Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation is on a tear. While the firm has had a long-time Buffalo presence, the number of recent and proposed projects in the city is intensifying.
After successfully filling the 350,000 sq.ft. Conventus at Main and High streets, the firm is looking for an encore across the street. The Langston Hughes Institute sold its properties to Ciminelli in mid-2010 for $1.9 million. The purchase price included the three-story, 28,500 sq.ft building at 33 High Street and adjacent parking lots at 963-69 Washington Street. Plans call for demolition of the Langston Hughes building and constructing an approximately 250,000 sq.ft. structure. Ciminelli is talking to approximately a dozen local and out-of-town architects about designing the project.
Ciminelli was a bit late to the residential scene with its Bethune Lofts project near the LaSalle light rail station but now has a second project underway and at least two more in the pipeline:
The Sinclair at 465 Washington Street is opening this spring. The six-story building, the long-time home of the Educational Opportunity Center, will house 45 apartments as well as commercial space.
Next up for Ciminelli is conversion of the Garrett Leather building at 1360 Niagara Street. Fifty-one apartments and a small amount of commercial space for the property. Work is expected to start later this year.
1360 Niagara may just be the beginning on Niagara Street. According to Business First, Ciminelli is contemplating a mixed-use building on two vacant parcels at 1336-1340 Niagara Street to the south.
In Waterfront Village, Ciminelli has proposed a five-story condominium building with approximately twenty units and ten townhouses for a City-owned 2.4 acre site at 240-260 Lakefront Boulevard. Carmina Wood Morris is designing the project.
Earlier this month the company was selected as the preferred developer of 201 Ellicott Street, a City-owned parking lot south of the downtown library. Ciminelli’s proposal calls for a 20,000 sq.ft. market, commercial space, residences, and possibly space for Erie Community College. Company officials will be refining their plan along with the building’s design in coming months.
Ciminelli also has its eyes on the Elmwood Village. At Elmwood and Potomac avenues, the company is planning to purchase Donald Leone’s properties to construct a pair of four and five-story mixed-use buildings.
Further south, Ciminelli is one of four teams that submitted proposals for the Children’s Hospital properties. Its QueensLight plan calls for 249 residential units, 41,360 sq.ft. of retail space, a relocated Tapestry Charter School, a boutique hotel on Bryant, and significant green space and a soccer park.
Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation was established in 1981 as a small development company and has since evolved into a full service commercial real estate firm with over 150 employees in four states.
Get Connected: Ciminelli Real Estate, 716.631.8000