- Developer: Mark Croce
- Building Use: Hotel
- Project Type: Rehabilitation
- Floors: 6 / Varied
- Cost: $19 million
- Est. Completion Date: Late 2010
- Description of Project: From Buffalonews:
He already owns the venerable Curtiss building at 204 and 210 Franklin, and intends to incorporate all four properties into a single project that will preserve the historic terra cotta facade while opening a mod-ern luxury hotel inside.
“What we’re doing is developing plans for a model ultra-chic, high-end hotel inside a historic building,” said the owner of the Buffalo Chop House restaurant, comparing the new project to the high-end, five-star Hazelton Hotel in Toronto. “It’s going to be something that’s very unique to Buffalo.”
The 60,000-square foot project will include a full-service “urban boutique” hotel with about 57 rooms and a three-meal restaurant. Croce said it will also have some retail space and commercial “amenities” tied to the hotel, but will not have commercial space available for general leasing. He declined to elaborate. Croce already controls about 300 parking spaces nearby on Delaware Avenue, “more than enough” to support the hotel project, so the current surface lot will not be used for parking. The Continental property will be used to support the hotel, possibly for drop-off and the entranceway, he said.
Construction started on September 25, 2009, project information has been updated.