Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins has embarked on his latest journey geared towards further benefitting the Buffalo community.
Dawkins has formed a new real estate development partnership with Sinatra & Company Real Estate to break ground Wednesday for the Sinatra Shnow Opportunity Zone Fund. The venture is committed to unlocking the potential of underutilized land and vacant buildings to deliver quality housing and lasting community impact in the City of Buffalo.
The first site at 191 North Street near Elmwood Avenue, a long-underutilized office building in Buffalo’s historic Allentown district, will be transformed into a vibrant, historically restored apartment complex with cutting-edge technology and finishes.
"Buffalo has given me everything, and now it's time to give back in a big way," said Dawkins on Wednesday. "This partnership with Sinatra & Company is about connecting that bridge between Buffalo's incredible history and our bright future. We're taking these underutilized buildings - like 191 North in Allentown - and putting the soul of this city right back into them. It's about creating spaces where music, art, and community come together, where people can live and thrive in neighborhoods that honor our past while building our future. When you put energy, effort, and your love into the places that matter, that's where real growth happens."
The Sinatra Shnow Opportunity Zone Fund will aggregate $20 million to pursue real estate development projects across Buffalo and beyond, with a focus on:
- Adaptive reuse of land and distressed buildings
- Neighborhood revitalization with community-oriented design
- Reenergizing Buffalo’s architecturally significant building stock
"We are thrilled to partner with Dion Dawkins. We have a lot in common. We both love football. We share a deep passion for our community. But most importantly, his consistent leadership in service to causes important to him in Buffalo aligns with the mission we have carried out in Western New York for 15 years through our company’s developments — projects rooted in positive community impact," said Nick Sinatra, founder and CEO of Sinatra & Company.
The Apartments at 191 North will convert a former 26,046 square-foot medical office building into 32 market rate apartments. The development will blend historic preservation with modern design, helping to meet the growing demand for high-quality urban housing, while enhancing the fabric of the surrounding neighborhood.
The Market Arcade complex at 617 Main Street will be a conversion of a 70,876 square-foot downtown office building into 53 market rate apartment units and 14,000 square-feet of complimentary commercial space. The existing first floor commercial and retail tenants will all remain, including the Irish Classical theater and the International House.
Meanwhile, 763-765 Main Street is an existing 29,456 square foot mixed-use building to be renovated and modernized. The building will feature 24 market rate apartment units and 1,500 square-feet of commercial/retail space.
Dawkins is a three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for the Bills due to his outstanding work in the community through his non-profit, Dion's Dreamers.