Station 12 in Amherst Places Its Final Beam — Buffalo's First Upscale Open-Air Retail Center Will Begin Opening This Fall
On April 8, 2026, crews placed the final structural beam atop the newest buildings at Station 12 in Amherst — the last major construction milestone before tenant fit-out begins at what will be the Buffalo region's first upscale open-air lifestyle retail destination. WKBW reported that developer WS Development expects the first phase of tenants to begin opening as early as mid-October 2026, with additional businesses rolling out through the end of the year and into spring 2027.
What Happened
The topping-off ceremony marked the completion of the structural frame on the final group of buildings in the project's "horseshoe" configuration. Station 12 is built on the 18-acre former Northtown Plaza site on Sheridan Drive near Niagara Falls Boulevard in Amherst — land that WS Development acquired in May 2015 for $18.5 million.
The project broke ground in 2019, then stalled for years during the COVID-19 pandemic. By fall 2025, three buildings were structurally complete (though unoccupied) and construction was underway on the fourth and fifth. WS Development announced 12 confirmed tenants in September 2025, including Anthropologie, Free People, FP Movement, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Alo Yoga, gorjana, Just Salad, and Oola Bowls. A sixth and final building is expected to be completed by spring or summer 2027, at which point the center will accommodate between 55 and 60 tenants.
"This is a major milestone in construction and signifies one big step toward completion," said David Sturgeon, Vice President of Development at WS Development, in comments to WKBW. "Ultimately, the goal is getting tenants open and bringing activation to the area."
Key Project Details
- Site: 18 acres, former Northtown Plaza, Sheridan Drive near Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst, NY
- Developer: WS Development (Massachusetts-based)
- Total planned leasable space: approximately 350,000 square feet
- Planned tenants: 55–60 retail, dining, and office businesses
- Green space: 10,000 square feet of community green space planned at center of the complex
- First tenants opening: mid-October 2026 (targeted)
- Final building completion: spring/summer 2027
- Site acquisition: $18.5 million (May 2015)
Tenant buildout permits have been active since early 2026. The Buffalo Business Journal reported in January 2026 that four buildout permits had already been filed, suggesting that the leasing momentum is translating into active construction work inside the shell buildings.
Why This Matters to Construction Professionals
Station 12 represents a significant volume of tenant improvement (TI) work hitting the Amherst / North Buffalo market simultaneously. With 55 to 60 tenants expected across roughly 350,000 square feet, the aggregate tenant buildout — including storefront construction, interior finishes, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and signage for each unit — constitutes substantial subcontractor workload concentrated in a relatively tight geographic area. National and regional retail contractors who handle TI work for chains like Williams-Sonoma, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, and Alo Yoga typically bring their own preferred subcontractor lists, but local mechanical, electrical, and plumbing subs and smaller finish contractors often work alongside them on regional projects.
Beyond TI, the project also involves the construction of 10,000 square feet of public green space, which requires civil and landscape work. The phased opening schedule — first tenants in fall 2026, majority operational by summer 2027, sixth building complete by spring/summer 2027 — means this is an extended work program, not a single opening event.
The Long Road and What It Signals
Station 12's nearly decade-long journey from site acquisition to structural completion is a cautionary data point for any project owner or lender assessing risk on large-format open-air retail. WS Development acquired the site when open-air lifestyle retail was ascendant; the pandemic hit as buildings were rising, effectively freezing the leasing environment and stalling construction. The fact that WS Development stayed committed — continuing through permit challenges and market uncertainty — speaks to the developer's conviction that the format has a future in affluent suburban markets like Amherst.
That conviction appears to be validated by strong leasing demand. Brian Sciera, WS Development's Senior Vice President of Leasing, noted that confidence in the project remains high: "Couldn't be more confident in this type of project. Open-air, fresh, with green space to connect with the community." With over 12 tenants publicly announced and the center expected to host 55 to 60 total, the leasing pace suggests the roster will be substantially complete by the time the first buildings open.
What to Watch Next
The key near-term milestones are: formal tenant opening announcements for the mid-October 2026 first wave; progress on buildout permits for the remaining confirmed tenants; and the construction start for the sixth and final building. The Amherst Costco project adjacent to the Station 12 site on Ridge Lea Road, which has separately been cited as generating additional retail investment momentum in the corridor, is also worth tracking as a complementary draw.
Bottom Line
After nine years in development, the final beam is up at Station 12 and the Buffalo region's first upscale open-air retail center is shifting from construction to fit-out. For local contractors and subcontractors, the next 12 to 18 months bring a concentrated wave of tenant improvement work in Amherst — one of the more active commercial construction markets in WNY heading into the second half of 2026.
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