Uniland Development is preparing to begin construction of its planned office building at 285 Delaware Avenue. The five-story, 117,000 sq.ft. building is slated for the long-time grassy lot located next to WGRZ-TV north of Chippewa Street. The good news is the company has redesigned the project from an earlier brick and pre-cast four-story building set-back from the street to a modern five-story design built to the sidewalk with ground floor retail and commercial space.
Architectural firm Hamilton Houston & Lownie's design, the winning design in a competition conducted last Fall, features covered parking, a glass and metal facade with sun shades, a stone-panel base, and decorative steel overhangs. Though the developer has not pre-leased any of the space, interest is said to be strong, including from one of downtown's major banks. A Spring ground breaking is planned.
It is shaping up to be quite a year for the Delaware Avenue and West Village neighborhood. There are a number of projects recently completed, underway, or planned for the area making it arguably Buffalo's hottest area for new development. Projects include the Niagara Center building on S. Elmwood, Club 31 opening in the old Buddies on Johnson Park, the planned Federal Courthouse, Pleu Building addition, The Church arts center, possible renovation of the Greystone Hotel, New Era Headquarters, potential new ownership for Statler Towers, and preliminary plans to convert the Immaculate Conception Church into residences.