Michael J. Dillon Courthouse / Women's Christian Association

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Photo Credit: WNY Heritage Press, FBI, Mike Puma ViewsOfBuffalo

Location

68 Court Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
SBL: 111.53-2-5
Ellicott Council District
Google Bird's Eye View
Erie County Property Info
County Tax Map (loads GIS page)
City of Buffalo Parcel Viewer

Across from: Mahoney Office Building, Walbridge Building, Shea's Court Theatre, 112 Franklin Street , 60 Niagara Street , 64 Niagara Street , 70 Niagara Street , 74 Niagara Street , 1 Niagara Square , Chemical Bank Building / BAC, Townsend Hall, City Hall, Statler Hotel

Owner

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA per City of Buffalo Property Information

Physical Description

Seven story, 180,950 sq.ft. Art Deco / Art Moderne courthouse, with a mezzanine and a penthouse.

Current Condition

History

  • Former site of Women's Christian Association Building (1888)
  • March 7, 1927 - Women housed here and at the YWCA on Pearl moved to a building on North Street
History courtesy WNY Heritage Press
  • 1936 - Courthouse built. Designed by two Buffalo architectural firms, Green and Sons, and Bley and Lyman.
  • 1987 - 'The courthouse was renamed after Michael J. Dillon, an IRS agent shot to death while collecting a tax debt in 1983.' Buffalo News

Recent Events and Actions Taken

  • 2004 - 'Nominated to the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing element of the Joseph Ellicott Historic District.' Buffalo News
  • Spring 2016 - Used in filming of a movie about Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall
  • November 2016 - 'The Buffalo Common Council recently approved the purchase of the building, for $1, from the U.S. General Services Administration, for use as the city’s new police and fire headquarters, scheduled to open next September.' Buffalo News
  • September 2017 - First target move-in day for police and fire headquarters
  • July 2018 - Second target move-in day for headquarters, but now expected in late fall 2018
    • Initially projected rehab at $3.5 million, the first construction bid came in at $4.88 million, and the current tab is $6.22 million. The changes are attributed to system upgrades and state accreditation. Buffalo News

Other Pertinent Facts

  • 'The Emergency Relief and Construction Act of 1932 authorized the construction of the courthouse, as part of the New Deal. Originally planned as a 12-story building, the courthouse shrunk to seven stories, because of funding issues. After all, it was built during the Depression. Buffalo News
  • Part of the Joseph Ellicott Historic Preservation District
  • Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
  • President Franklin D. Roosevelt was present at its opening.
  • Former police headquarters were located at 80 Erie Street and 74 Franklin Street

Availability

The U.S. General Services Administration isn’t seeking a cash sale of the property. Instead, it’s looking to trade the building for construction services at other facilities it controls.
The agency is issuing a request for information to seek ideas from the private real estate community. The request will be posted at www.fedbizopps.gov, and opens May 14, 2014 for 45 days.

Links


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Added 2013-10-25 • Last changed 2018-07-23

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