Update: Ciminelli Real Estate has confirmed it is planning to purchase Donald Leone’s properties at Elmwood and Potomac avenues and has big redevelopment plans. The purchase is expected to be completed early next year and Ciminelli officials tell The Buffalo News it is planning a pair of residential and commerical buildings for the sites that would rise four and five stories, have setbacks on the upper floors, and incorporate the existing brick facade on the Bidwell to Potomac block. Ciminelli is working with architect Karl Frizlen on the designs. The News also has word of a complicating factor- the owners of Hero Burgers at Elmwood and Bidwell has a right to match any purchase offer built in to their lease.

Fire up the grills- this one is going to be juicy.

See more here.

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From August 19, 2015:

An Elmwood Village tipster says one of the area’s larger developers is looking at properties at Bidwell Parkway and Elmwood Avenue for a two-building mixed-use project.

From the email:

They purchased the row of businesses/apartments on Elmwood Ave between Bidwell Pkwy. and Potomac Ave. and I believe that included the Sunday Skate Shop and one house behind it. They also purchased the building that formally contained JP Bullfeathers and about a dozen neighboring properties on Elmwood, Potomac, and Ashland that make up one very big piece of property. I have heard that they plant to put up two very large “mixed use” apartment buildings.

My resources are limited and that is everything I know.

The properties mentioned are owned by Donald Leone (outlined in blue below). A check of Erie County Clerk Records did not show any recent sales by Leone so the ‘purchased’ portion may mean ‘signed a purchase agreement.’ The writer did mention the would-be developer’s name but we received a ‘no comment’ from the firm. Stay tuned for what could be a NIMBY fight for the ages. If true.