down the short block was
purchased by the former
owner’s granddaughter, who
is gradually making improvements with the intention of
staying put.
“Being here over a year now,
I feel very safe,” Woltz says.
“I know all our neighbors. It
is the West Side of Buffalo so
things do get loud, just as they
would in any urban community, so that is not surprising.
Our house was owned by the
same family for over 100 years
and many family members
live on this street who have
connections to this house, so
people have been stopping to
say hello and see what’s going
on inside since we bought it.
It’s just got a great energy.
People are genuinely happy
that the house is being taken
care of again.”
To would-be DIYers, Woltz
says, “You have to have a lot
of stamina. Also double the
time you think it’s going to
take. When it was all ripped
apart, there were times
when we were like, ‘OK,
maybe we should just sell it.
It’s just so much work, but totally worth it in
the end because our investment is now going
to be double or triple what we paid. Being
able to live here now, getting to know all our
neighbors, and being so central to everything
has made it all worthwhile.”
Holly Metz Doyle works at Sacred Heart Acad-
emy, writes freelance for local publications, and
is an estate sale/DIY junkie. P h o
to
sb
y
kc
kr
a
tt
