Chason Affinity Companies’ proposed mixed-use project at the southeast corner of Elmwood and Forest avenues is on the December 5 Planning Board agenda. The new building is proposed for 1091 to 1121 Elmwood and 605 and 607 Forest Avenue.

The project includes an approximately 166,000 sq.ft., five-story, tiered building including 54,000 sq.ft. of concealed parking, up to 7,500 sq.ft. of commercial space, approximately 70,000 sq.ft. of residential space, and the balance consisting of common areas. The building, designed by Carmina Wood Morris, will contain up to 50 condominium units and three retail spaces.

Five “brownstone style” two-story walk-up condominiums will be located on the ground floor level and directly accessible from Elmwood Avenue, as well as two similar walk-up condominiums on the ground floor level and directly accessible from Forest Avenue (renderings above).

The Project will have two vehicular ingress and egress points; one located on Forest Avenue and one on Elmwood Avenue. The Project will also include no fewer than 140 below grade and first floor hidden parking spaces.

Besides site plan approval by the Planning Board, the project requires density, ground floor height, and building-to-site relationship variances by the Buffalo Zoning Board of Appeals.

The City Council will need to approve a Restricted Use Permit to allow for demolition of structures within the EB District and rezoning of 605 and 607 Forest Avenue from R3 to EB (R3 allows proposed uses but parcels comprising the site need to be conformed pursuant to City of Buffalo policy). The Department of Permit and Inspection Services will need to approve the demolitions.

From the project application:

The fourth and fifth story of the facility will be stepped back to increase the sunlight to the street as well as accommodate the building scale of the surrounding area and add to the visual appeal and architecture of the neighborhood. The roofline features a mansard design with dormers, which echoes other buildings in the area. An intended consequence of this design element is that from the street level perspective, the building will “read” as a three-story building.

The building will also be tiered down to respect both the adjoining residential property on Forest Avenue and the adjoining Panos Restaurant on Elmwood Avenue. Great care has been given to creating a building design which respects the historic fabric of the neighborhood and adjoining commercial and residential land uses. The facade of the building will be highly articulated and feature colonnades, arches, bays, a transparent glass atrium, balconies, cornices, brackets, diverse window patterns and other architectural details constructed with quality materials such as brick and precast concrete.

The Planning Board meets at 4 PM on December 5 in City Hall room 901.