BUFFALO, N.Y. — A "casual community meeting" has been schedule for the property that is currently home to a popular North Buffalo bar and restaurant.
The meeting focuses on land where Deep South Taco operates, on the southwest corner of Hertel and Starin avenues. The discussion is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 27 at nearby Anchor Church, at 310 Starin Ave.
"We are excited to announce upcoming mixed-use development plans for the property located at 1707 Hertel Ave.," according to a flyer delivered to some residents in the neighborhood last week.
The project, which will be led by Jacob Stiller at Forward Development LLC, will bring a mixed-use development with 52 new apartments and 6,500 square feet of commercial space.
“North Buffalo is an amazing place to live and work, and we want to add to the neighborhood’s vibrancy with our project,” Stiller said. “We plan to take a community-focused approach that invites residents to offer input and contributes to the neighborhood’s sense of place, as we work collaboratively to strengthen Hertel Avenue.”
The developer says they plain to achieve 'Passive House Certification' and "pursue that pursue the highest levels of energy efficiency in creating healthier, more comfortable places to live."
“North Buffalo is an amazing place to live and work, and we want to add to the neighborhood’s vibrancy with our project,” Stiller said. “We plan to take a community-focused approach that invites residents to offer input and contributes to the neighborhood’s sense of place, as we work collaboratively to strengthen Hertel Avenue.”
This is not the first time the future of the North Buffalo restaurant has been discussed. Buffalo Business First reported last November that the Deep South Taco owner, Richard Hamilton, put the 2,580-square-foot building up for sale, with a price tag of $1.7 million.
"This informal gathering will provide an opportunity for you to meet the project team and learn about our plans for the site," the distributed flyer said. "There will be no formal presentation; we simply want to connect with you and answer any questions you may have. Your input is valuable to us as we move forward with this development."
Deep South Taco's original location is on Ellicott Street in downtown Buffalo. That location opened in 2015.
The Hertel Avenue location has been operating the same as usual. The meeting was called "to ensure open communication and transparency with the community," according to the distributed flyer.
