Preserving the Past, Building the Future: Reimagining St. John Kanty Church & Historical sites.
By Ayat Nieves Real Estate Salesperson with Iconic Real Estate. Equal Housing Opportunity
Legacy of Hope: Preserving, Growing, and Building Together
We invite our entire community—neighbors, faith leaders, and stewards of historic properties—to join us in reimagining and revitalizing Buffalo’s architectural legacy. Our shared vision begins at Saint John Kanty Parish, a beacon of heritage and resilience, and expands outward to communities ready to preserve what matters while building what’s next.
This blog and development page are designed to educate and empower. Together, we’ll explore the process of rehabbing older buildings for community benefit, share best practices, highlight local resources, and spotlight transformative examples. In the future, we’ll expand to include guides on new construction, contractor selection, and successful flips. (Nick will be helping lead that part of the conversation!)
This concept—enriched by contributions from community members, designers, planners, historians, developers, and advocates—serves as a working blueprint for mixed-use redevelopment at Saint John Kanty and similar sites.
🛠️ For informational purposes only. Any references to protected classes are included solely for historical context. We are committed to Equal Housing and Equal Business Opportunity for all.
Legacy of Hope: The Enduring Impact of St. John Kanty Parish- By Father Webster.
For 133 years, St. John Kanty has been spreading a message of hope on Broadway and Swinburne on Buffalo’s East Side. With the rapid rise in Polish immigration and the progression Eastward down Broadway, a new, safe, place was needed precipitated by the dangerous, then at-grade, railroad tracks crossing Broadway. St. John Kanty, named after the patron saint of teachers, students, and pilgrims, was that answer.
Having fostered the academic pursuits of thousands of students with the opening of St. John Kanty School in 1894, the parish became a mecca for community activity with the 1933 opening of the Lyceum. While the old school building has since been demolished, today’s parishioners of St. John Kanty are grateful that the old Lyceum building was purchased and redeveloped by Community Services for Every1 offering apartments for the homeless and survivors of domestic violence, job-readiness training, cooking classes, and many other community services.
While the once strong parish population has dwindled and the parish marked for closure in 2025, my hope is that St. John Kanty parishioners and the Diocese of Buffalo will be able to work with community leaders and developers to reenvision the rectory, convent, and church space.
Since the parish’s founding, messages of faith, hope, and love have resounded from the pulpit. With the right developer and community partnerships, the nationally historic St. John Kanty complex can continue to be a neighborhood anchor by offering community services that bring people together so that all can reach their limitless potential.
Having fostered the academic pursuits of thousands of students with the opening of St. John Kanty School in 1894, the parish became a mecca for community activity with the 1933 opening of the Lyceum. While the old school building has since been demolished, today’s parishioners of St. John Kanty are grateful that the old Lyceum building was purchased and redeveloped by Community Services for Every1 offering apartments for the homeless and survivors of domestic violence, job-readiness training, cooking classes, and many other community services.
While the once strong parish population has dwindled and the parish marked for closure in 2025, my hope is that St. John Kanty parishioners and the Diocese of Buffalo will be able to work with community leaders and developers to reenvision the rectory, convent, and church space.
Since the parish’s founding, messages of faith, hope, and love have resounded from the pulpit. With the right developer and community partnerships, the nationally historic St. John Kanty complex can continue to be a neighborhood anchor by offering community services that bring people together so that all can reach their limitless potential.
A Vision for Reuse: Community-Driven and Historically Grounded
Our community forum honors the historical and architectural integrity of St. John Kanty while reimagining it for modern community needs. With the right partnerships, funding, and vision, St. John Kanty can once again serve the East Side as a beacon of opportunity and hope.
Redevelopment Options:
A Structured Plan Matters
A comprehensive development strategy ensures cohesion, strengthens funding opportunities, and guides partnerships with stakeholders committed to neighborhood revitalization. It enables:
Adaptive Reuse of Church Interiors with Historic Preservation Standards by Mike Puma.
I'm Michael Puma, co-owner of Preservation Studios which is a historic preservation consulting firm based here in Buffalo with projects across NYS and beyond. Our company has been in business since 2002 working with property owners, developers, and municipalities pursuing historic preservation and tax credit rehabilitation projects. Our work over the last ten years alone represents over $1 billion in reinvestment into historic buildings. In addition to tax credit projects, our firm also performs CLG training, community workshops, guidance on real estate development, and much more within the larger field of historic preservation work.
Our company has helped to revive many church complexes across the state, largely with a residential component for the former school, rectory, and/or convent buildings and commercial uses for the former church spaces. Unfortunately, churches themselves present a unique challenge to the other buildings that typically comprise a multiple building church complex. The interior of these buildings are often highly detailed and rich in architecturals details, but also defined by their large, open volume. As such, the scale of division permitted in sanctuary spaces remains fairly limited within the current regulations that govern the historic tax credit program.
We have most often seen the church interiors used for a supportive function of the surrounding project / neighborhood, typically a school or daycare function. In both of these functions, we have found practical ways to maintain the open volume of the space while employing moveable, low partitions to keep the space more modular and flexible. We have also had success in creating seperate rooms within the larger space, but always at the rear of the sanctuary space typically below a choir loft. Another past project saw the interior of a church divided into market stalls for a variety of different vendors selling crafts, antiques, and some food options. In that example, the partitions were largely formed by moveable walls, shelving, and cabinets that occupied most of the interior, but still retained the overall sense of volume in the space and were easily reversible.
Other creative concepts for church interiors that we have seen proposed include a rock climbing gym, live entertainment venue, nightclub / bar, and self storage to name a few.
The building is not an Island, it is part of the Community !
Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, Jr. is a professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University at Buffalo (SUNY) and the founding director of the Center for Urban Studies. His work focuses on underdeveloped urban neighborhoods, social and economic inequality, and the impact of public policy on communities of color. A nationally respected scholar, writer, and activist, Dr. Taylor’s research and community-based initiatives address issues of race, class, and equity in urban America, with a particular emphasis on African American and Latinx neighborhoods. Through his leadership and scholarship, he has helped shape conversations around urban redevelopment, neighborhood planning, and equitable growth both in Buffalo and across the country.
“We've been talking about the building as if it is an island, as if it exists independent of the neighborhood and the community in which it is located. It is not,” said Henry-Louis Taylor, UB urban planning professor. “The building must be understood in relationship to its context. It must be understood in relationship to the community in which it stands.”
“As much as whoever purchases the property is going to have a say in whatever happens to it, there are still restrictions that the buyer must agree upon with the church before purchasing the property.”
CJ Brown Energy- How make make your building efficient!
CJ Brown Energy & Engineering, P.C. is a Buffalo-based engineering firm established in 1988, specializing in energy conservation, sustainability, and building performance optimization. With over three decades of experience, the firm provides services such as energy audits, commissioning and retrocommissioning, and net-zero energy planning for a diverse clientele, including commercial, governmental, healthcare, educational, and industrial sectors. CJ Brown Energy is an approved provider for NYSERDA programs and has contributed to significant energy efficiency improvements across New York State and beyond.
Potential Funding Sources for Historic Preservation in Buffalo, NY
1. Preservation League of New York State (Preserve NYS): Established in 1974, this nonprofit organization offers grants and awards to support historic preservation efforts across New York State. Between 2000 and 2004, 62 projects received grants from Preserve NYS, leading to the rehabilitation of historic places and the identification of numerous resources for the National Register of Historic Places.
2. New York Landmarks Conservancy: Founded in 1973, this nonprofit organization is dedicated to preserving and reusing historic structures throughout New York State. The Conservancy provides financial and technical assistance, including grants and loans, to support preservation projects. Over the years, it has contributed more than $60 million to over 1,300 restoration projects.
3. New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA): NYSCA offers grants to support arts, culture, and heritage nonprofits, as well as individual artists throughout New York State. Their funding encompasses various artistic fields, including historic preservation. NYSCA partners with organizations like the Preservation League of New York State to administer funding in the form of regrants, aiding historic sites and preservation efforts.
4. Historic Preservation Fund (HPF): Administered by the National Park Service, the HPF provides financial support for historic preservation projects across the United States. Established under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the fund offers matching grants to state historic preservation agencies to support various preservation activities.
5. Buffalo Central Terminal Redevelopment: The Buffalo Central Terminal has undergone significant preservation and redevelopment efforts, serving as a model for adaptive reuse of historic properties in Buffalo. The terminal’s master plan includes creating a year-round event venue and expanding programs to activate other parts of the building. In June 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $60 million in funding to support the implementation of this master plan. While not a direct funding source, the strategies and partnerships formed during the terminal’s redevelopment could provide valuable insights and potential collaboration opportunities for the preservation of St. John Kanty Church.
6. Community ownership could be structured through a nonprofit or a community-owned corporate entity, where individuals have the opportunity to purchase shares in the building. This model fosters collective investment, ensuring that ownership remains in the hands of those who value the property’s historical and social significance. It also promotes long-term stewardship, allowing stakeholders to have a direct say in its use, preservation, and development while potentially generating sustainable benefits for the community.
Historical Tax Credits & Empire State Development
1. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/taxincentives/index.htm
2. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/rehabilitation-credit
3. https://parks.ny.gov/documents/shpo/tax-credit-programs/NYSCommercialTaxCreditPrograms.pdf
4. https://parks.ny.gov/shpo/tax-credit-programs/
5. https://www.esd.ny.gov/east-side-building-fund
Energy and Weatherization programs:
2. https://hcr.ny.gov/weatherization-applicants
3. https://grist.org/buildings/more-churches-plugging-solar-power/
Information from Senator Gounardes :
By exploring and applying for these funding opportunities, the development plan fyour building can secure the necessary financial support to preserve its historical significance and ensure its continued role as a vital community resource.
Article of Interest and concepts.
2. https://www.archdaily.com/915700/rethinking-sacred-spaces-for-new-purposes
3. https://sacredplaces.org/adaptive-reuse-of-historic-church-buildings/
4. https://inform-magazine.com/adaptive-reuse-churches/
5. https://desmone.com/adaptive-reuse-churches/
6. https://www.investigativepost.org/2025/03/27/522235/
7. https://www.kingurbanlifecenter.org/
8. https://www.buffalorising.com/2025/04/big-reveal-st-johns-apartments/
9.https://www.buffalorising.com/2024/09/big-reveal-church-reuse-on-emslie-street/
Zoning, Permitting & Legal Pathways
Under Buffalo’s Green Code, St. John Kanty is located in a Mixed-Use Edge (N-3E) zone, allowing a variety of civic, residential, and commercial developments. Redevelopment will adhere to:
Zoning, Permitting, and Legal Considerations
Review of current zoning regulations and potential changes needed
According to the Buffalo Green Code, this building is zoned as 3.1.8 N-3E Mixed-Use Edge
Necessary permits and approvals for redevelopment
Permitted Uses and Special Use Permits:
In the N-3E zone, establishing a mixed-use community center may require obtaining a Special Use Permit. The Buffalo Green Code outlines that applicants can seek such permits to introduce or expand commercial uses in N-3E zones, provided they meet specific criteria.
Application Process:
To proceed with the conversion, the following steps are recommended:
• Consult the Buffalo Green Code: Review the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to understand the standards and criteria for mixed-use developments in N-3E zones.
• Engage with the City Planning Board: Schedule a pre-application meeting to discuss the proposed project and gather insights on potential challenges or additional requirements.
• Prepare and Submit Applications:
• Special Use Permit Application: File this with the City Clerk, ensuring all criteria outlined in the UDO are addressed.
• Site Plan Review Application: Depending on the project’s scope, a site plan review may be necessary to assess design and compliance with zoning standards.
• Public Hearing: The Common Council will conduct a public hearing to consider the Special Use Permit application. Notices will be provided as per Section 11.2.2 of the UDO.
Permit and Inspection Services:
For construction-related activities, permits will be necessary for new buildings, additions, changes of use, remodeling, repairs, and demolitions. The City’s Permit & Inspection Services department oversees these permits. https://www.buffalony.gov/435/Permit-Inspection-Services?utm_source
Community Engagement:
Engaging with local community organizations and residents is crucial to garner support and address potential concerns about the project.
In summary, converting St. John Kanty Church into a mixed-use community center involves navigating zoning regulations, obtaining necessary permits, and ensuring compliance with both the Buffalo Green Code and historic preservation standards. Collaborating with city departments and the community will be key to a successful project.
Public input will remain central to the redevelopment process to ensure transparency and alignment with neighborhood needs.
Join Us in Preserving a Legacy
St. John Kanty has long been a source of inspiration. Together, we can ensure that its buildings and its mission endure. Through faith, planning, and community, we honor the past while creating space for new generations to gather, grow, and thrive.
Help us write the next chapter.