into the new building upon completion.

The $15 million project is the largest PUSH has taken on in its 13 years of operation.

PUSH started the project after three years of advocating and collecting community input. Local residents decided affordable housing for senior citizens is what the neighborhood needed.

In addition to the School 77 project, PUSH is working on several other affordable housing units on the West Side. By Zachary Memmott and Khlaid Terrell

Ex-pat brings tile business to the W.S.

When Leslie McManus returned to the West Side to be with family, she planned on bringing beauty to residents’ homes. “The goal was to come back to Buffalo and open a store on the West Side,” McManus said. “It was a perfect fit for Buffalo and I wanted to bring everything I learned … to Buffalo.” McManus opened Blueprint Design Studio in September in the Horsefeathers building at 346 Connecticut St. Blueprint offers a variety of designs that create artistic and unique tiles for housing. The store also provides tiles that are organic. She sells cement tiles that are a renewable resource and environment friendly. Her mother’s inspiration led her to get involved with visual arts and motivated her to make it a career. “I grew up around a mother who was extremely creative with our house and she took my opinions to heart, even at 12 years old,” McManus said. She started off her career by attending the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. From there, she took her craft to the University of Buffalo and received a degree in fine arts while also obtaining a graduate degree in interior design at the New England School of Art and Design. With two degrees under her belt and having family living in the Queen City, she decided to come back with her two daughters because she wanted them to be around her family more. By Jacob Fyock and Chris Prenatt

Explore Buffalo gets you inside in winter

Explore Buffalo’s new season of tours will move inside  through April 30, with a series showcasing the interiors of historical buildings and bus tours around the city.

The Gilded Age Series, which includes the Delaware Avenue Mansions tour, teaches individuals about the history of the homes occupied by some of Buffalo’s wealthiest residents.

“It’s a little bit of architecture, a little bit of history, a little bit of scandal,” said Michele
Siwinski, director,  chairperson of the financial committee and docent for Explore Buffalo.

         Explore Buffalo offers over 70 different tours throughout the year. There’s a tour available that fits everyone’s schedule.

            The next season for walking tours begins in May and will feature a new tour called, The Niagara Street Industrial Heritage Tour.

“Niagara Street was a center of industry with the Beltline Railroad and the Buffalo River,” said Chuck LaChiusa, board president and founding member of Explore Buffalo.

Explore Buffalo has 100 docents and volunteers who provide historical insight as they lead a variety of tours around the city.

Tickets are priced based on Explorer Pass holders, students and general admission. The initiative of the season was the Explorer Passes, which allow people to take unlimited walking and spotlight tours, and attended unlimited discussions. By Tatiyana Bellamy and Edwin Viera

Buff State paddles back into competition

Ed Corr, center, the president of the West Side Rowing Club, is opening the doors of the club for SUNY Buffalo State. The college will be paddling its way back to rowing for the first time since 1974, under the guidance of coach Mike Cute, left. Willow Greene, Buffalo State rowing club president, has been working closely with West Side Rowing to get students on the water. She believes that Buffalo State will feel at home. “West Side fosters an awesome tight-knit community of rowers,” Greene said. “Buffalo State is an awesome tight-knit community of students so it just makes sense to me that we would put those two together.” Despite not being on the water this semester, the club has 25 committed rowers, with many others interested. The rowing club is expected to be on the water this upcoming spring. By Zachary Memmott and Khalid Terrell

Forest Lawn 2017 tour season a success

Forest Lawn Cemetery will be ending its tour season at the end of October, making it one of the best seasons the cemetery has experienced, according to Coordinating Director Mark DePalma.

Eighty 80 percent of all historic tours sold out this season, which began in June, DePalma said.

. The tours consist of a trolley tour that lasts two hours and costs $25 per person. Walking tours last 90 minutes and are $15 per person. Each tour tells the stories of the famous residents who are buried in the cemetery, including President Millard Fillmore, singer Rick James and Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.

Actors are hired to play the cemetery residents portrayed on the tour.

“The live actors that play the residents bring life to the tour,” DePalma said. “It adds humor, and makes it interesting for the people on the tour.”

The staff of Forest Lawn is already brainstorming new ideas for next year’s tours.

“We change who we focus on in the tours,” DePalma stated. “Doing this keeps the tours exciting, and new for people who want to come back and do another tour with us.”

Forest Lawn Cemetery tours will resume next year in June. By Alyssa Brannigan and Taylor Carruth

Group raising funds to aid Puerto Rico

From left, Beatriz Flores, Erica Leon-Torres and Freddie Pagan, listen to stories from Buffalo residents who have family members in Puerto Rico struggling to get back on their feet after hurricanes Irma and Maria. Freddie Pagan founded Mission Puerto Rico 716, whose mission is to send relief to hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico. On Oct. 11 the organization held its second meeting, at the El Batey Dance Center, 289 Dewitt St. Pagan co-hosted the event with his sister Erica Leon-Torres, director of the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, and Beatriz Flores, community leader “We need money donations, we need canned food and batteries, we need generators but we really need volunteers here and in Puerto Rico who are serious about doing this,” Flores said. The group set a long-term fundraising goal of $30,000 to $40,000  for supplies. Attendees included business owners, and individuals interested in raising money, including some who have already sold food, wristbands and T-shirts. While the organization is dedicated to sending relief to Puerto Rico, it also assists in the relocation of families in Buffalo. People who are interested in donating can find more information on the organization’s GoFundMe account and follow Mission Puerto Rico 716 on Facebook for updates on future meetings. By Tatiyana Bellamy and Edwin Viera

Monarch 716 steps up security after crimes

Monarch 716 is an apartment complex located at 100 Forest Ave that opened in August. Since then, multiple crimes have occurred around the property causing concern for many residents. The Buffalo Police Department did not respond to multiple press inquiries, but according to crimereports.com, there have been several crimes around Monarch since Aug. 13 including thefts, assaults, and robberies . However, residents have noticed that management has recently stepped up their game. Monarch now has security patrolling the property at night. They have also incorporated a sign-in sheet at the front desk to register guests coming into the complex. Management at Monarch 716 declined to comment. By Jacob Fyock and Christopher Prenatt