He currently serves as the founder and managing partner of Cornish Associates, the developer and manager of twelve unique and treasured historic buildings that make up the Westminster Street Lofts in downtown Providence. Buff’s efforts to revitalize Providence continued with the repurposing of the first floor of the Biltmore Garage into attractive shops and restaurants. He also partnered with Nordblom Company, a Boston developer, to purchase The Providence Journal building on Fountain Street to update the once-dated interior to attract high quality business tenants. The partnership has constructed the Nightingale, a six-story apartment building with more than 143 apartments. Together, Buff’s projects helped create a vibrant downtown neighborhood.

Buff is also the managing general partner of Mashpee Commons, L.P. in Cape Cod. Originally given the responsibility of managing the disposition of New Seabury Shopping Center in Mashpee, MA, Buff instead led the repositioning of this property into the award-winning Mashpee Commons, a thriving mixed-use town center based on the traditional development patterns of historic New England towns.

Buff was raised on Providence’s East Side and spent many summer weeks in Cape Cod. Buff enrolled in the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, to become a writer and later found himself in Cambridge, Massachusetts producing documentary films.

Buff returned to Providence in 1985. His efforts to reimagine the downtown area began when a block of buildings behind City Hall were being auctioned. Buff worked with partners to purchase these vacant buildings, save them from demolition, and embark on a journey that would transform them into attractive and vibrant structures, providing space for housing, restaurants, office and retail, and arts and cultural venues.

Buff’s vision for a thriving downtown Providence and belief in the power of collaboration has transformed an area of blighted buildings into businesses and residences and a true neighborhood. This work has attracted visitors from across the country, encouraged people to move in from bigger cities and inspired others to build in Providence. Passionate about downtown Providence as not just an investor and neighborhood builder, but as a community resident, Buff sees the infinite potential in Providence as a thriving and attractive 21st century city.

Buff’s effort to revitalize the city have extended to service on various boards and commissions. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trinity Repertory Company for ten years and, in that capacity, led a sizeable and successful capital campaign to reinvigorate the organization. He also has served as Chairman of the Downtown Providence Parks Conservancy, is a member of the governing board of The Providence Foundation, was a founding member of Grow Smart RI, served on the board of the Providence Preservation Society and is a fellow of the National Congress for New Urbanism. Most recently, Buff helped found the Providence Resiliency Partnership, which he chairs, to identify, plan and address the effects of climate change on Providence and its infrastructure.

Buff’s love for the City of Providence has translated into a lifetime of commitment to its revitalization and the creation of partnerships to ensure that these efforts continue. He now joins three illustrious ancestors, Arnold Buffum, Elizabeth Buffum Chace and Elizabeth (Chace) Wyman in the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. He has four wonderful children; Sarah, Ben, Nathaniel and the late Lilly and five smart and fun grandchildren whom he enjoys.