Larkin Development Group has released updated renderings of its significant new development called Mill Race Commons. The previous concept, designed by Schneider Architectural Services, can be seen here (released in July). While many of the same features and strategic purposes remain the same, the design has been refined.
This morning Leslie Zemsky, Vice President Larkin Development Group, passed along some of the updated versions of the $19 million project, saying, “We are releasing new renderings for our 140,000 square foot Mill Race Commons planned project at 799 Seneca Street – aka the gravel lot in the middle of Larkinville!”
The Mill Race Commons project will feature 70 apartments with retail stores on the ground level along Seneca Street and a 50,000 square foot office wing along Hydraulic Street.
According to Zemsky, this newest project will go a long way towards creating a greater density in Larkinville. One of the biggest issues that Buffalo still has to deal with, as a whole, is infill. This project does exactly that. The new buildings will bring new residents to the neighborhood, and new businesses that they can access. The building designs ring true to the existing architectural stock of the historic neighborhood.
To the east, Larkin Development is planning an 8,000 square foot building (872 Seneca) that will house Paula’s Donuts with four apartments above, and a 4,000 square foot companion building (864 Seneca) next to it with first floor retail and two apartments above it.
Mill Race Commons, and its proposed smaller neighbors, are the newest face of Larkinville. The district continues to ripple out from Larkin Square, in ways that we always hoped that it would.
The projects will be reviewed by the Planning Board on February 25.