Church bell tower is ‘beacon’ of 40-apartment vision in North Buffalo

The church building at Colvin and Tacoma avenues in North Buffalo is gone, but the bell tower is not.

Plans for 40 market-rate apartments that will be built around the tower are progressing, with construction expected to begin this summer and last from nine months to a year.

The tower is really a beacon in the neighborhood, said Sam DeFranks, whose Apollo Dismantling Services was hired to tear down the church in January 2013.

DeFranks grew up in North Buffalo and still has family there, and said the property which his company bought in April from the United Methodist Church offers an opportunity to build something new as well as to diversify his business.

The brick used in the housing development will be similar to the existing brick on the tower, and the roofing material will be similar to the one that was on the church.

Plans for the project, calling for 16 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom units, were approved Tuesday by the city Planning Board, although some neighbors objected to aspects of the plan.

The project will include three buildings that are each three stories, as well as covered parking spaces.

The developments parking configuration was modeled on Mayfair Lane off North Street in Allentown, architect David Giusiana told the board.

The gated parking is below a raised courtyard, which is surrounded by housing.

Linda Franchell, who lives next door, praised DeFranks, saying he was the best neighbor she has had there in 26 years. But she expressed concerns about how only 5 feet separate her house from the proposed townhouses.

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Church bell tower is ‘beacon’ of 40-apartment vision in North Buffalo