New York Construction Report staff writer
A former piano key factory in the Town of Tonawanda has been transformed into a new $23 million mixed-use development, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday.
Known as Wood and Brooks the Lofts, the 98,370-sq. ft. project includes 55 apartments and a commercial space anchored by The Plan Room, a first-of-its-kind coworking hub designed specifically for Western New York’s construction industry.
The Plan Room offers small contractors and construction professionals access to private offices, shared meeting spaces, high-speed internet, showers, a shared workshop, and large storage lockers. The coworking space, a partnership with the Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY, can accommodate more than 50 construction-related businesses.
“We are working to address the housing crisis with each project we support, by creating the types of modern and sustainable homes that uplift communities and allow families to grow all over the state,” Hochul said in a statement. “Revitalizing and rehabilitating long-vacant buildings for housing and workforce development is one way we can get that done.”
Located at 2075 Kenmore Ave., the building once housed the Wood and Brooks piano key factory, which opened in the early 1910s and was known for its production of ivory keys. During World War II, the site also manufactured Higgins boat landing crafts. The property, listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, had been held by the Wopperer family since 1972.
The redevelopment includes high-end residential amenities such as a fitness center, café, dog park and wash station, co-working and lounge areas, and round-the-clock maintenance. The site also promotes environmental sustainability through its inclusion in the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program and use of federal and state historic tax credits.
“This project will deliver vital housing and catalyze economic growth through a dynamic mix of residential, workforce training and food amenities,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight. “The adaptive reuse of this long-vacant former factory into high-quality homes is another step forward in the revitalization of Tonawanda.”
The project is viewed by state officials as a model for revitalizing aging industrial properties and expanding housing options in proximity to jobs and transportation.
