Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A long mired plot of land at Buffalo's Canalside finally has shovels in the ground, and development of the site is officially underway.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was in Buffalo on Monday to celebrate the start of construction of a $225 million mixed-use development at North Aud Block. The project will convert a long vacant parcel of land - sitting on what used to be the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium - into 251 affordable and market-rate apartments, as well as 18,000 square feet of commercial space, 20,000 square feet of open, community space and 137 parking spaces.
The former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, also known as the "Aud" closed in 1996, and was fully demolished in 2009. This is the final piece of a comprehensive plan to redevelop the entire parcel of land where the Aud once stood, and follows last year’s opening of The Chandlery, a visitor center and retail store on site.
Under Gov. Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 11,600 homes in Erie County, including more than 8,300 in the City of Buffalo. North Aud Block continues this effort, and is part of Gov. Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.
“For too long, the North Aud Block has sat in the shadow of Canalside as a vacant reminder of the past. But today, we are rewriting its future as a vibrant destination on Buffalo’s historic waterfront,” said Gov. Hochul during a ceremony Monday also highlighting ongoing developments of the new Marine Drive apartments along Erie Avenue. “This transformation represents exactly what our strategy was designed to achieve: turning underutilized land into hundreds of new homes and enhancing an important economic corridor. By honoring Buffalo’s rich history while investing in the future, we are ensuring Canalside remains a premier, welcoming destination for generations to come.”
North Aud Block, developed by Pennrose, will appeal to families of varying sizes and income levels. It will feature 187 affordable units available to households earning up to 80% of the Area Median Income. The remainder of the apartments will be market-rate. There will be a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
The project’s design will retain the site’s connection to the Aud, and will reflect portions of the area’s original 19th-century street grid. The facades will incorporate exposed brick, terracotta and metal paneling. The ground floor will consist of stone materials reminiscent of other historic downtown buildings nearby.
The buildings will be situated on the site to create a 20,000-square-foot public plaza along the canal, including seating and landscape features that will also serve as wind barriers and heat preservation. The open space will help connect the project to the surrounding Canalside neighborhood and KeyBank Center.
While the project celebrates the historic Aud, it will incorporate 21st-century amenities. The development will be all-electric, with heat pumps, energy recovery ventilation, ENERGY STAR appliances, water-conserving plumbing and electric vehicle charging. It will have fully accessible and adaptable apartments. There will be 13 units to accommodate residents with mobility disabilities and six units to accommodate residents with sensory disabilities.
North Aud Block is supported by HCR’s Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which is expected to generate more than $30 million in equity, its State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which is expected to generate more than $35 million in equity, and $65 million in subsidy.
The project is also supported by Empire State Development with $12 million from the NY-RUSH program, $10 million from the NY Works Economic Development Fund, and $2.5 million from the Regional Council Capital Fund Program. The site is participating in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s successful Brownfield Cleanup Program and, when completed, would be eligible for approximately $20 million in tax credits administered by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
The project does face some backlash, though, as a group of downtown business leaders have already written a letter to the governor opposing the project's makeup of mostly subsidized housing, that reportedly cost the state $600,000 a unit to build.
