BUFFALO, N.Y. - Developer Rocco Termini tells Two On Your Side that a delegation from the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will tour his Lafayette Hotel project on Thursday, and recognize it as "the largest privately financed historic preservation effort currently underway in the nation."
Termini says a banner will be strung in front of the building to signify the designation.
The Lafayette originally opened in 1904 and in its prime was considered one of the finest hotels in the country. Years of neglect and absentee landlords allowed the building to fall into disrepair.
Termini purchased the red brick and white terra cotta French Renaissance-style building a year ago, and began an ambitious $40 million renovation of the property at the corner of Washington and Clinton streets.
WEB EXTRAS:
- Click here to see a photo gallery of the renovations as they progressed in January.
- Watch video of the common council recently getting a tour of the Lafayette Hotel by clicking on the video player on this page.
Once work is done, the Lafayette will house banquet facilities and a restaurant on its main floor, a boutique hotel on the second floor and 115 apartments on floors three through seven.
The one- and two-bedroom apartments will contain between 850 and 1,200 square feet of living space, with rents ranging between $895 and $1,195 per month.
Termini tells WGRZ-TV the first tenants will begin moving into the building on May 1st, prior to renovations being completed on May 29th.
WGRZ-TV, wgrz.com