Planning board approves $190 million Canalside development

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A long-anticipated project at Canalside has received the green light from the Buffalo Planning Board, potentially clearing the way for a $190 million mixed-use development to break ground later this year.

Funded through a combination of public and private sources -- including state tax credits -- the development of the North Aud Block marks a major milestone in the decades-long transformation of the historic waterfront site once central to canal-based commerce.

"It is time to get shovels in the ground -- or really, to fill the hole we’ve been looking at for the last 15 years," said Mark Wendel, president of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation.

The project, led by developer Pennrose, has evolved significantly since its initial proposal. It now includes 251 affordable apartments spread across three buildings at 130 Main St.

“We discovered that water lies just 12 inches below the grade,” Wendel said. “The original design had a deep underground parking ramp, but that had to be scaled back. The center building at Canalside also had to be reduced in size due to fire truck access limitations. Our bridges don’t accommodate vehicles -- it’s a pedestrian-focused space.”

The revised plan features a 12-story tower with nearly 200 apartments, a six-story building along Main Street with more than 50 units, and a third smaller structure offering retail space at the site’s southwest corner.

The plan also includes 18,000 square feet of retail and community space, 143 parking spots, and outdoor amenities designed for year-round use.

"This kind of living environment really gives the area a shot in the arm," Wendel said.

Not all residents are on board with the plan. Some preservationists and community members voiced concerns about the project’s scale and design.

"From a preservation perspective, we'd like to see historic street alignments restored and more small-scale projects," said Bernice Radle of Preservation Buffalo Niagara.

"Canalside was conceived as an Erie Canal-centered cultural tourism destination -- not just another housing complex," said Abigail DeCicco of Strong Towns Buffalo.

"This site plan could just as easily belong on the UB North Campus or in suburban Toronto. It doesn't reflect the historic character of this area," said Patrick McWichol, a resident of Connecticut Street.

Wendel emphasized the importance of building a neighborhood, not just a tourist attraction.

"It's still going to be a destination -- people will come to see the water -- but we're also creating a place to live," he said.

Wendel also addressed the status of another Canalside project: Sinatra Development’s stalled Heritage Point. In May, Fillmore District Council Member Mitch Nowakowski warned that the ECHDC could repossess the site if construction didn't begin by the end of June.

"We're in weekly conversations with them," Wendel said. "We're hopeful we'll start to see movement on that site soon."

WIVB News 4 has reached out to Sinatra Development for comment on Heritage Point but has not yet received a response.

As for the North Aud Block project, construction is expected to begin in October and take roughly 2 1/2 to 3 years to complete.