Trico Building apartment project is nearing completion
BUFFALO, N.Y. May 9, 2024— The redevelopment of Buffalo’s historic Trico building is getting closer to the finish line.
The old windshield wiper factory will open to tenants later this summer, and on Wednesday, 2 On Your Side was the first station to see what’s happening behind those massive windows.
Anyone involved in the Trico Building apartment project will tell you that renovating a historic building is not easy.
Bruce Wisbaum, owner and CEO of BMW Management, along with The Krog Group, has been tackling this 500,000-square-foot building since 2016.
“The building initially was in very rough shape, had been standing, I think unused for 15 years,” Wisbaum said.
The roof leaked, things were falling apart, and then in 2020 when the pandemic started, the project had to do a 180.
“We talked to numerous banks, financing was difficult to get, we kept changing the design,” Bruce said. “Nobody wanted to do hospitality, which is why we took out the hotel rooms.”
Work resumed in September of 2022, and by January most of the massive factory windows had been installed.
It’s been a long haul, Wisbaum said. But come Aug. 1 the former factory will begin its new life.
“Everybody looks at this building, they know people who worked in this building. They’ve driven by, and they’ve seen it kind of come to where it is today, and we’re really excited to show it off.” Raeann Plouffe, the project manager, said.
There will be 242 apartments, with 132 starting in August and another 60 later that month. The rest will be ready by October.
Leasing has already started, with a model apartment that’s getting a lot of attention.
“The interest we’ve seen in this project is unbelievable. The first week of opening alone we had over 91 tours,” Plouffe said.
Construction on the building’s new courtyard and entrance on Ellicott Street are still being finished, as well as commercial and retail space.
There are 77 apartment variations, including amenities such as a dog park, parking garage, and rooftop patio. Designers also made sure to keep some historic features.
“I really think we’re unmatched in the city,” Plouffe said.
“We’ve saved a number of fire doors that we’re going to be putting up around the building. I mean people will walk in and see the mushroom columns and the high ceilings,” Wisbaum said.
They will also see the old Trico sign that is staying.
“Coming off the Kensington and seeing this building all renovated and all brought up to date is just going to be terrific,” Wisbaum said.
