Transfiguration Church

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Transfiguration Church
Photo credit: David Torke, Chuck LaChiusa, Polonia Trail

929 Sycamore Street, Buffalo NY 14212

Near: 895 Sycamore Street, 954 Sycamore Street

Owner

  • Paul Francis Associates, Inc.

Physical Description

  • Red brick 1,400-seat church in the Gothic Revival style.
  • Contains murals by noted local church artist Joseph Mazur.

Current Condition

  • Vacant and deteriorating.

History

  • July 23, 1893 - Congregation founded
  • 1896 - $70,000 church built with a 180-foot steeple and seating for 1,400. Polonia Trail
    • Designed by Carl Schmill.
  • 1985 - The school closes
  • 1990 - The church was threatened with closure
  • 1993 - Parish closed by the diocese
  • 1995 - Building sold to the current owner, Paul Francis Associates, by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo for $7,000.

Recent Events and Actions Taken

  • January 2017 - City considers emergency demolition of entire structure. Steve Karnath and Jessie Fisher convince them that the only current threat is the cupola. They secured a "small emergency grant from the National Trust, and Kevin Connors did an engineering evaluation confirming that this is the only part of the building posing a public issue." The city agreed and will use emergency funds for cupola removal and shoring the roof in this area.
  • January 17, 2017 - Equipment is on site for cupola and roof work. Empire Dismantlement Corp. will do the work. PBN requested that the city salvage the cupola and place it in the building for storage.
  • 2019-2020 - owner cuts into the roof.
  • November 2020 - Entire roof of the sanctuary collapses in a windstorm.
  • January 2021 - Chimney is demolished.
  • January 2021 - Jessie Fisher, PBN - "The work currently being performed is outside of the scope of what he has permits for and what the preservation board approved."

Other Pertinent Facts

Links

Availability

  • January 2017 - Preservation Buffalo Niagara is looking to assist with a new ownership structure for the building. Contact Jessie Fisher if you have uses for such a space.


Newest Pages

■ St. Rose of Lima School ■ 1291 Main Street ■ 22 Chateau Terrace ■ 807 Clinton Street ■ 250 Richmond Avenue ■ Liberty Tailors ■ 1966 Niagara Street ■ 1942 Niagara Street ■ 1930 Niagara Street ■ 2018 Main Street, Niagara Falls NY 14305 ■ 1940 Niagara Street ■ 1932 Niagara Street ■ 1035 Jefferson Avenue ■ 701 Third Street, Niagara Falls ■ The Turtle - Native American Center for the Arts ■ Nabisco Elevator, Niagara Falls ■ 945 Washington Street ■ 941 Washington Street ■ 931 Washington Street ■ 929 Washington Street ■ 927 Washington Street ■ Prophet Isaiah's Second Coming House ■ 1681 Main Street ■ 1215 Niagara Street ■ 882 West Avenue ■ 878 West Avenue ■ 29 Minton Street ■ Paramount Lodge ■ 21 Anderson Place ■ 2505 Main Street

Added 2016-10-17 • Last changed 2021-01-04

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