Former School Repurposed as Affordable Housing and a Community Service Hub in Buffalo

Former School Repurposed as Affordable Housing and a Community Service Hub in Buffalo

Originally built in the 1930s as an educational and community center for St. John Kanty Church, the Lyceum building in Buffalo, New York, was renovated into affordable housing with integrated supportive services in 2024. The developer, Community Services for Every1, preserved several of the building's original features. Photo credit: Gene Avallone

Apartments at the Lyceum is a mixed-use development in Buffalo, New York, offering 42 affordable apartments. Located in the city's Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood, the Lyceum is Erie County's first permanent supportive housing project with units reserved for domestic violence victims and survivors who previously experienced homelessness. Community Services for Every1, the developer and owner of the Lyceum, offers extensive onsite services for this population and other residents in need. The project, an adaptive reuse of a historic school and community center, opened to residents in summer 2024.

Project Background

First constructed in the 1930s as an education and recreation center for St. John Kanty Church, hosting movies, dances, plays, and other community events, the Lyceum became a school in the 1960s. After the school closed in 1990, the building fell into disrepair and was vacant for the next few years except for a small portion used by another ministry. In 2020, Community Services for Every1 purchased the property from the church for approximately $350,000 with plans to renovate the historic building and transform it into affordable housing with integrated supportive services. The developer closed on construction financing in October 2022.

Financing

State housing programs and other public and private sources funded the $23.6 million redevelopment of the former school. The project received approximately $4 million from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal, including more than $500,000 through its Clean Energy Initiative (CEI). The CEI supports energy-efficient housing developments in accordance with the state's target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent before 2050. The developer also received $2.5 million from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance's Homeless Housing and Assistance Program for the units set aside for survivors of domestic violence. Other funding sources included $8 million in low-income housing tax credit equity and $750,000 in HOME Investment Partnerships funds from the city of Buffalo.

Adaptive Reuse

The extensive renovation of the three-story, 69,000-square-foot building preserved historically significant features per state and federal guidelines. The developer created most of the apartments by subdividing the original classrooms and offices. In addition, the redevelopment added six 2-story units to the center of the historic two-story auditorium. Part of the auditorium was converted into a community room with a small office for service providers. The project team retained the structure of the auditorium and the second-floor balcony while restoring the auditorium's original furnishings and fixtures. In addition, the team transformed the original activity room, cafeteria, and kitchen into approximately 7,650 square feet of commercial space. The developers also added a laundry room, storage facilities, and indoor bike storage and repair stations.

The developer retained the Lyceum's historic doors where possible and replaced the rest with new, architecturally compatible ones. A minor demolition was required to create a new accessible entry. Although some of the building's windows were retained and repaired, most were replaced with historically accurate replicas. The developer also cleaned and repaired the exterior masonry and upgraded the roof to meet the current energy code.

Community Services for Every1 partnered with Sustainable Comfort to incorporate energy-efficient and green building features, enabling the project to meet the 2020 criteria for Enterprise Green Communities certification. Low-flow fixtures; increased insulation; updated lighting, electric, and heating and ventilation systems; and ENERGY STAR^®-rated appliances improved the building's energy efficiency. To comply with the requirements of the CEI program, the building is all electric and consumes no fossil fuels.

Ten vacant lots adjacent to the property were combined to create a parking lot and green space. This open space includes walking paths, a community garden, and an accessible playground.

Accessible Apartments

The Lyceum has 42 apartments, including 11 two-bedroom units, for low- and moderate-income households. Nineteen units are reserved for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), and the rest serve households earning up to 50 percent of AMI. Several units are fully adapted for residents with special needs, including four for those with physical disabilities or mobility limitations and three for residents with hearing or vision impairments. In addition, 12 of the units are specifically designated for domestic violence survivors who formerly experienced homelessness.

A portion of the former auditorium was transformed into a community room. Photo credit: Bradley Everdyke (Carmina Wood Design).

To select residents for the 12 survivor units, Community Services for Every1 uses several sources for resident referrals, including the Continuum of Care, residential provider agencies, domestic violence service providers, and Erie County programs funded through the state's Office of Children and Family Services or Office of Victim Services. The staff request a letter from a referral source confirming past experience with homelessness and domestic violence. Staff also interview prospective residents of these units to ensure that they can live safely and independently with supportive services.

The building also includes features that support the safety and well-being of these residents, including security cameras, hallway mirrors, key fob entry, and deadbolts on the tenant's doors. All entrances to the building, including those from the commercial area, are locked and require in-person guest access. "The goal was to create a safe, trauma-informed environment for survivors where they feel like they've moved into a home and not an institutional setting," explained Kelly Kinderman, vice president of support and development for Community Services for Every1.

Serving a Community

The commercial space acts as a hub for clients receiving community services. Support staff with Community Services for Every1 provide job readiness training, culinary arts programs, and healthy eating education. The center also hosts afterschool programming with inclusive recreational opportunities. According to Kinderman, the area is intended to be a gathering place where residents can socialize in a safe and welcoming environment. "The Lyceum is not just a place to live but [also] a place where families can rebuild and thrive," she said. Operating funding from the New York State Office of Mental Health supports programming for domestic violence survivors, including intensive casework, advocacy, group counseling, financial empowerment, and workforce development to promote self-sufficiency.

A New Purpose

Apartments at the Lyceum addresses a vital community need while honoring the original purpose that this space served for the parishioners of the St. John Kanty Church. "Watching this once-dilapidated structure transform into a vibrant space that now serves the community has been an incredible journey," Kinderman said. "By safeguarding its historic elements, we have ensured it remains a cherished landmark while transforming it into a vital community asset."