Pending approval by the Buffalo Planning, Preservation and Zoning Boards, 291 North LLC, will purchase the former Nazareth Home of the Franciscan Sisters Building at 279-291 North and 298 Summer Streets from Uniland (see background) who purchased the property for $1 million earlier this year. Uniland spokesperson Jill Pawlik states that, “We are in negotiations at this point,” with a deal not yet finalized.
Michael O’Rourke and Buffalo native Andy Plant, founders of Westmont Living, a West Coast based senior living community, have partnered with Buffalonian and half-brother to Plant, Bill Reich to bring Westmont Living to Buffalo. Reich will be named Managing Partner of the Buffalo Facility and states that, “We picked this building because it is ideally located and ideally sized.” The partners have seen a lot of growth in Buffalo and feel that the downtown area is ripe for a Westmont project.
Plans are to demolish the current structure, potentially in the Spring of 2016. The proposed new 90,000-100,000 square foot structure to be named Westmont on North would include 99 residences with two interior courtyards and significant green space both in front of and behind the building. Lenity Architecture of Salem, Oregon, specialists in senior housing architecture, will be lead architects working locally with TRM Architects. The group plans to protect and maintain as many trees as possible on the property and intends on adding green space by turning one of the existing driveways into lawn area.
Westmont Living is a senior living facility composed of rental units and consisting of multiple levels of care. These care levels include senior living, assisted living and memory care to allow for the best possible provision and support through the aging process while being housed in one facility to accommodate individuals. With communities in California and Oregon, Westmont on North would be the company’s first East Coast property, and the group is excited to bring this new living option for seniors to the Buffalo area.