Four development teams gathered this evening in the Mary Seton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall to present to the public their proposals for the reuse of Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. The property includes seven interconnected buildings between Bryant Street and Hodge Avenue. Also included are several properties on West Utica Street. A fifth proposal from Pyramid Brokerage was rejected because it proposed reuse of only a portion of the site.

The meeting opened with Mike Hughes, Senior Vice President at Kaleida, who stated, “these are very exciting times for our community.”

Concerns of neighbors, leaders and citizens are important to the reuse process according to Hughes. “What becomes of this space must be guided by community values preserving the character and charm of the Elmwood Village and must contribute to the quality of life of the neighborhood.”

Developers who submitted bids were Ciminelli Real Estate Corp., Ellicott Development Co., Sinatra & Company Real Estate, and Uniland Development Co.

Sinatra

Sinatra & Company Real Estate:

According to company president, Nick Sinatra, “As one of the largest owners of real estate in the Elmwood Village, we have a vested interest in retaining the existing character and balance of the neighborhood; therefore, it’s a site we are interested in ensuring becomes a reflection of the existing fabric.”

Amy Nagy, project manager stated, “Our designs are intended to complement with existing designs in the Elmwood Village.” She emphasized that this project would be managed with high regard to public input.

$161 million, privately funded proposal, capitalized through existing capital partners, the Prtizer/Vlock Family Office, and in collaboration with Essex Homes of Western New York under the Nanula family’s direction, JTVaeth Construction, and Ontario Specialty Contracting along with architectural and engineering contributions from Carmina Wood Morris and Wendel.

Multi-use facilities

Newly constructed, market rate housing

65% residential including an estimated 50 townhomes, 300 market-rate apartments and 50 upscale condominiums over three phases on Hodge and Bryant

65% residential including an estimated 50 townhomes, 300 market-rate apartments and 50 upscale condominiums over three phases on Hodge and Bryant Nonresidential uses include adaptive reuse of existing structures for educational or organizational use as well as loft and medical space on Bryant

Nonresidential uses include adaptive reuse of existing structures for educational or organizational use as well as loft and medical space on Bryant 30,000 square foot Dash’s Market grocery store at the corner of Elmwood and Hodge (on the site of Casa-di-Pizza, owned by Sinatra and outside of the Kaleida footprint)

Retail and restaurant space, Sinatra’s, on the corner of Elmwood and Bryant

Use for historic structures

Significant green space and public art project

Reuse for Gallagher Ramp

Three phases will allow for phases 1 and 2 to begin before Kaleida vacates

Three phases will allow for phases 1 and 2 to begin before Kaleida vacates Phase 1 on Utica, townhomes

Phase 1 on Utica, townhomes Phase 2 Dash’s Market with apartments above

Phase 3, main hospital, upscale condos, 122 apartments, charter education, retail and restaurant space

Uniland

Uniland Development Co:

“Bryant Park”

Working in conjunction with Stieglitz Snyder Architecture and The Trust for Public Land to incorporate public park space. The heart of the proposal is a 75,000-square-foot park designed to connect various uses on the property, bisect buildings and intersect with Bryant and Hodge, creating a walkable community and neighborhood amenity. Uniland would transform Variety Tower, Tanner and Alfiero buildings into One Bryant Park through adaptive reuse. The building would host up to 149 apartments, commercial office space and ground floor retail. The property could include underground parking and a rooftop garden for tenant use.

Four season open green space

Selective demolition of buildings that are not conducive to reuse

One Bryant Park – Variety Tower, Tanner and Alfiero buildings to become first floor lobby with retail space, restaurant, apartments, and commercial space

One Bryant Park – Variety Tower, Tanner and Alfiero buildings to become first floor lobby with retail space, restaurant, apartments, and commercial space Two Bryant Park – Restore historic façade of the Annex and redesign for condominiums

Three Bryant Park – residential and commercial

Four Bryant park – boutique hotel or charter school

125 Hodge to be commercial space, perhaps daycare center

125 Hodge to be commercial space, perhaps daycare center 445 Elmwood and 130 Hodge will be new-builds and mixed use center with ground floor retail and loft style apartments

200 West Utica to become grocery store, community center and/or recreational use

233 new parking spaces to increase total number of spots to over 800

“Bryant Park is a concept that right-sizes the density of the current site to create a dynamic, mixed-use community that enhances the existing diversity of the Elmwood Village by providing a new public park, residences, retail and offices. The vision strives to strike a balance of desired activity level for surrounding residents and local businesses,” said Kellena Kane, Real Estate Development Manager at Uniland.

Ciminelli

Ciminelli Real Estate Corp.:

“Queenslight Project”

Paul Ciminelli described this project as a “Once in a generation project, a legacy project.”

Their proposal is a collaboration with LP Ciminelli, Cannon Design, Charles Gordon Architecture, Allpro Parking, The Martin Group, Barbara A. Campagna Architecture and Planning along with input from Resource Art, Delaware Soccer Club, Tapestry Charter School, EduKids, INNVest Lodging Services, Spark Buffalo and the Albright Knox Art Gallery.

Key features are neighborliness, inclusiveness, vibrancy, sustainability

Corner of Elmwood and Hodge, apartments and town homes

Bryant, preservation Annex and townhouses in Variety Tower

Retail along Elmwood and Bryant

InnVest boutique hotel on Bryant

InnVest boutique hotel on Bryant Alfiero Building to become Tapestry Charter School with green park connecting to Hodge

Alfiero Building to become Tapestry Charter School with green park connecting to Hodge Parking on Hodge with three levels of underground parking and residences

Utica space will become indoor/outdoor sports/soccer park

Green space and public art

Ellicott

Ellicott Development Co.:

“The Elmwood Center”

Tom Fox, William Paladino, Carl Paladino described their proposal as a simple and practical reuse of existing facilities, absent of large scale demolition with a repurpose of existing buildings. According to William Paladino, the three key components are to compliment neighborhood, provide community access to spaces, and minimization of physical impact to the community with minimal demo and construction.

Phase 1, Spring 2018 64 apartments, studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom with mid-market to high-end rental rates Restoration to existing historical buildings on Hodge Tanner Building to become independent senior housing with 89 units and a number of amenities and transportation services Variety Tower to house hotel with 152 rooms, restaurant, banquet and conference facilities, indoor pool and fitness, medical and office space, and day care facility Annex Building will contain grammar charter school with gymnasium On Utica will be a grocery store and Performing Arts Center for local high school with accessibility to the community as well as Civic Center

Phase 2, Summer 2019 Mixed use at Elmwood and Bryant with retail and office space as well as 24 apartments Mixed use space on Utica to the east of Gallagher ramp for retail and medical office space

Parking plan is to construct and elevated walkway to ramp with surface parking in rear

According to Kaleida officials, community involvement is necessary and expected. Send your comments in an email at wchobreuse@kaleidahealth.org.

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