Heritage Point construction at Buffalo’s Canalside is set to ramp up

BUFFALO, N.Y. – After more than a year of lying stagnant, the Heritage Point mixed-use development in Buffalo’s Canalside is preparing to start work again.

The $40-million development broke ground in 2021. The project consists of two sister structures and will include 61 apartments and commercial space. However, in March 2024, construction came to a halt. This left unfinished buildings and empty scaffolding sitting dormant for over a year.

The Heritage Point project has faced many challenges and setbacks since its inception, including foundation and high water table problems, soil remediation, COVID shutdowns, inflationary building costs and labor issues. Lately, the primary stumbling block of the multi-year project has been financial complications. 

City officials and the developer of the project, Sinatra and Company, have both recently said that the project is coming back to life. The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, which oversees Canalside development, says the financing for the project should close within the next few weeks with construction to follow.

According to Sinatra and Company, Heritage Point will again be an active construction site in the weeks ahead. They say behind-the-scenes work has already begun at the site, including prepping steel for fireproofing, completing engineering reports and structural inspections, meeting subcontractors, ordering materials, and signing a lease for a new construction office next to the site. The firm is looking forward to bringing a vibrant addition to the waterfront area.

Residents are eagerly awaiting the completion of this long-anticipated project. Marc Moscato is the owner of Buffalo Bike Tours, which is based directly across the street from the Heritage Point project. His business has been at Canalside for 6 years, and he said he can not remember a time when it was not under construction.

“It would be a much more vibrant, dynamic place if there were actually people – more people living down here for sure and more attractions and things to do… not a great look for the heart of what is our main tourist area to be a giant area that is under construction,” Moscato said.  

Moscato likened the site to that of “The Pit” from the TV series Parks and Recreation, which was a fictional, large hole in the ground that was left after the developer went bankrupt in the middle of construction. 

“Especially, this is the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal. Big year supposedly for tourism in this area,” said Moscato. “It’s high time they get their act order. It’s quite frankly – it’s a bit of an eyesore.” 

The owner of Buffalo Bike Tours said that many city areas are not connected due to highways and overpasses, which makes it hard to even walk between different neighborhoods. He thinks having the Heritage Point project finished would help with Buffalo’s connectivity. 

Sinatra & Company has not released a construction timeline as of yet. However, in recent meetings with city officials, the developers suggested a goal of completing the project by the fall of 2026. If all goes according to plan, this once-idle site could soon become a key part of Buffalo’s waterfront, bringing new homes, shops, and vitality to Canalside.