Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The City of Buffalo has reached an agreement with Uniland Development Company, through a public-private partnership, to acquire and redevelop a major site along Bailey Avenue for a new Department of Public Works (DPW) campus and resiliency center.
In early 2023, the city issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking land for a consolidated DPW facility and a development partner. Following a thorough evaluation and negotiation process, Uniland Development Company was selected based on its extensive project team experience and comprehensive redevelopment approach.
The City of Buffalo’s Department of Public Works is currently operating from a number of outdated, inefficient facilities, including the approximately 181,000-square-foot Broadway Barns Streets and Sanitation Garage. This aging infrastructure has long posed challenges for emergency response, snow removal, fleet maintenance, and vehicle storage.
"This new DPW campus and resiliency center is a transformational investment that will strengthen how we deliver essential city services and respond to emergencies," said Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon on Friday. "By consolidating our public works operations into a modern, centrally located facility, we’re improving efficiency, reducing long-term costs, and creating the infrastructure needed to support a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Buffalo."
The new DPW campus project represents a transformative investment in Buffalo’s infrastructure and future service delivery. With the city facing increased service demands and more frequent severe weather events, consolidating DPW operations will improve efficiency, enhance emergency preparedness, reduce long-term operational costs, and ensure reliable, sustainable municipal services for decades to come.
The campus site, located at 250 Baitz Avenue and 1000 Bailey Avenue, totals approximately 59.7 acres, and is centrally located to optimize response times citywide. The purchase price for the property is $5 million, which will be mostly funded by a grant provided by Empire State Development.
In partnership with the city, Uniland has also submitted an application to New York State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program and intends to remediate the site as part of the redevelopment process.
"This project has been a top priority for my office and represents years of thoughtful planning and collaboration to modernize how the City of Buffalo delivers core services," said Nadine Marrero, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning.
"From site selection and environmental review to the development and negotiation process, our focus has been on creating a campus that strengthens city operations, enhances emergency preparedness, and supports long-term sustainability. We are proud to partner with Uniland and our colleagues in the Department of Public Works to bring this forward — a project that will improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure our infrastructure meets the needs of Buffalo residents for generations to come."
Phase 1 of the DPW campus project includes environmental remediation of the entire site and the construction of a state-of-the-art Streets and Sanitation Garage, maintenance and tire facility, fuel station, salt barn, and covered and partially covered vehicle storage areas. Phase 1 project costs are estimated at $57 million.
Phase 2 will include the construction of a new engineering garage, tote storage facility, and auto impound lot, with an estimated cost of $35 million.
In total, the redevelopment represents an estimated $92 million investment to create modernized facilities that support vehicle storage, maintenance, emergency operations, and the city’s growing fleet electrification program.
The project will further strengthen Buffalo’s long-term resilience and capacity to deliver essential public services to residents.
The contract for the sale of land, a developer agreement, a construction agreement term sheet, and several ancillary filings have been submitted to the Buffalo Common Council for inclusion on the agenda of its next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14.