PrintSep. 12--If you've ever wanted to own a genuine Buffalo grain elevator, the Great Lakes Fishing Club might have just what you're looking for.
The club has put the former Grange League Federation elevator and milling complex, at 339 Ganson St., on the market for $3.5 million. The site features twin clusters of a dozen, 100-foot-tall silos, plus a milling house which dates back to 1908.
Larry Kopec, a fishing club shareholder, admits the property is a "fixer-upper," but said it has limitless potential. The 3.3- acre site offers more than 300 feet of Buffalo River frontage.
"We've had a hard time keeping up with the maintenance, but it's a prime waterfront spot," Kopec said. "With all the attention on the waterfront now, we decided to was time to go fishing, so to speak."
In 1988, the fishing group members pooled their money to buy the property, which had been idle since the 1970s, to serve as their de facto clubhouse. Over the last 20 years, the site has given the club a venue to launch and store their boats, and the organization has covered its operational expenses by leasing space to other sportsmen to house boats, trailers and a few campers.
"We're just a bunch of working men and women, so we put in sweat equity and some cash to have a place right on the water," Kopec said.
The Ganson Street site was originally developed as the Wheeler Grain Elevator in 1908 and was acquired by the Cooperative Grange League Federation in the late 1920s. In 1941, the federation added a railroad-based elevator to handle growing demand for grain shipments through the facility.
The federation's G. L. F. initials are still visible on the facade of one of the silo complexes. The Agway Feed Group took over operations in the early 1960s and ran the site until its complete shutdown.
Hunt Real Estate ERA agent June Gareau, who is handling the sale, said while the price tag is high, it's not unrealistic.
"If you use your imagination, there's all kinds of potential," Gareau said. "Somebody might have a great idea for reusing the elevators, who knows, or the site could be cleared for condos, restaurants, hotels, whatever."
The commercial site has a current City of Buffalo tax assessment valuation of $83,000.
Earlier this year, River- Wright LLC proved it's possible to buy low and sell high in the grain elevator world when it sold its 4.4 million bushel Lake & Rail Elevator off Ohio Street to a Minnesota-based grain investment group for $2 million. RiverWright, which is planning to produce ethanol at its property, bought the property, including four elevator complexes, for $160,000 in 2006.
slinstedt@buffnews.com
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