New York Construction Report staff writer
Construction is underway on a $225 million mixed-use redevelopment project at Buffalo’s Canalside that will transform the former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium site into a new residential and commercial district.
The North Aud Block project will convert a vacant parcel into 251 apartments, including affordable and market-rate housing, along with 18,000 square feet of commercial space, 20,000 square feet of public open space and 137 parking spaces.
The project, developed by Pennrose, is being built on the site of the former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, also known as the Aud, which closed in 1996 and was demolished in 2009.
The redevelopment is part of a broader plan to transform the former auditorium property and follows the opening of a visitor center at the site.
North Aud Block will include 187 affordable housing units for households earning up to 80% of the area median income. The remaining apartments will be market-rate. The development will feature a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units designed for residents with a range of household sizes and incomes.
The project will also create a 20,000-sq. ft. public plaza along the canal with seating, landscaping and design features intended to provide wind protection and help retain heat. The open space will connect the development with the surrounding Canalside neighborhood and KeyBank Center.
The building design will reflect the history of the site by maintaining connections to the former auditorium and incorporating elements of Buffalo’s original 19th-century street grid. Exterior features will include exposed brick, terracotta and metal paneling, while the ground floor will use stone materials inspired by nearby historic downtown buildings.
The development will be fully electric and include heat pumps, energy recovery ventilation, ENERGY STAR appliances, water-saving plumbing fixtures and electric vehicle charging stations.
The apartments will include accessible and adaptable units, including 13 units designed for residents with mobility disabilities and six units designed for residents with sensory disabilities.
The project is supported through multiple state housing and economic development programs, including more than $30 million in expected equity from the Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, more than $35 million in equity from the State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program and $65 million in subsidy funding.
Additional funding includes $12 million from the NY-RUSH program, $10 million from the NY Works Economic Development Fund and $2.5 million from the Regional Council Capital Fund Program. The site is also participating in New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program and could qualify for about $20 million in tax credits administered by the state Department of Taxation and Finance.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp., a subsidiary of Empire State Development, previously owned the North Aud Block property.
The redevelopment is part of a larger effort to transform the former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium site into a mixed-use waterfront destination with housing, commercial space and public amenities.
New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “This $225 million transformational development will help revitalize the Buffalo Canalside neighborhood and celebrate the Aud’s history while also providing housing for individuals and families of all incomes — from first responders, to nurses, to childcare workers, to bus drivers and more. We are thankful to Governor Hochul’s bold vision and are grateful to the development team for their commitment.”
