By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – There is brand new student housing now available in the heart of downtown Buffalo. A grand opening was held in downtown Buffalo Thursday for the Lofts at 136 North Division Street at Elm.
The new apartments are located just a block from ECC's downtown campus and are designed for student living. Wilson Farms teamed with the developer to open a store inside the building. It's the first ever Wilson Farm convenience store to open in downtown Buffalo.
Private developer Jake Schnieder of Schnieder Development built the lofts 100-year old former paper warehouse.
"Because it was one of the first high rise, concrete framed warehouses in the world we got it designated as a historic structure. It is now on the Historic Register," said Schnieder.
Historic federal and state tax credits help finance the project. Schnieder was also willing to take a risk in support of downtown development.
"Development by its nature is risky, but if you believe in your strategies and plans and do your homework it is no more risky any other type of business," Schnieder said.