People Inc. plan to build apartments on Jefferson Avenue gains support

A proposed mixed-income apartment complex on Jefferson Avenue won praise from Buffalo Planning Board members Monday night for its design and anticipated impact on an empty two-block section of the East Side thoroughfare.

Members signaled their readiness to green-light the $20 million project after brief presentations on plans for the two three-story buildings at 1140 and 1166 Jefferson, just north of the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion at Dodge Street.

“This is transformative,” said Planning Board Chairman James Morrell. “This is going to change Jefferson Avenue, and I just hope more comes.”

Nevertheless, the project by People Inc., in conjunction with developers Nick Sinatra and David Pawlik, could not be formally approved until after the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals weighs in on requested variances to allow twice the lot width and parking. That’s now the procedure under the city’s new Green Code, which has taken effect in some parts of the city and will be fully in place next month. The Zoning Board meets on Wednesday.