FFZ Holdings and Savarino Cos. plan to construct 48-units on Buffalo River; Chantreuil Jensen Stark retained as architect for the $15 million project

FFZ Holdings and Savarino Cos. ([email protected]) plam to construct a 48-unit residence project on the Buffalo River. Buffalo River Lofts will be located at 441 Ohio St. The 5 story building will contain 75 enclosed parking spaces, semi-private elevators, and tenant gardens. Each unit will feature two bedrooms with two full bathrooms and a balcony overlooking the Buffalo River. Plans include a wharf allowing for public access to the water. The building will sit on the foundations of the former Erie Freight House which was the home of Great Lakes Paper Fibres Corp. until last year when a portion of the 150 year old warehouse collapsed and the building was condemned by the city. Although the building recently received designation as a local landmark, third party professional studies recently undertaken by FFZ and Savarino concluded that the historical integrity of the building had been compromised by prior renovations, that the building was not structurally sound, and that restoration of the facility to anything close to its original condition was not feasible. FFZ and Savarino are planning on salvaging all undamaged timber framing so it can be put to good use on other projects. Chantreuil Jensen Stark has been retained as project architect. Construction of the privately financed $15 million project is expected to begin next year.