By JAMES FINK
jfink@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1611

With approval from the Buffalo Planning Board in hand, the law firm of Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP moved a step closer to buying and renovating the historic Calumet building.

The board approved a proposed renovation plan Oct. 26 for the 104-year-old building on Chippewa Street. The law firm is proposing to move from the Rand Building, where it leases 12,000 square feet, to the Calumet's upper floors. The move will allow the firm to increase its office space by 33 percent.

"We're getting all of the due diligence out of the way," said architect Steve Carmina of Carmina Wood & Morris, which was retained for the project.

In the works is a pending application to the state for historic tax credits and a scheduled meeting in November with the Buffalo Preservation Board.

Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak has the 24,000-square-foot building under contract in a deal brokered by Alan Hastings of Hastings Cohn Real Estate and Anthony D'Auria of Waterbourne Real Estate Advisors LLC. The building is owned by restaurateur Mark Goldman and Buffalo attorney Arthur Ziller.

The deal is expected to close later this year.

Th law firm has been a tenant of the Rand Building since its formation in 1994. It has 26 lawyers and a total staff of nearly 50.

While the firm will occupy the upper floors, Bacchus Wine Bar & Restaurant will remain on the first floor to anchor the retail/restaurant portion of the building.