Erie 1 BOCES offers various career programs for adults and  more than 25 programs to high school students. School districts also partner with Erie 1 BOCES to provide alternative and special education programs. As a liaison office for NYS’ Dept of Education, educators often visit Erie 1 BOCES’ campuses for training on technology integration, NYS standards and reporting. Erie 1 BOCES currently leases space from 3 existing schools in: West Seneca, Tonawanda and Cheektowaga. A total of 153,000 SF of space currently being leased at these locations, will be reclaimed by the school districts.

This project serving BOCES’ special education K – 12 students involves the renovation of an existing 179,144 SF building and the construction of 39,975 SF of space. The new facility will  enhance the educational environment and optimize resources to better support students with diverse needs. The new construction will create 3 gymnasiums, 6 courtyards, and 2 playfields at the site. This project  will allow BOCES to accommodate more students and to provide specialized space designed to foster education and promote social & emotional development. Special uses within the project include specialized classrooms for work-based learning, sensory-friendly zones, therapy rooms and multifunctional spaces for academic and extracurricular activities.

This project involves the consolidation of Erie 1 BOCES sites located within public schools in West Seneca, Tonawanda and Cheektowaga into a single site in the Village of Depew. The Agency’s Countywide Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (UTEP) procedures related to Intermunicipal Moves were followed for this project.

ECIDA Project History

• 7/30/2025: Public hearing held.
• 8/27/25: Inducement Resolution presented to Board of Directors adopting a Negative Declaration in accordance with SEQRA
• 8/27/25: Lease/Leaseback Inducement Resolution presented to the Board of Directors

ECIDA Prior Project History

• 2/22/2017: 570 Associates VI LLC (Benderson Development) $20.745M private investment for the demolition, renovation and reuse of the former Graden Village Plaza in Cheektowaga NY. Real property tax and sales tax abatement approved. Active Project, Expiration: 12/31/2029
• 5/25/2016: Trahwen-G LLC (Benderson Development) $5.38M private investment for the construction of a spec building in Cheektowaga, NY. Real property tax and sales tax abatement approved. Inactive Project, Expiration: 12/31/2024
• 4/22/2015: 93 NYRPT, LLC (Benderson Development) $6.48M private investment for the construction of 2 multi-tenant facilities in the Broadway Development Park in Cheektowaga NY. Real property tax and sales tax abatement approved. Inactive Project, Expiration: 12/31/2024