The Colored Musicians Club at 145 Broadway has begun an expansion and renovations that will allow for increased tourism and visitation to Buffalo’s African American Heritage Corridor. Originally proposed in 2017, the project includes restoration of the building storefront, an addition to the south that will improve access, and renovations to the building’s second floor. New mechanicals, electrical and plumbing will be installed throughout.
“This groundbreaking marks the start of a new chapter at the Colored Musicians Club and represents our deep, ongoing commitment to uplifting the East Buffalo community,” Governor Hochul said. “By fostering the expansion and preservation of historic assets along the Michigan Street Corridor, we are celebrating the rich histories of Black New Yorkers and honoring their important contributions in Buffalo, our state, and our nation.”
The not-for-profit club will make critical improvements through the help of a $2 million a grant from Empire State Development’s (ESD) $65 million East Side Corridor Economic Development Fund. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York also provided $350,000 in funding for the project.
Minimal work is proposed for the first floor which functions as a museum. The second floor club room is currently not handicap accessible except by a chair lift along the existing wood stairs. The addition to the south adds a secondary means of egress and an elevator. The addition is attached via a second story hyphen located to the west on the south elevation and provides a green room, meeting rooms, and offices.
The project:
• Facilitates accessibility requirements (elevator) and a secondary means of egress (stair). It also functions to provide additional support space including a green room, classrooms, meeting rooms, and offices.
• Minimally touches the historic building at the second floor glazed connecting hyphen and reads as a distinct building.
• Presents an independent elevation facing Michigan Avenue at a slight angle. The corner dematerializes on the second floor to provide views of the historic Michigan Avenue Heritage Corridor.
• A small “alley” created between the historic building and new construction references the “alley-like” condition historically associated with jazz clubs, where the entrance was often located in a back alley off a main street. This also references the existing historic stair with a door at the top where one had to knock to gain access to the club.
George Scott, Colored Musicians Club Former Director, said, “We want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for investing in the future of the Colored Musicians Club. The renovation will benefit the entire Michigan Street Corridor by drawing more visitors to experience the music, history, food and unique cultural attractions of the East Side. By making this significant investment we are making it clear that Black history is important, Buffalo’s history is important, and jazz is a force for telling that story and a powerful way to provide strength and hope to our people.”
Stieglitz Snyder Architecture designed the project.
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