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	Diocese Selling 4 City Churches Business Journal February 22, 2008 http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/othercities/buffalo/stories/2008/02/18/daily45.html?b=1203310800^1595572 Four Buffalo churches built in the late 1800s and early 1900s but closed in the past year by the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo are being put up for sale. The churches have been listed with McGuire Development Co. The future of the buildings will be up to the individual buyers. "We're certainly open to talking to people about creative re-uses," said Steve Roth, Diocese property manager. For sale are: Precious Blood R.C. Church at 140 and 145 Lewis St. The 42,500-square-foot church was erected in 1899 and includes a 3,145-square-foot rectory and side house. It's listed for $150,000. St. Agnes R.C. Church at 92 Benzinger St., which was built in 1883. The 10,400-square-foot church property also includes a 4,785-square-foot rectory, a 13,338-square-foot school and 5,372-square-foot convent. The listing price is $310,000. St. Valentine's R.C. Church at 522 South Park Ave. The circa 1900 property includes the 15,157-square-foot church and a 3,600-square-foot rectory. Cost: $230,000. Visitation R.C. Church, at 1040 E. Lovejoy St., which was erected in 1899. The 16,300-square-foot church is being sold in tandem with a 5,000-square-foot rectory. Vito Picone of McGuire Development is handling all of the listings. He said he is beginning an aggressive marketing campaign to find potential buyers. "The Diocese is very sensitive to the legacy of each of the buildings," said James Dentinger, McGuire Development president. "These are buildings that are and were anchors for their respective neighborhoods." The Buffalo Niagara region has seen many older and architecturally significant churches sold and reused. Singer Ani DiFranco acquired the Delaware Asbury Church in downtown Buffalo and renovated it into a performance center and headquarters for her Righteous Babe label. Developer Ron Alsheimer acquired several former churches and is in the process of retrofitting them into residential units. A former church on the West Side of Buffalo was renovated into the Bryant Commons condominiums along Richmond Avenue. "What we are looking for is some type of re-use that makes sense for both the neighborhood and the Diocese," Dentinger said.
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