Williams-Butler House
- Table of Contents
Garden - Jacobs Executive
Development Center, UB Downtown
672 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY
TEXT Beneath Illustrations |
In 1979, Delaware North Companies (Website) bought the house and
the adjoining property on North Street, the Metcalfe House. After
a fierce preservation battle, Delaware North demolished the Metcalfe mansion next door
(also designed by McKim, Mead
and White) for use as a parking lot.
Fortunately, the American Wing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art has
the complete entryway of the Metcalfe house on display. In addition,
the Burchfield/Penny Art Center at Buffalo State College has rebuilt
the dining room from this house. Prof.
Frank Kowsky was in charge of that project.
Delaware North renovated the house over an eight-year period at a cost
of $6 million.
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In 1990, Delaware North sold the building to Varity
Corp. to serve as its world headquarters.
From 1980 until 1996, Victor A. Rice was Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Varity Corporation.
Varity removed the parking lot, installed a lush garden/parking lot,
and constructed the lighted fountain located in the center's granite
courtyard. They also renovated the mansion.
The English Garden and Grounds were designed and and installed in 1990-91 by the English Gardener at the request of Victor Rice. Much of the parking was removed to install the fountain, entrance, and fish pond.
The concept was for an English-style garden of bulbs, shrubs, and
perennials blooming continuously throughout the growing season and with
year-round color and texture in the garden. The Rice family, and Victor
in particular, were very involved with the plans, choice of plants and
plantings.
A company owned by Peter Levin did all the work on the fountain. The gazebo is a memorial for Peter, who died in 1997.
The English Gardener landscaping company maintains the grounds (in
August 2011).
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Varity was acquired by a Cleveland Co., and in 1999 the house and garden was again acquired by Delaware North Companies, whose CEO, Jeremy M Jacobs Sr., then deeded the property to SUNY at Buffalo, with a new name: Jacobs Executive Development Center.