The busy traffic count of Hertel and Starin Avenues is what brought Deep South Taco there, and before that a long line of retailers and service businesses.
But now, East Aurora developer Jacob Stiller will be investing slightly north of $15 million to build a six-story, mixed-use building anchored by 52 market-rate apartments, along with some street-level commercial or retail space.
The project is Stiller’s first in Buffalo, and he sees it as a bookend to the five-story apartment building that developer-architect John Daly built at the corner of Parkside and Hertel Avenues.
To Stiller, it’s about bringing more housing to an already popular neighborhood.
“It's probably one of the best corners in the city of Buffalo. It's in the North Park neighborhood. It's directly across the street from one of Dash's new supermarkets. It's close to transit, close to all the good shops in Hertel. I'm not sure you can beat the corner,” Stiller said.
Looking at the success of John Daly’s project and the recently opened Rails on Main apartments that neighbors Bennett High School, Stiller says he is buoyed by how quickly those apartments have leased.
“The area is just a phenomenal area right now for market rate, and I think it's an area that needs more housing,” Stiller said.
For his part, Daly says he welcomes Stiller’s project and hopes to see even more development take place along the Hertel Avenue spine in North Buffalo.
“Just in terms of adding vibrancy to the street. You know, the more people living and working and playing on Hertel, the better,” Daly said.
Pending various city approvals, Stiller says he hopes to begin the project, which will include demolishing the Deep South Taco building, by early next year.
