BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – One of developer Douglas Jemal's major projects in the city of Buffalo taking shape behind the scenes.
Statler, which was originally known as Hotel Statler and completed in 1923, is expected to change once completed.
"We're just increasing the amount of parking, reducing the number of residential apartments, and adding hotel rooms," Lindsey Haubenreich, a project manager for Phillips Lytle, said.
In total, Statler would feature 700 parking spaces across the first four floors and underground. More than 100 parking spaces will be available on the third floor of what was previously the roof near Franklin and Mohawk Streets. Parts of the lobby, mezzanine, and even what was previously office spaces as the building on the third and fourth floors will also accommodate vehicles.
Statler will be primarily used as a mixture of 334 apartments, 183 hotel rooms, and 25,000 square feet of retail. Event spaces, which total approximately 100,000 feet, including the Grand Ballroom, will remain upon completion.
"It's a Buffalo jewel that should be preserved for the next hundreds of years," Jemal told reporters in June.
While some décor has changed on the outside of the building, very little else has been visible to the general public. However, Jemal said there's been much work behind the scenes, including an asbestos abatement and a replacement of the antiquated pipes and machinery.
"I wanted to get the hardest part done first," Jemal said. "The hardest part was what you don't see…We did surgery – open heart surgery I'd say."
The project, for all intents and purposes, has support from the planning board but it did not progress on Monday. The planning board tabled the public hearing because of minor changes to the project that were not immediately available to the public but were available to planning board members. The details missing initially public were related to transportation demand management plan, which is still being finalized. However, Jemal's team said the updated management plan will not change their previously conclusion, which keeps the project within the transportation thresholds.
"I'm more concerned what the public has seen that was listed on our website," Planning Board Chairman James Morrell said.
