© 2024 Western New York Public Broadcasting Association

140 Lower Terrace
Buffalo, NY 14202

Mailing Address:
Horizons Plaza P.O. Box 1263
Buffalo, NY 14240-1263

Buffalo Toronto Public Media | Phone 716-845-7000
WBFO Newsroom | Phone: 716-845-7040
Your NPR Station
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Former Freezer Queen building will be converted to apartments

Mike Desmond/WBFO News

Owners of the old Freezer Queen complex say they will move ahead with apartments on the prime site

The building has been sitting there for a long time, since frozen food operations were shut down. The current owners, operating as Queen City Landing, bought the buildings and the surrounding open water in 2008. It's adjacent to the Small Boat Harbor in Buffalo Harbor State Park, just off Fuhrmann Boulevard. 

"Why now?" asks General Manager and Partner Jerry Buchheit. "Because we believe at this point the prices of real estate have gone up enough, rental rates have gone up enough and with the growth of the medical corridor and Downtown Buffalo, there's a need for upscale professional type housing."

The complex is about a 10 minute bike ride away from the new Solar City manufacturing complex, which will also have some high-end and well-paid jobs. Buchheit says the plan calls for 115-one and two bedroom apartments, two-restaurants, a gym and indoor parking for all residents and restaurant customers. The outside of the building will be moved somewhat into the interior to allow for patios and balconies.

Work on the 50-million-dollar complex could start as early as this fall.

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.