Prior ECIDA tax incentive applications for the redevelopment of this site were  approved by the ECIDA Board in both 2016 and 2017. Prior approvals anticipated both the Buffalo Culinary School and an extended-stay hotel as project components for this nearly 500,000 sq ft facility.

The prior project was underway until NYS mandated suspension of construction work per Covid-19. During the shutdown, the lender informed the developer that they would not provide financing due to the pandemic’s impact on the hospitality and extended-stay hotel industries. As a result, the developer was forced to go through a significant redesign effort that resulted in delays and substantially higher design costs to determine how to proceed with the project.

The current project plans for substantial renovation to convert the site into mixed-use including market rate housing addressing growth demands of medical campus employees, students and those interested in the community. The developer intends to offer 243 units with 10% (25 units) committed to workforce housing at 80% AMI.

• 12/28/21 Public hearing held.
• 1/26/2022 Inducement Resolution presented to Board of Directors adopting a Negative Declaration in accordance with SEQRA.
• 1/26/22 $107,950,000 Lease/Leaseback Inducement Resolution presented and approved by ECIDA Board of Directors