Biotech Firm to Redevelop Mansion in Buffalo

By Sharon Linstedt

A fast-growing Buffalo biotechnology company has been tapped by the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency to redevelop a blighted Main Street property into additional office space and parking for its staff.

Zeptometrix Corp., an infectious disease research firm, has been named preferred developer of 878 Main St., a derelict former mansion located next door to the company's long-time home at 872 Main St.

"We're out of space and were looking at other options," said Zeptometrix President and Chief Executive James Hengst.

The biotech firm, which employs 20 at the downtown site, and another 15 at a satellite lab in Massachusetts, was weighing alternative locations outside the city.

"This is an ideal location for a biotech company like us, so close to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. We're thrilled we've found a way to stay here and keep growing," Hengst said.

With more space in its future, Zeptometrix plans to hire more workers to take on its expanding list of research projects. The company does research on such infectious diseases such as influenza, HIV, hepatitis and various biological warfare agents.

A newly-formed sister company, Buckler Biodefense Biotechnology, which focuses on anthrax therapies, will also be housed in the new space.

Zeptometrix has it roots in one of the city's first biotech companies, Cellular Products, which operated a research and testing lab at 872 Main St. since 1988. Zeptometrix took over the site in 1999 when it acquired Cellular.

The biotech company was one of three groups to answer the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency's call for proposals to rehabilitate the turn-of-the-century structure at 878 Main St. Buffalo Economic Development Commissioner Richard Tobe said while the competing proposals had merit, the Zeptometrix plan has the added value of saving a building and boosting the city's emerging biotech industry.

"This is a company with existing jobs related to the medical campus that is looking to expand, and their current building next door is very specialized space that would be difficult and expensive to replicate," Tobe said. "We're pleased we are able to accommodate their growth right where they are."

In addition to standard review by renewal agency staffers, the Zeptometrix plan was also evaluated by a special committee which included a representative of the North Pearl Block Club. The Zeptometrix plan will see 878 Main St. converted to 2,700-square-feet of Class A office space which will serve as the company's corporate headquarters. A rear addition to the original building will be demolished to create employee parking.

The company is working with Silvestri Architects, of Amherst, on the $500,000 project, which also will include creation of a new facade for its existing laboratory building at 872 Main St. that will give a common look to the combined site.

"We're still in the preliminary stages on the design, but we'd like something that reflects the character of the neighborhood, but also fits the image of a leading edge biotech company," Hengst said.

This is actually the second proposal Zeptometrix submitted for the site. Three years ago, it put in a plan to demolish the faded mansion to create an employee parking lot, a plan which was rejected by the renewal agency. "Our Plan B is really better in a lot of ways. We regularly get visits from major global companies like Bayer, Wyeth and Chlorox. We want them to walk into a world-class headquarters building," Hengst added.

Also submitting redevelopment plans were Star Ventures, which proposed a ground floor restaurant and four apartments on the building's two upper floors, at a project cost of $635,000. The small, low-cost apartments, which would be designed specifically to meet the needs of medical campus research fellows, caught the eye of the selection committee, according to Tobe.

"This is a project we hope to assist in the future. Its link to the medical campus is clear and we would like to help them find an alternative site," Tobe said.

The third proposal, from Nickel City Development called for a nearly $400,000 overhaul to convert the idle building to five apartments. Armed with renewal agency approval, Zeptometrix has until Dec. 8 to turn in a detailed site plan for city Planning Board review, as well as submitting project documents to the state Office of Historic Preservation. The deadline for a contract with the city to acquire the site is March 7, 2007.