After years of delays, structural surprises and a lost anchor tenant, leasing has finally begun at Elmwood Bidwell Apartments, the 50-unit mixed-use project rising at 976 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo's Elmwood Village. Studios start at $1,700 a month for 446 square feet, one-bedrooms also start at $1,700, and two-bedroom, one-bath units run 1,075 square feet for $2,950, according to Buffalo Rising's latest Construction Watch report on the property.
Fifteen apartments have already been pre-leased, per the project website, as the development creeps toward completion. Douglas Development is spearheading the project, according to WKBW, which reported the undertaking is a redevelopment of historic buildings at the corner of Elmwood and Bidwell into apartments and retail. Units are slated to include quartz countertops, vinyl flooring, in-unit laundry, stainless steel appliances and keyless entry, with leasing inquiries directed to 716.235.8052.
A Rocky Road to the Finish Line
The project received final city approval in December 2024 after multiple redesigns, WKBW reported. But construction hit a snag when crews discovered unexpected structural problems in the historic buildings, forcing the team to reinforce storefronts and construct portions of the building out of concrete. Douglas Jemal, founder of Douglas Development, described the condition of the original structure bluntly, telling the station, “everything was rotten; there was no salvaging it.”
The project also lost its planned anchor tenant along the way. Community Beer Works withdrew from the development, with the brewery saying it had decided to concentrate its resources on its Chandler Street facility and existing locations rather than opening a new outpost at Elmwood and Bidwell, per WKBW's reporting. Despite that setback, Douglas Development told the station it was fielding interest from a range of other prospective retailers, including restaurants, breweries, wine bars, coffee bars, salons and spas, and that work was expected to resume within 30 days with completion anticipated before the end of 2025.
Smaller Windows, a Rooftop Patio, and a Trimmed-Down Design
As of an April Construction Watch update, retail storefront windows were being installed on the ground floor, and the delayed project appeared on track to open later this year, according to Buffalo Rising. That same report noted the design had evolved because of escalating costs, resulting in smaller upper-floor windows and less brick than originally planned. Other changes included a rooftop patio on the fifth floor along Potomac Avenue, roofline adjustments along Elmwood Avenue, and the removal of a carriage house's second floor.
The project is planned to include 50 apartments.
The Project's Commercial Space
The commercial component totals 7,275 square feet.
