Buffalo’s East side celebrated another milestone toward its revitalization as Cedarland Development broke ground Wednesday at 950 Broadway. The former department store has been empty for almost two decades.
President of Cedarland Development Dr. Fadi Dagher says that although they are working on several different projects, this one is closest to his heart.
“I always say, 'Why can’t we bring this area back to life where it used to be?'" Dagher said. "I come here around Easter and I see the crowd here. I see people so busy and I say, 'If we could make it for one month, we could make it for one year. 'This is the purpose of this project."
State Sen. Tim Kennedy said that for many years, residents had been fleeing the city to move to the suburbs. Now they’re starting to come back, thanks to the many advances being made toward Buffalo’s transformation. This project is another giant step in the right direction and a substantial addition to the community.
“We’re going to have a daycare center on the corner of Broadway and Fillmore, we’re going to have 28 affordable housing apartments here, on the corner of Broadway-Fillmore, we’re going to have jobs created, retail and development. It’s part of an incubator of our entire community but right in the heart of Buffalo and Western New York,” Kennedy said.
The renovation of the 50,000-square-foot building is expected to be completed by next April, and the space will incorporate affordable housing units, a no-cost Head Start child education program, and plans for an indoor urban farm.
