One of Buffalo's largest and most visible adaptive reuse projects is now underway on Exchange Street, as Rochester-based Park Grove Realty continues its transformative work in Western New York real estate development. The Iroquois Lofts project will add 64 apartments to the historic Iroquois Door Company building located at 619 Exchange Street in Buffalo's vibrant Larkin District, signaling continued momentum in the region's residential development sector.
The Iroquois Door Company building, originally designed by the notable firm of Bethune, Bethune, and Fuchs, represents a significant piece of Buffalo architectural history. The building was designed by Louise Blanchard Bethune, the nation's first professional woman architect. The first portion of the building was completed in 1904 and was expanded four times, with the most recent expansion occurring in 1925.
Park Grove Realty acquired the 81,500 square-foot building in May 2019 for 1.45 million dollars. The company has been preparing for this substantial residential conversion, which will dramatically change the building's use and character while respecting its historic significance.
The Iroquois Lofts conversion includes 64 new residential apartments designed to meet modern housing demand in the Larkin District. The development plan incorporates 15 parking spaces in a proposed surface lot on the west end of the site, plus an additional 13 parking spaces on the first floor of the two-story portion of the complex. This mixed parking approach addresses contemporary urban housing needs while accommodating vehicle access for residents.
Passero Associates serves as the project architect, bringing professional expertise to the complex adaptive reuse challenge.
The Larkinville area has emerged as one of Buffalo's most dynamic neighborhoods in recent years, attracting significant private investment and development activity. The Iroquois Lofts project contributes substantially to this revitalization, bringing new residential capacity, economic activity, and energy to the historically industrial neighborhood.
The conversion of large-format commercial and industrial buildings to residential use has become a hallmark of Buffalo's urban renewal strategy, allowing the city to address housing demand while preserving its architectural heritage.
For contractors and construction professionals in Western New York, the Iroquois Lofts project exemplifies the substantial market opportunity presented by Buffalo's historic building inventory. Large-format industrial and commercial structures offer significant development potential when converted to residential use, generating both construction activity and long-term property management and maintenance revenue streams.
The project demonstrates the economic viability of historic building rehabilitation and the ongoing demand for quality residential space in Buffalo's emerging neighborhoods. As Buffalo continues to attract residents from higher-cost regional markets, adaptive reuse projects like Iroquois Lofts position the city as a center for innovative residential development.
Park Grove Realty's continued investment in Buffalo properties, combined with other major development projects throughout the Larkin District and surrounding neighborhoods, underscores the lasting strength of Buffalo's real estate market and the substantial opportunities available for developers, contractors, and construction professionals serving Western New York.
The completion of the Iroquois Lofts project will further cement the Larkin District's position as Buffalo's most dynamic neighborhood and a model for successful urban revitalization through adaptive reuse development.
Sources: Buffalo Rising; Iroquois Lofts Project Information; Park Grove Realty; Passero Associates (December 2025)
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