The long-anticipated redevelopment of the Trico complex on Washington Street has taken a significant step forward. The Erie County Industrial Development Agency approved a $3.5 million benefit package today to assist The Krog Group’s planned $90.5 million mixed-use project.
Krog Group’s plans call for select demolition and substantial renovation work. The complex will house a new Buffalo Culinary School in 85,000 sq.ft. of space, a 114-room extended stay hotel, approximately 70 apartments, 100,000 sq.ft. of commercial space, and indoor parking for 300 cars.
The hotel will be located at the corner of Washington and Goodell streets and span 106,000 sq.ft. of space on floors one through six. Hart Hotels will operate the hotel that will cater to demand from the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
Krog is working with a tenant to develop a “35,000 sq.ft. class-A headquarters for an established Buffalo-based hi-tech firm servicing the telecommunications industry” in the building. There will be an additional 56,000 sq.ft. of office space for lease and 12,000 sq.ft. of retail/restaurant space.
The future of the entire Trico complex has been in flux since the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) and the University at Buffalo purchased the former M. Wile Co. and Trico buildings for $20.09 million in 2007. Title to the Trico complex was subsequently transferred to the Buffalo Brownfield Restoration Corp., a quasi-public agency.
While the M. Wile Co. building now serves as the UB Downtown Gateway, the Trico complex remained unoccupied while BNMC and local preservationists battled over reuse of the site. Vacant since 1999, the Trico complex was placed on the State Historic Registry in 2000 and the National Historic Registry in 2001.