Anchoring the Cobblestone District.

A neighborhood shaped by innovation.

The Cobblestone District has always been a place where Buffalo’s industrial roots meet what comes next. Along South Park Avenue, buildings erected in the mid-nineteenth century exemplify this historic progression. The George Mugridge & Son Steam Bakery at 110 South Park, built in 1852, is an uncommon example of existing pre-Civil War commercial architecture. The Brown & McCutcheon foundry at 118 South Park was built in 1869 for what was one of Buffalo’s earliest brass manufacturers. Both buildings played roles in Buffalo’s commercial and manufacturing history. Each was later deemed eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

The story of innovation in the Cobblestone District extends into the twentieth century. Blacksmith Edwin Rudnicki operated from 118 South Park Avenue for nearly fifty years. Buffalo Blacksmithing Company, established by Rudnicki in 1954, produced fittings for the space program, rescue tools for firefighters, and components for the hydrogen bomb. He was part of a lineage of trades that reflected Buffalo’s ability to adapt from canal commerce to grain transhipment to wartime production, to aerospace, and beyond.

That adaptability is still visible today. Over the last fifteen years, Canalside has transformed nearby waterfront parcels into one of the city’s most visited cultural destinations. Within the Cobblestone District itself, Samuel J. Savarino has spent two decades as the district’s primary developer and largest contiguous property owner, restoring landmark warehouses into music venues, comedy clubs, offices, and residences one building at a time. His current leadership of Savarino DL&W Development LLC ensures the redevelopment of the DL&W terminal’s second floor, extending his vision for the District and its legacy of innovation into the twenty-first century. Other significant Buffalo stakeholders share this vision as well.

The DL&W itself is a national landmark of innovation. Constructed with reinforced concrete, its double-deck structure was revolutionary when completed in 1917. Today, its planned use as a public marketplace, cultural destination, and civic asset is another demonstration of Buffalo’s capacity to repurpose the past to serve the future.

Buffalo Iron Works is located in the city’s Cobblestone District.

Everyday activation and community life.

Today, the Cobblestone District is active in ways its original industrial builders may not have imagined. KeyBank Center, which opened in 1996, anchors the district with professional hockey, lacrosse, concerts, and events that draw millions of visitors each year. Just steps away, Canalside has added seasonal programming, outdoor recreation, and cultural offerings that attract residents and tourists alike.

Neighbors such as Buffalo Iron Works, Helium Comedy Club, and the offices and residences at 26 Mississippi and 95 Perry further broaden the area’s offerings. These uses ensure that the district is not only an event destination but also a place where people work, live, and spend time each day.

“Buffalo Iron Works was built with the idea that live music and community can drive growth in the Cobblestone District,” said Josh Holtzman, the owner of Buffalo Iron Works and Twenty6 Productions, who serves as the Strategic Advisor – Events and Entertainment for the DL&W project. “With the DL&W terminal’s redevelopment, we see the opportunity to expand that energy across the district with even more diverse programming.”

When complete, the DL&W’s second-floor redevelopment will expand the District’s vitality with daily access to fresh food, public market stalls, restaurants, cultural spaces, flexible venues, and barrier-free year-round public space that can support both neighborhood needs and regional attractions. By introducing amenities that serve residents and visitors, the project will strengthen the district’s role as a neighborhood.

A district moving forward.

In a district defined by change with an eye toward Buffalo’s future, the DL&W’s proposed mix of market space, cultural programming, and civic amenities positions it as both a neighborhood anchor and a regional destination.

This vision has also been shaped by community input. Early in the process, Savarino DL&W Development partnered with Project for Public Spaces to engage residents, business owners, and cultural leaders. Their guidance reinforced the need for accessible public space, fresh food access, fitness and cultural experiences, and flexible programming that could adapt to the rhythms of daily life and seasonal activity. Those priorities are now embedded in the project’s design, ensuring that its impact is rooted in public use.

Together, the Cobblestone District’s history and the DL&W’s future illustrate how Buffalo redevelopment can honor its past while shaping a neighborhood for the next generation. By linking historic buildings, year-round programming, and community-informed design, the DL&W anchors the Cobblestone District as a place where innovation continues.

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