Remington Lofts on the Canal
I stepped a bit out of my traditional environment and over into Niagara County to get a sneak peek at another Kissling project; the Remington Lofts on the Canal. It is a high-end work/live project on a big scale. Eighty-one units of work/live lofts, indoor parking, a high-end yoga and fitness studio, restaurant, hair salon and cosmotology school, rooftop garden, and commercial space along the Erie Canal.
Most apartment projects in the region either struggle to land first floor tenants or do not even design their projects to have first floor retail but in the case of this project, three large commercial spaces are created and are already spoken for. Leon’s Studio One- a hair salon/beauty school will take up one space while the other will be occupied by “15 Mile” – a restaurant ran by executive chef, Scott Rossi who has been executive chef at Park Central Hotel, the Millennium at U.N. Plaza and the Roosevelt Hotel-some of Manhattan’s best restaurants. The restaurant will have a brick oven in clear view for diners and an outdoor patio facing the water. Mark Drost, owner/operator of Evolution Yoga will run the Yoga studio and fitness facility.
Walking on the roof provided a great panoramic view of the area and a nice reminder of not only its proximity to water but to Canada as well as downtown Buffalo and even closer, UB’s North Campus area. As the region attempts to emphasize its proximity for Canadian businesses, spaces like these are sure to be good places for a smaller Canadian firm that is not ready to commit or is not big enough to afford CBD office prices yet still need the high-end image. For local small startups its a great benefit to Niagara County since spaces like these are typically only available in Buffalo.
Residents who want to start a business and run it out of their apartment may be eligible to receive incentives from the small business development center through Niagara County. You will not feel embarrassed inviting clients to your home office because it will be just as good as a typical downtown office space with great views and a convenient place for a power lunch downstairs. Resident amenities include dry cleaning, food service, as well as 24-hour maintenance and security. Residents will also get special discounts on things like auto repairs as Kissling has partnered with nearby businesses to provide discounted services for its tenants.
Besides the amenities and financial incentives, the spaces themselves have the great charm and authentic feel you can only get from an old industrial building. Some very large industrial equipment on the first floor, large supporting fluted columns throughout the interior, 14 foot floor to ceiling windows from its time as a daylight factory, and restored radiators.
This is a one of a kind project for this area. Buffalo is normally the local city that gets the benefit of seeing its industrial-era buildings receive new life but now downtown North Tonawanda will get a major project along its waterfront as a sprawling and long neglected industrial property will no longer be a hindrance but will become a great resource to everyone who experiences the waterfront.
15 Mile should be open by Spring/ Early Summer 2010 and the first round of residents should be moving in around the same time. For more information contact The Kissling Interests at 716.853.2787 x 106
Not to pick nits, but it’s downtown NORTH Tonawanda. We’re probably too sensitive about that, I know, but of the three Tonawandas in this region, we’re the one in Niagara County. Thanks.
Interesting how the Buffalo area is still announcing housing projects as the rest of the country is shutting down. Reports are that at least 20% and maybe up to 60% of architects in Chicago are now unemployed.
I’m glad the yoga studio will be “high end.” I just hate those yoga studios that cater to the poor.
If they do “downward facing dog,” isn’t any yoga studio “high end?”
It is scary to think of the huge number of decommissioned factories in this country
Great news and announcement for the region. NT is one of those ‘other’ historic centers outside of Buffalo which do deserve to be more than a modified suburb. It is just as much of a shame when i go there and see how downtown Tonawanda has just about been completely dismantled for the promise of suburbia and how downtown NT seemed to be following suite for a long time.
If they could only realize how much more important projects like this are instead of fighting to get a walmart… then maybe they can bring back some of that character long lost in the Lumber City.