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Buffalo Rising Online

Downtown Development Year End Review

QUEENSEYES

2007 saw significant development activity downtown. Eight projects were completed, five more were started, but only a few new projects were announced. Progress was made to (finally) bring a Bass Pro to the foot of Main Street, projects to revamp two blocks long-targeted for redevelopment were unveiled, three office buildings were completed, and the University of Buffalo took a bold step to increase its downtown presence.

HealthNow moved into its new W. Genesee headquarters building behind City Hall. The 450,000 sq.ft office building and ramp is the largest building constructed downtown in over a decade. Downtown’s first significant, speculative office building completed since Key Center’s south tower was built-out in 1998 was completed by Uniland Development. 285 Delaware Avenue opened with all of its office space pre-leased to M&T Bank and Conestoga-Rovers & Associates and filled a long-vacant grassy lot.

Iskalo Development celebrated the completion of construction at the Electric Tower in August. The building was converted to multiple tenant office space after a $12 million restoration. Iskalo recently submitted plans for a 350-space parking ramp at the corner of Oak and Huron streets to serve its growing tenant roster.

Five downtown residential projects welcomed their first tenants. Signature Development completed Ellicott Commons with 30 units (photo below) and wrapped up renovations to the long-vacant Webb Building at 90 Pearl Street with 32 units. Jean Elsinghorst renovated a historic commercial building at 138 Broadway into three loft apartments and first floor commercial space.

Downtown residential pioneer First Amherst Development completed the final 18 units at Lofts @ Elk Terminal. Historic Warehouse Lofts @ 210 Ellicott Street is downtown’s newest residential project. Residents began moving into the 30 upscale lofts in the former paper warehouse in early December.

Chris Jacobs’ Avalon Development expanded its presence in the 700 block of Main Street. The firm kicked-off renovation work to a one-story building at 723 Main Street and purchased 739-41 Main where Full Circle Studios will relocate. Work on bringing two-way traffic to the block is expected to start in 2008.

Work started on two mixed-use developments. Uniland and Acquest Development started remedial work on the Dulski building. Rechristened ‘200 Delaware,’ the 15-story building will include 37 condominium units, a 150-room Embassy Suites hotel, and over 128,000 square feet of class office space. Savarino Cos. and Avalon kicked off conversion of the Benlin warehouse behind HSBC Arena into a mix of office, residential and retail space.

In Waterfront Village, Ellicott Development is busy at work on its Waterfront Place development. Work on the project’s first four townhouse units is nearly finished and the 11-story mid-rise condo tower is almost topped-out with occupancy expected in October. Approximately two-thirds of the units have been spoken for. Units are priced from $295,000 to over $1 million.

Projects for two high profile yet troublesome blocks were announced. Signature Development pieced together a project to revamp half of the 500 block of Main across from the Belesario and Hyatt. Century City Lofts is a $15 million plan to convert a string of faded buildings and lots along Main and Washington streets into a mix of 42 apartments, commercial space, and a parking facility (rendering below).

After over twenty plus years of ownership by Williard Genrich, the Genesee Block was finally sold to a partnership headed by CityView Properties in October. The new owners are working with Flynn Battaglia Architects on redevelopment plans for office and retail space.

Ground breaking for the long-planned Federal Courthouse on Niagara Square took place in October. The $130 million, 10-story glass structure is expected to open in mid-2010. New York City-based Kohn Pederson Fox Architects designed the 268,000 sq.ft. building.

The former Trico and M. Wile factory buildings were purchased by Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) in September. The $20 million acquisition will play a key role in increasing the University of Buffalo’s downtown presence. UB also announced plans to build a new, expanded home for its Educational Opportunity Center at Goodell and Oak streets.

Plans for two significant downtown projects also advanced. Seneca Gaming unveiled an expanded design for the proposed permanent casino complex. The facility would include a 206-suite, 22-story luxury hotel tower, a 90,000 sq.ft. gaming hall and 2500 space parking structure. At $333 million, the project would be the most expensive private-sector real estate development the city has ever seen. If courts approve.

After several shifts, the planned Bass Pro project is apparently back on track with a new store to be located at the site of Memorial Auditorium. Demolition work for the store and Benderson Development’s Canalside project should be under later this year.

BSC Development continues work on the conversion of the Statler into a mixed use complex and is expected to announce a hotel operator for the project soon. The developer continues to search for lead tenants to anchor the proposed City Tower project at Elmwood and Mohawk.

A diverse combination of development is helping to reshape downtown into a true live-work-play community. Much work remains to be done, but downtown momentum continues.