Buffalo is moving forward with one of its largest single public-works construction investments in years. In October 2025, Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon announced a public-private partnership with Uniland Development Company to acquire and redevelop a 59.7-acre site on Bailey Avenue as a new Department of Public Works Campus and Resiliency Center. Phase 1 construction costs are estimated at $57 million, with a second phase adding another $35 million — for a combined investment of approximately $92 million, according to the Uniland announcement.

What the Project Involves

The campus site — 250 Baitz Avenue and 1000 Bailey Avenue — is centrally located within city limits to optimize emergency response times across all Buffalo neighborhoods. The project consolidates and modernizes infrastructure that currently operates from aging, dispersed facilities. Phase 1 scope includes:

• Environmental remediation of the full 59.7-acre site
• A new Streets and Sanitation Garage
• Maintenance and tire facility
• Fuel station
• Salt barn
• Covered and partially covered vehicle storage areas

Phase 2 will add a new engineering garage, tote storage facility, and auto impound lot. Per the Uniland announcement, the redevelopment will support the City's growing fleet electrification program alongside traditional municipal vehicle operations.

The Deal Structure

The City of Buffalo, through Mayor Scanlon's office, reached agreement with Uniland to acquire the land parcels and advance a developer agreement and construction agreement term sheet. The transaction was submitted to the Buffalo Common Council for approval in October 2025, with the city aiming to close the land purchase by year-end 2025, per WKBW. Uniland CEO Michael J. Montante described the deal as securing nearly 60 acres of land for new development within city limits — an achievement he called virtually unheard of — in a statement on the company's website.

As of April 2026, Uniland confirmed completion of the land sale and noted Phase 1 is advancing, per the company's 2026 outlook statement.

Site Context and Remediation Requirements

The site's scale — nearly 60 acres within city limits — is notable. Securing contiguous urban land at that acreage for a municipal infrastructure campus requires navigating zoning, environmental review, and existing-use transitions that would challenge most development timelines. The Phase 1 scope explicitly includes environmental remediation of the entire site, suggesting prior industrial or commercial use that must be addressed before construction of new municipal facilities can proceed. Contractors bidding Phase 1 work should anticipate that remediation sequencing will be a critical path item affecting the overall construction schedule.

Why This Matters to Construction Professionals

A $57 million public-works campus package — even structured as Phase 1 of a larger $92 million program — is a substantial procurement for the Buffalo market. Public works facility construction of this type typically involves competitive general contracting bids with local hiring requirements and prevailing wage obligations under New York State law. The project's combination of environmental remediation, civil infrastructure, utility systems, vehicle maintenance facilities, and storage structures creates a multi-specialty work package that will support a broad range of subcontractors.

For the regional construction market, the phasing approach is worth noting: Phase 1 at $57 million provides near-term contract opportunity while Phase 2 ($35 million) follows on a separate timeline — giving contractors visibility into sustained work at the site over multiple seasons.

Resiliency Infrastructure Dimension

The project's formal designation as a Resiliency Center alongside the DPW Campus signals a broader intent. Buffalo has invested in climate adaptation infrastructure at several sites in recent years, and integrating emergency operations capacity into the DPW campus reflects a planning approach that views public works facilities as dual-use assets — serving both daily municipal functions and storm, flood, or other emergency response scenarios. Fleet electrification support infrastructure adds another technical dimension to the project, likely including EV charging infrastructure and electrical capacity upgrades sized for a large municipal fleet.

Implications for Owners and Developers

The public-private structure here — with Uniland as both land seller and construction manager — reflects a model increasingly common for large municipal projects where the city lacks the internal capacity to manage complex real estate transactions and large-scale construction simultaneously. Private development expertise accelerates site control and project delivery while the city retains ownership of the completed facilities.

For owners and developers watching this deal, the scale of the land consolidation (nearly 60 contiguous acres) and the project's integration of remediation, utility infrastructure, and specialized facility types offers a template for how large institutional construction programs can be structured in an urban setting where assembling sites of this scale would normally take years of individual parcel acquisition.

What to Watch Next

Phase 1 procurement — formal bid documents, pre-qualification requirements, and contract award — will be the next major public milestone for this project. The Common Council's approval of the developer and construction agreements opened the formal project pipeline. Environmental assessment and remediation plan finalization will set the critical path for when Phase 1 construction can begin in earnest. Watch for SEQRA filings and procurement notices through the City of Buffalo's official bid process.

Bottom Line

At $92 million across two phases and nearly 60 acres of urban site, the Buffalo DPW Campus and Resiliency Center is one of the most significant public-works construction packages the city has advanced in years. The public-private structure with Uniland provides delivery capability, and Phase 1 scope — remediation plus fleet facility construction — will generate substantial subcontracting opportunity for local and regional contractors. This is a project to track closely through 2026.

Sources:
Uniland Development – DPW Campus Announcement (Oct. 2025)
WKBW – DPW Campus Site Announcement (Oct. 2025)
Buffalo Toronto Public Media – Common Council Approval (Oct. 2025)
Uniland – 2026 Commercial Real Estate Outlook (April 2026)