Harlow C. Curtiss Building

Harlow C. Curtiss Building

Harlow C. Curtiss Building, June 2009
Location 204-210 Franklin St., Buffalo, New York
Coordinates 42°53′21.47″N 78°52′33.25″W / 42.8892972°N 78.8759028°W / 42.8892972; -78.8759028Coordinates: 42°53′21.47″N 78°52′33.25″W / 42.8892972°N 78.8759028°W / 42.8892972; -78.8759028
Built 1913
Architect Mann, Paul F.; builder: Metz Brothers
Architectural style Chicago Commercial
Website http://curtisshotel.com/
NRHP Reference # 08001142[1]
Added to NRHP December 5, 2008

The Harlow C. Curtiss Building, is a historic building located at Buffalo in Erie County, New York. The building was named for Harlow Clarke Curtiss, a prominent Buffalo attorney and real estate investor. The building bears resemblance to the works of renowned Chicago architects such as Daniel Burnham and Louis Sullivan, both of whom designed buildings in Buffalo. The Curtiss Building was designed by Buffalo-based architect Paul F. Mann, who was also the brother-in-law of Curtiss. The building is one of the largest terra cotta structures of its type and period in downtown Buffalo.[2][3]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.[1]

History

Construction on the building began in 1912 and was finished in 1913.[3] The buildings earliest tenants included the Kittinger Furniture Company. Other occupants included lawyers, stationers, and paramedical companies, but oddly enough not Curtiss' office. The building went through a series of successive owners and tenants over the ensuing decades, but was vacant by the early 1990s.[4]

In 2008, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] Developer Mark Croce bought the Curtiss in 2002, and then added the adjacent former Continental nightclub and a parking lot in April 2009. Croce also owns the Hotel Statler in downtown Buffalo.[4]

As of August 2015, the building is currently in the middle of an $18+ million renovation by developer Mark Croce into the "Curtiss Hotel." The hotel will be a 5 star, 68 room boutique hotel and is currently scheduled to open December 15, 2015.[5] Amenities include a first floor corner 3-meal restaurant, featuring a revolving bar reminiscent of Buffalo’s historic Chez Ami Supper Club, which will lead to patio seating along W. Huron Street. On the opposite corner of the building, adjacent to a planned porte cochère and main entranceway, there will be Buffalo’s first all-weather urban hot springs/Roman Bath experience.[6]

As of December 2015, project costs were estimated at $20 million because of upgrades. The bar will be called "Chez Ami" and will rotate twice an hour, including its patrons, “at a non-discernible speed” to give patrons a 270-degree panoramic view of the city through giant picture windows.[4]

357-363 Delaware Avenue

In 1924, Harlow C. Curtiss commissioned a second commercial and office building to be built at 357-363 Delaware Avenue bearing the same name. The Buffalo architectural firm of Esenwein & Johnson was the architect selected for that building.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Buffalo as an Architectural Museum: John F. Mann
  3. 1 2 3 "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)" (Searchable database). New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2016-07-01. Note: This includes Francis R. Kowsky and Daniel McEneny (August 2008). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Harlow C. Curtiss Building" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-07-01. and Accompanying photographs
  4. 1 2 3 Epstein, Jonathan D. (December 29, 2015). "Upscale Curtiss Hotel will spark 'excitement' downtown". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  5. ↑ http://www.curtisshotel.com/
  6. ↑ http://buffalorising.com/2015/07/curtiss-gets-corniced-more/


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