BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Preliminary plans for a major redevelopment of Buffalo's Main Place Mall were released by Violet Realty, Inc, which is looking to conduct a $75 million makeover of the 50-year-old mall.
The project will convert three floors of the mall into high-tech office space with retail and amenity areas.
"We want Buffalo to be one of the most inviting places in the nation for tech-talent and other talent," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
It is still early in the planning stages but Violet Realty released new renderings depicting its vision for the mall's future. That includes:
- A complete renovation of the exterior, including a new architectural ribbon spanning Main Street and Church Street.
- A large-scale food hall and roof garden/outdoor lounge, keystones of a broader amenity package available to tenants of the building.
- Expansive skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows on Main Street side and the 3rd floor.
Violet Realty is owned by Patrick Hotung. He is also president of Main Place Liberty Group which includes the Liberty Building, Main Place Mall, and the Main Place Tower in downtown Buffalo.
“We are excited to partner with the City on this venture,” said Mr. Hotung. “We’ve had success attracting new information and technology tenants to our other projects, specifically in San Francisco and Chicago. We’re tapping into our expertise to take the Main Place Mall, and Buffalo, and put it on the national stage.”
Many things still need to come together for the project to move forward, but some are hoping within two years that the Main Place Mall will be a very different place from what it is now.
The Main Place Mall opened in 1969 and was popular until shopping trends shifted to the suburbs and the internet.
