Buffalo, N.Y. — Governor Kathy Hochul announced a significant economic development investment for Buffalo's East Side on December 16, 2025, awarding $10 million from the new East Side Building Fund to 35 commercial and mixed-use projects. The funding targets private building renovations and infill development to accelerate revitalization of commercial corridors across one of Buffalo's most economically significant neighborhoods.
The announcement represents a major component of New York State's broader Regional Revitalization Partnership (RRP), a $300 million comprehensive economic development initiative focused on Buffalo's East Side, Niagara Falls, and Rochester. According to Governor Hochul, the funding deployment reflects the state's strategic commitment to community-driven economic revitalization.
"The East Side Building Fund awards represent the strategic deployment of resources our administration committed to better serve the needs of the community," Governor Hochul stated. "By easing the financial burden on property owners, we are directly investing in our commercial corridors, ensuring they are revitalized and better equipped to anchor and support East Side neighborhoods for years to come."
The $10 million in awards to 35 separate projects demonstrates the breadth of development activity on Buffalo's East Side, with projects ranging from small storefront renovations to major mixed-use adaptive reuse developments.
The East Side Building Fund operates along two distinct funding tracks based on project scope and complexity:
Among the 35 awardees announced are several transformational projects reshaping Buffalo's commercial landscape:
Loads of Love (Brandi Barrett) — Proposed as a new construction, two-story mixed-use building at 61 Laurel Street, this project will feature a community laundromat and café at street level with affordable housing units on upper floors. Barrett, a graduate of the Community Based Real Estate Development Training Program, is leveraging fund support to create essential community services alongside affordable housing.
Legacy Developers (Ellen Shareef) — The 273 Hickory Street project represents mixed-use adaptive reuse creating 29 affordable apartments and over 6,000 square feet of commercial space in the Willert Park neighborhood. Shareef, another CBRED program graduate, is transforming an existing structure into a significant housing and commercial anchor.
Other Notable Recipients: Projects include facade improvements for Styles of Man retail space, exterior renovations for Ladies of Charity of Buffalo thrift shop, upgrades to Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar, energy efficiency improvements at Doris Records (a Jefferson corridor staple since 1962), and facade enhancements to Imperial Food Market serving the Kensington Bailey neighborhood.
The East Side Building Fund grew from consolidation of three former Empire State Development programs: the East Side Commercial Districts Program, Commercial Building Stabilization Fund, and Community-Based Real Estate Development Training Program Fund. These predecessor programs successfully supported over 60 projects with capital and pre-development assistance.
Notably, 11 of the current 35 awardees are graduates of the Community Based Real Estate Development Training Program, demonstrating the state's commitment to developing next-generation property owners and developers within Buffalo communities.
Project Eligibility Requirements: Funded projects must involve commercial or mixed-use properties (ground-level commercial with residential upper floors) located on Buffalo's East Side, preferably within or adjacent to priority business districts including Jefferson Avenue, Fillmore Avenue, Michigan Avenue, Genesee Street, and Bailey Avenue.
The East Side Building Fund is anchored within the $300 million Regional Revitalization Partnership, a comprehensive public-private collaboration involving Empire State Development, ESL Inc., philanthropic partners including the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and John R. Oishei Foundation, and financial institutions including M&T Bank, Five Star Bank, KeyBank, and NBT Bank.
The partnership coordinates capital investment, workforce development, and community-driven economic strategies across Buffalo's East Side, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, recognizing these regions as interconnected economic systems requiring coordinated revitalization efforts.
Buffalo Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon called the investment "a powerful vote of confidence in Buffalo's East Side and the small business owners and developers who are driving its revitalization." Scanlon noted the state's funding builds upon the City of Buffalo's infrastructure investments in East Side streetscape improvements along Jefferson Avenue and Bailey Avenue.
State Senator April N.M. Baskin emphasized the funding's comprehensive approach: "The $10 million award from the East Side Building Fund supports economic development through infrastructure projects, housing availability, commercial space, energy efficiency, and facade improvements."
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz stated: "Projects like these create stronger communities one building at a time and I thank Governor Hochul for her vision and commitment to making these investments in Buffalo."
The announcement signals continued state commitment to Buffalo's East Side commercial revitalization. With 35 projects now funded, construction timelines will vary by project scope, with small facade projects potentially completing in 2026 and larger adaptive reuse projects extending into 2027.
The Regional Revitalization Partnership's $300 million total commitment positions Buffalo for sustained economic development focusing on commercial revitalization, mixed-use development, affordable housing, and workforce development across multiple districts and neighborhoods.
Westside Construction Group brings extensive experience managing commercial development, adaptive reuse, and mixed-use projects in Upstate New York. For questions about project development and construction management services, visit buildwcg.com.
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