The Diocese of Buffalo has announced that the Catholic Center, the diocesan central office building since 1986, has been listed for sale. The building, purchased in 1985 by the diocese, was the former home to the Courier-Express which ceased publication in September of 1982.
Published reports list the asking price as $9.8 million.
Built in 1930 for the Buffalo daily morning newspaper’s offices and printing operation, the structure was designed in the Art Deco style that mirrored Buffalo City Hall, as well as the Central Terminal. The building’s architects are listed as Monks & Johnson, of Boston, with Henri D.A. Ganteaume. The decorative motifs on the facade and the interior are medieval and Celtic logos feature famous printers and printing processes.
Following the purchase in 1985, renovations began to house all diocesan offices serving the faithful of the eight counties of Western New York in one location. Staff from 20 departments of the former Catholic Center at 100 South Elmwood Ave., as well as the Chancery office staff on 35 Lincoln Parkway, and four other offices moved to the new site in the spring of 1986. An open house and civic dedication of the Catholic Center was held on September 21, 1986.
The sale includes the 95,000-square-foot building at 795 Main St., an additional two-story building at 801 Main St., and an adjacent garage structure on Main and Burton streets. Three adjoining parking lots on both the east and west sides of Main Street also are included in the listing.
Hanna Commercial Real Estate brokers representing the property are Timothy Hourihan and David Doerr who may be contacted at 716 856-7107. The parcel is listed for $9.8 million, and its boundaries include Main, Goodell, Virginia and Washington streets. The two-block collection of properties is contained within the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
This offering represents the second diocesan property listed for sale. Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora was placed on the market in November 2023. Published reports list the asking price as $5.3.
The Diocese of Buffalo filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020 amid a flood of lawsuits after New York’s Child Victims Act suspended the statute of limitations to give victims of childhood abuse time to pursue even decades-old allegations. The diocese has been the subject of more than 900 claims.