Norban's / Buffalo Hostel

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Photo credit: David Steele and Mark Paradowski

Location

667 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203
Google Bird's Eye View
Ellicott Council District
SBL: 111.38-4-3
Erie County Property Info
County Tax Map (loads GIS page)
City of Buffalo Parcel Viewer
Part of a combined parcel with 664 Washington Street

Next to: 665 Main Street and 671 Main Street
Across from: 674 Main Street

Owner

BUFFALO URBAN RENEWAL AGENCY

Physical Description

Three story, 12,000sq.ft. ornate commercial building

Current Condition

In good exterior condition. Half of the inside is in use.

History

  • 1930s-1988 - Home of Norban's Self-Service Department Store
    • Possibly designed by E.B. Green
  • 1996 - Hostel Buffalo-Niagara moves into the building

Recent Events and Actions Taken

  • 2005 - The HI-Buffalo Niagara Youth Hostel won "#1 Best Hostel in North America"
  • 2008 - The hostel was awarded “Third Best Hostel in North America”
  • March, 2017 - 'The city's Urban Renewal Agency issued a request for proposals to developers last month to buy and redevelop the building it operates from. Hostel officials fear the proposal's stated goal of finding a "qualified development team" could doom its chances – and make the hostel's departure inevitable. The not-for-profit, 50-bed hostel pays the city below-market rent at the location. "I don't think we would be able to afford it at this point," Caferro said. "We have been paying the city half of our revenue as lease payment. We have a sweetheart deal." Buffalo News
    • The hostel plans to submit its own proposal: a $1.7 million plan to redevelop the rest of the building into 15 affordable extended stay units and three commercial spaces.
  • July 2017 - 'After soliciting proposals from developers in February, the city has decided not to sell the building. Instead, plans call for the hostel to stay put while the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency develops mixed-income housing in the back of the building.' Buffalo News

Other Pertinent Facts

  • Located in the Theater Historic Preservation District
  • The hostel recorded 58,713 overnight stays in the past 10 fiscal years (as of March 2017) Buffalo News

Links


Newest Pages

■ 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 ■ Buffalo Skyway ■ 50 West Avenue

Added 2013-08-30 • Last changed 2017-07-17

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