Habitat, Duvernay + Brooks and Buffalo Municipal Housing close on 254-unit first phase redev. of Marine Drive Apts.

Buffalo, NY The Habitat Company has closed on Marine Drive Apartments, officially setting in motion the redevelopment of the historic waterfront site. The project, undertaken by Habitat in partnership with Duvernay + Brooks and Bridges Development, an affiliate of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA), will preserve and expand affordable housing by replacing the existing 616 units with 700 new apartments across a modern, mixed-income community comprising multiple buildings.

A defining feature of Buffalo’s waterfront for more than 70 years, the existing seven-building housing complex at 205 Marine Dr. has fallen into disrepair in recent years. An extensive feasibility study determined that complete replacement was the most cost-effective and sustainable option, ensuring modern building systems, energy efficiency, accessibility and long-term affordability for residents. Habitat and its partners worked closely with the community to ensure resident input shaped every aspect of the project’s design and timeline to secure unanimous Planned Unit Development (PUD) approval from the Buffalo Common Council.

Leadership from New York State was instrumental in accelerating the redevelopment and helping navigate and coordinate the project’s complex public-private financing structure. Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration played a key role in supporting the redevelopment of Marine Drive Apartments, reflecting the administration’s commitment to the creation and preservation of affordable housing.

The Marine Dr. redevelopment will take place over three phases and is expected to exceed $600 million in total investment, including extensive infrastructure work. The current phase is financed through public-private partnership between Enterprise Community Partners, Buffalo-based M&T Bank and New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR). HCR is supporting Phase 1 through tax-exempt bond financing issued by NYS Housing Finance Agency, as well as its Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and State Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs, which will be invested by M&T Bank, which also purchased $31.6 million of equity through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Brownfield Cleanup Program. Enterprise Community Partners served as tax credit syndicator. The Marine Drive redevelopment is a HUD Rental Assistance Demonstration Program project and received $2 million from the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency and $900,000 from the City of Buffalo.

In addition to delivering more than 700 new mixed-income apartments, the plan also calls for 5,000 s/f of retail and commercial space, a new community center, landscaped green spaces and a public plaza. Major infrastructure investments include enhancements to the electrical grid, improved sewer and water lines, street improvements and the addition of a new parking structure.

Site preparation is underway with an official groundbreaking targeted for this spring. Habitat’s “build first” approach will allow all current residents to remain in their homes until new apartments are completed, ensuring there will be no displacement during construction. Phase 1 will include 254 affordable units spread across 12- and seven-story towers and a row of three-story townhomes, a three-level parking garage and ground-floor commercial space.

“The reimagining of Marine Drive Apartments will deliver a vibrant, connected community that reflects the voices of residents and the energy of Buffalo’s evolving waterfront,” said Jeff Head, vice president of development for Habitat’s Affordable Group. As a company that has been creating and preserving affordable housing for 55 years, Habitat has appreciated the fast-paced, get-things-done approach from local and state officials. “Working hand in hand with residents, neighbors and partners like the BMHA helped shape a plan that preserves and expands affordable housing, ensuring current residents can remain in the place many have called home for generations. The overwhelming support for this project underscores a shared vision for a strong, inclusive Buffalo, and we are proud to reach this key milestone as construction gets underway.”

“This announcement paves the way for Marine Drive Apartments to begin transforming the historic Lake Erie waterfront into a vibrant mixed-income hub,” said RuthAnne Visnauskas, New York State Homes and Community Renewal commissioner. “Our $208 million investment will result in 254 high-quality, modern homes and is a shining example of governor Hochul’s bold vision to redefine public and affordable housing to deliver everlasting benefits for residents and communities. We thank the governor for her laser focus on revitalizing the Buffalo community. We are grateful to all our partners who are collaborating to ensure this project moves forward.”

The redeveloped Marine Drive community will introduce a host of modern upgrades designed to enhance resident comfort, safety and quality of life. All apartments will feature spacious, fully accessible layouts that are significantly larger than the development’s existing homes, modern kitchens with energy-efficient appliances, updated bathrooms, new flooring and windows, and improved electrical and internet service. Building upgrades include modern elevators, new heating and air conditioning systems, secure package rooms and storage facilities, and community rooms on the top floor of each tower with outdoor patio space for residents.

Located near the Erie Canal Harbor Metro Rail station, the site’s new transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly layout will include an improved and expanded street grid that will connect the redeveloped Marine Drive Apartments to the surrounding Canalside neighborhood with new streets and sidewalks, a publicly accessible playground, plaza, landscaping and enhanced lighting.

When the final phase is completed in 2031, the revitalized Marine Dr. property will stand as a symbol of city and state leaders’ commitment to the city’s future while serving as a model for equitable, transit-oriented development and inclusive community-led design. SWBR serves as architect for the Marine Dr. redevelopment and Christa Construction is the general contractor.

“This important milestone in the redevelopment of Marine Drive Apartments was made possible through our local partners and the leadership from the state,” said Brian Heeger, partner at Duvernay + Brooks. “The Habitat/D+B/BMHA team would like to thank Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, who took a personal interest in this project. Her administration has made the creation of affordable housing a top priority across the state, and it shows. This project is a reflection of that vision. We would also like to thank the extensive support from HUD as well as the City of Buffalo and Buffalo’s Urban Renewal Agency, who have made a commitment to ensuring Marine Dr. continues to serve as a vital affordable housing resource on Buffalo’s waterfront for generations to come, and without whose assistance this transformative development would not have been possible. We would also like to thank the residents of Marine Dr., whose support and contribution to planning the revitalization of Marine Drive has ensured the new development truly represents a shared vision for this community.” 

“This is a significant milestone in Marine Dr.’s transformational journey, not only for affordable housing in Buffalo but also for our city’s vibrant, growing waterfront,” said Gillian Brown, BMHA executive director. “We at the BMHA couldn’t be prouder of this achievement and the tremendous redevelopment that’s to come. We thank governor Hochul for her vital support of this important project.”

“The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is one of our most powerful tools for tackling complex redevelopment — and the Marine Dr. redevelopment shows what it can achieve at an extraordinary scale,” said Kari Downes, executive vice president and head of Enterprise’s Housing Credit Investments Business. “As the largest LIHTC equity investment Enterprise has made to date, this project allows us to help replace aging housing with modern homes, preserve long-term affordability, and ensure residents can remain in the community they love. We’re grateful to work alongside partners whose commitment makes this level of transformation possible.”

“M&T Bank is honored to play a key role in bringing this transformative project to life,” said Tracy Woodrow, M&T Bank western New York regional president and chief administrative officer. “The Marine Dr. redevelopment is a landmark investment that will deliver modern, sustainable homes while protecting affordability and stability for hundreds of families. This initiative expands access to housing and paves the way for a waterfront that is vibrant and thriving — a legacy that will benefit Buffalo and its residents for generations to come.”