An out-of-town property owner has commissioned The Frizlen Group to come up with plans for redevelopment of its strategically located properties along Oak, Genesee and Ellicott streets. But don’t expect any action on the under-utilized buildings anytime soon. According to Frizlen, the plans are only conceptual to examine the potential of the properties. It is unclear whether the owner, Buffalo Properties Ltd., will use the plans to market the sites to potential redevelopers.
The properties, located at 441 Ellicott Street, 130 Genesee Street, and 324, 328 and 334 Oak Street, are a missing link in an emerging neighborhood east of the Theater District. Nearby developments include IS Lofts, Ellicott Commons, Ellicott Lofts, Oak School Lofts, Electric Tower and the upcoming Genesee Gateway project.
Frizlen envisions a mix of renovation and new construction:
The site is lined with three-story brick buildings in disrepair. The proposal retains most of the existing building frontage along the sidwalk and adds new infill construction to match the scale, massing, and character of the existing buildings.
New retail and commercial uses on the ground floor are complemented with residential housing above. In the core of the block, a new medium-rise, large-footprint building rises above ground-level parking. The transparency of its facade allows the historic buildings to take center stage.
Buffalo Properties Ltd. has owned the buildings since 2000.
