Changes coming to long-delayed Elmwood Village project

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Buffalo Planning Board set a date for a public hearing at its meeting Monday for the long-stalled $15 million project in the heart of the Elmwood Village, which would bring new apartments to the area.

The project is headed by well-known developer Douglas Jemal and has been in the planning stages for well over three years as residents question what will end up on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Bidwell Parkway.

Douglas Development is proposing to build a five-floor building with 48 residential units, but an evaluation found that changes had to be made to the project.

Jemal admits that there have been some structural issues with the project.

The changes partly have to do with the aesthetics of the building, such as the design of the roof with a rooftop patio added. After demolition work was done, it was found that conditions at the property caused dramatic increases in development costs.

During the Planning Board meeting, a Douglas Development representative said it's hard to come to a census about projects that face a variety opinions from the community.

Board members had numerous questions about the changes and want those issues addressed at a public hearing set for Dec. 16.

"I think, personally, most of them I don't have a problem with," said Cynthia Schwartz, a board member. "I do have a problem with the rooftop patio coming back, given how strongly the neighborhood felt about that."

This plan has been approved in the past by the Buffalo Planning Board.