HHL developed a feasibility study for the conversion of the1890 St. Paul’s Cathedral Church Parish House in Buffalo, NY, to affordable income rental dwelling units. The 128 Pearl Street building is located in the City of Buffalo’s Joseph Ellicott Historic District. The project was to be submitted to NYSDHCR for NY State Low Income Housing Tax Credit funding assistance and IRS Historic Tax Credit funding.

Schematic floor plans and building elevation concept drawings for the four-story, approximately 11,660 square foot building were prepared. Building Code and Means of Egress compliance were evaluated with review by the Regional Engineer for the New York State Department of State, using Chapter 13 of the EBCNYS alternative “Performance Compliance” analysis. It was determined that the building could be converted compliantly to meet code, with only one existing monumental exit stair.