Our West Bayfront plans to host its ribbon-cutting ceremony virtually because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The event will be streamed live on the organization’s Facebook page, starting at 1 p.m.  

“It’s been a pretty significant project for us and it’s taken several years to pull together,” said Anna Frantz, Our West Bayfront’s executive director. “We see this as a way to bring more vibrancy to the West Eighth Street corridor, support businesses that are already here, and hopefully attract new businesses to this area.”

The nonprofit began renovating the building in 2018 as part of its neighborhood revitalization agenda. 

50 Our West Bayfront residents honored with portraits on fence mural in a vacant Erie lot.

Our West Bayfront’s headquarters is located on the building’s first floor; “we moved in at the end of December,” she said.  

The first floor also includes a community meeting space and roughly 1,000 square feet of retail/commercial space that will be available for rental. 

Our West Bayfront plans to begin accepting applications from potential tenants soon, Frantz said.

Our West Bayfront purchased the property for $30,000 in March 2018. The building had been vacant for several years.

The development will pay property taxes to the city, Erie County government and the Erie School District because it will generate rental income.

https://www.facebook.com/ourwestbayfront/videos/535519684019816

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=703858836917677&ref=watch_permalink