After more than 25 years of investing and redeveloping a portion of Niagara Street in Buffalo, businessman and owner William Preiser has set his sights on using seven parcels of land at Niagara, Breckenridge and Gilston streets for a redevelopment project that will provide ground-floor retail space. And apartments in the neighborhood.
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The 1.1-acre site is located at 1225-1227, 1233, 1239 and 1245 Niagara Street, 82-90 Breckenridge and 72 and 76 Gilston. This is located diagonally across from the Rich Products Corp headquarters complex. And one block east of the Niagara Thruway and the Niagara River.
The total property consists of three two-storey houses, a pair of two-storey frame buildings, a two-storey brick building and a three-storey brick building
Preiser is still working on “future plans” for the project, which is in the preliminary design stages, according to a zoning application he submitted to the city to consolidate the properties into three parcels.
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He added: “At this stage, I have no specific plans.” “I’m trying to gather information and look at options.”
The project will not use the entire site, which is located in the Upper Black Rock Historic District.
Instead, he wants to subdivide portions of the existing lots at 1225-1227 Niagara and 82-90 Breckenridge to create a new 0.1-acre lot on the corner, which will separate a recently renovated, 150-year-old three-story building. To the north, he wants to separate a portion of the properties at 1239 and 1245 Niagara for a 0.3-acre lot, to preserve an existing two-story brick building.
In between, the remaining portions of those properties will be combined with 1233 Niagara, 72 Gilston and 76 Gilston, into a 0.7-acre parcel that will contain the new construction project.
“Overall, the site will be transformed into a thriving, mixed-use property while also maintaining its historic character within the Upper Black Rock Historic District,” according to the letter of intent submitted by attorney Lindsay E. Haubenreich, who represents Preiser. The project “will restore the site to productive use as a residential and commercial neighborhood, which will enhance the neighborhood.”
Preiser, who also owns Better Wire Products on New Babcock Street, is a Buffalo native and Canisius College graduate who has been investing in the Niagara Corridor since the 1990s. Through the Beeser Group, he owns a portfolio of companies in manufacturing, real estate signage and office accessories – including McDonald’s Products, Prestige Office Accessories and Smith Metal Arts, as well as his company Breeser Real Estate & Enterprises.
He owns at least eight buildings, including the Resurgence Brewing Co. home. at 1250 Niagara St., as well as 1255 Niagara, where retail tenant Local Honey received an Erie County Storefront Activation Grant for a series of improvements that include building a handicapped-accessible store. -Access ramp.
Preiser has demolished the buildings at 82 Gilston and 1233 Niagara, while additional buildings at 1239 Niagara and 72-76 Gilston are scheduled to be demolished, with permit applications submitted to the city. He also plans to register the project site for environmental remediation under the state’s Brownfield cleanup program, which would qualify the project for tax credits. However, it is easier to do this when you are a sole proprietorship.
The subdivision was approved by the Buffalo Planning Board on Monday. Preiser will return to the committee later with a full plan.
Contact Jonathan D. Epstein at (716) 849-4478 or jepstein@buffnews.com.
