Uniland Development Co.’s plans for a mixed use project at the northwest corner of Delaware Avenue and Chippewa Street received a critical approval from the Buffalo Planning Board this morning. The 12-story, $80 million project is proposed for the site of the Delaware Court building and will combine retail, a 120-room hotel, seven floors of office space, and underground and structured parking. It is being designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and HHL Architects and will occupy a nearly two-acre site fronting Delaware, W. Chippewa and S. Elmwood Avenue.
Uniland officials have been discussing their plans with neighborhood residents including a meeting on October 1 and yesterday morning. Based on neighbor, Planning Board and Preservation Board feedback, a number of changes have been made including:
- The addition of a double-height, glass-walled retail space of approximately 2,500 sq.ft. at the corner of S. Elmwood Avenue and Chippewa Street
- A smaller commercial space along S. Elmwood adjacent to the veterinary office
- A glass canopy along S. Elmwood Avenue to provide shelter for a bus stop
- Shifting the ramp deeper into the site to provide for wider sidewalks along Chippewa and S. Elmwood
- Adding more distance between the Chippewa Street parking ramp entrance and planned loading docks
- Rebuild approximately fifty percent of the Delaware Court facade including not only the ornamental terra cotta but also some of the storefront elements
“This is another step in the development process as we continue to ready the site for reconstruction,” says Uniland Vice President Michael Montante. “Only when all municipal, regulatory and public/private partnership approvals are complete, will the project move forward.”
Delaware North Cos. is widely expected to anchor the project but Uniland is not commenting on potential tenants. “We are in discussions with several companies that are interested in this prime space,” says Montante.