BY JONATHAN D. EPSTEIN

Oct. 6, 2026

Is downtown’s future bright? Higgins says yes

Shea’s Performing Arts Center CEO Brian Higgins is hot on the future of downtown Buffalo, where he sees more than 1,000 new people being present in the city’s core.

That growth is led by a planned College of Osteopathic Medicine for D’Youville University, to be located in a five-story office building at 285 Delaware Ave. that Uniland Development Co. is renovating for the school.

The $30 million project, which is expected to be ready for fall 2027, will result in the area’s second medical school, with capacity for 720 students at a time by 2031.

A rendering of what D'Youville's new medical school will look like, following renovations to an office building at 285 Delaware Ave. D'Youville University

There’s also Ciminelli Real Estate Corp.’s planned $50 million conversion of the vast majority of the 180,000-square-foot Bank of America Building at Fountain Plaza into about 160 market-rate apartments, a new ground-floor restaurant and other retail space.

And work continues on a Long Island developer’s transformation of the long-vacant former Saturn Rings building in downtown Buffalo into a mixed-use residential facility.

Alexander Mejean’s Third Nature Capital, of Rockville Centre, N.Y., plans to renovate the historic brick building at 505 Pearl St., creating 53 apartments and two ground-floor storefronts, in an effort to get more people living in the theater and entertainment districts.

And developer Chris Jacobs is renovating the former Scherer & Sons Furniture building at 118-122 Genesee St. into 22 market-rate apartments and two commercial spaces in an $8 million project.

“That’s a lot of density,” Higgins told the Buffalo Place board. “This is not long-term stuff. This is either under construction today or has substantial plans to be in the construction phase. That’s a lot to be noted and celebrated.”

Higgins said he’s also been told that another building at 700 Main St., behind Saturn Rings, is also under contract to be acquired and converted into 54 market-rate apartments. Initially, Higgins said the buyer is Mejean, who said he “cannot comment on it at this time.”

“This is a critical mass that could be coning in the next 36 months,” Higgins added. “And it’s all within a three-block area.”

– Jonathan D. Epstein

Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy – from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com.

New shelter for domestic violence victims

Construction has been completed on a $6 million emergency shelter in Chautauqua County for survivors of domestic violence who are facing homelessness.

The new facility in Jamestown features seven units and 19 beds for abuse victims and their families, and is designed for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. It will operate 24 hours a day, providing services and support.

Dubbed the Anew Center, it replaces the Salvation Army of Jamestown’s former 13-bed shelter, which occupied a historic building from the 1860s that did not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and needed ongoing costly repairs.

Besides accessibility, the new facility includes private bathrooms and showers in each unit, enhanced security and onsite space for case managers, family resource specialists and prevention staff.

“This new shelter enables us to continue and expand on our long mission of providing support to individuals and families in our community who are facing very tough times,” said Salvation Army county coordinator Maj. John Merchant. “A new center will be a beacon of hope where we can provide our neighbors, in a modern, accessible facility, the safe and stable foundation and caring and compassionate staff they need to build strong futures.”

The project received $4.4 million in funding from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program. Other funding includes $250,000 each from Carnahan Jackson, the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation and the Lenna Foundation, $187,000 from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, $22,500 from the Cummins Foundation, and equity from Salvation Army.

Additional funding for services, outreach and prevention comes from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Office of Victim Services, as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Chautauqua County, the United Way of Chautauqua County, and FeedMore WNY.

New rehab center in South Buffalo

Buffalo Rehab Group Physical & Occupational Therapy is getting its 16th location.

The practice received city Planning Board approval on Monday to construct a one-story therapy facility at 1002 Abbott Road in South Buffalo, after the architects shifted the layout of the building so that it’s aligned lengthwise along Abbott instead of the side street, Cushing Street.

Designed by Dean Architects, the 2,970-square-foot building would feature a large central open office space for therapy, with three small side offices, a prep area, bathrooms and a corner entry.

The 0.37-acre site at the southeast corner of Abbott and Cushing currently holds a vacant single-story brick building that would be demolished. The project would also include 26 parking spaces. Work by Lamparelli Construction would take six months.

The Planning Board also approved minor tweaks to the planned expansion to Shea’s Performing Arts Center on the Pearl Street side, as construction continues on the project that will add new high-speed elevators, significantly more bathroom fixtures, more concessions and more lobby and gathering space.

The latest changes focus on widening the sidewalk along the Pearl right-of-way to improve pedestrian safety while also allowing for installation of an underground utility lift in the sidewalk. A separate electric utility vault would be relocated.

And Carbone’s Pizza at 568 South Park Ave. received backing for a special-use permit to allow an outdoor covered patio.

But the panel recommended denial for a permit request by Mujahidul Islam to convert a house at 416 Wohlers Ave. into the Hamlin Park Islamic Center, for use by the neighborhood Bangladeshi community for social gatherings, family counseling, prayer services, Islamic education, job assistance and scholarly lectures.

The board cited the home’s location in the middle of a block in the midst of the residential neighborhood, saying it was an inappropriate location for large gatherings. The Hamlin Park Taxpayers Association vehemently opposed it as well.

“This is a case where the use would be compatible if it were on one of the neighborhood commercial streets, but not in the neighborhood,” said board Vice Chair Cynthia Schwartz. “This is a residential area.”

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The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the region’s economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

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