The local land bank: Buffalo Erie Niagara Land Improvement Corporation (BENLIC) has acquired several former single-family houses, now vacant, City-owned lots in various neighborhoods throughout the City of Buffalo utilizing ARPA funds for the implementation of new affordable “Infill” home program, to build and sell completed homes to qualified buyers. BENLIC’s Project objective is to construct approximately forty-seven (47) single-family affordable home designs at these selected City-owned vacant sites located in these Buffalo neighborhoods:
Black Rock
Riverside
Grant-Amherst
Old First Ward
Kensington Bailey
University Heights
West Side
Lower West Side
During an exhaustive public outreach effort, five house styles were developed. As the construction document phase commences, this was limited to four styles. The styles included three, two-story and one, one-story wood framed houses. Each model was developed to meet the Zoning Code without variance and fit onto the narrow sites (typically only around 30’ wide). The new house designs range in widths from 19’ to 24’ feet wide and provide two or three bedrooms. Square footages from around 1,350 to 1,500 square feet. Basements were excluded due to the constructability of these new structures in between existing house structures. Garages were also excluded but some sites are suitable for future structures and accommodate a future driveway.
After plans were submitted for permit, stakeholder discussions altered the project approach. Only one of the four original house designs will be constructed on twenty-two of the four dozen sites while the balance will receive one of two modular style house structures. The modular houses are less than 16-ft wide and will include a full basement.
BENLIC intends to commence construction of these new houses in two phases starting in early 2025, hoping to be completed by the end of 2026.
Tredo Engineers provided site and structural engineering services for the original four house models as well as the foundation design for the modular styles.
