Construction has begun on the first phase of a multi‑phase redevelopment of Marine Drive Apartments on Buffalo’s Lake Erie waterfront, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced July 20. The initial $250 million phase will create 254 new affordable apartments across four buildings as part of a broader roughly $600 million plan that will replace the existing 616 units with about 730 new homes.
What Phase I includes
Phase I will deliver 254 new units — a mix of studios through four‑bedroom apartments — that will be affordable to households earning up to 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). The project will feature new retail and commercial space (about 5,000 square feet), a community center, landscaped open space, a public plaza, and upgraded site infrastructure including electrical, sewer, and water systems.
The development team for the project includes The Habitat Company, Duvernay and Brooks, and Bridges Development (an affiliate of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority). Officials said all current Marine Drive residents will be able to remain in their homes until replacement apartments are finished, and there will be no displacement during construction.
Funding and housing assistance
State and federal low‑income housing tax credits are expected to generate the majority of equity: roughly $81 million from the federal Low‑Income Housing Tax Credit program and $18 million from the State LIHTC, together with about $93 million in subsidy. The site previously participated in New York’s Brownfield Cleanup Program and became eligible for roughly $31.6 million in tax credits administered by the state Department of Taxation and Finance.
Local contributions cited in the announcement include $4 million from the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, $2 million in HOME funding from the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, and $900,000 from the City of Buffalo for infrastructure. More than 100 units will be covered under a Section 8 Project‑Based Housing Assistance Payment Contract administered by the BMHA under HUD’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program; another 36 units will receive Section 8 Project‑Based Vouchers administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).
Design, accessibility and energy features
Marine Drive Phase I will be all‑electric and include energy‑efficient appliances, water‑conserving plumbing fixtures, LED lighting, and an Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system. The phase will include fully accessible and adaptable units, with 27 units designated to accommodate residents with mobility disabilities and seven units for residents with sensory disabilities.
Local impact and context
Located on the Lake Erie waterfront near Buffalo’s Metro Rail and Amtrak station, the redevelopment is described by state officials as part of efforts to revitalize the downtown waterfront and expand affordable housing supply in Buffalo. HCR noted the work aligns with Gov. Hochul’s five‑year Housing Plan, which aims to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.
The release includes statements from Gov. Kathy Hochul, HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, BMHA Executive Director Gillian D. Brown, and local legislators praising the project as a long‑term investment in housing and neighborhood revitalization.
Details such as the construction schedule, expected completion dates for Phase I and later phases, and the exact on‑site street address were not provided in the announcement.
