Buffalo, NY
PROJECT 890
A Catalyst for Community-Driven Development
Welcome to Project 890
OVERVIEW
Project 890 is a transformative 42,000-square-foot, mixed-use development set to rise on the combined lots of 884, 886, 890, and 894 Kensington Avenue, and
21 Parkridge Avenue in East Buffalo, led by Anita Woodruff-Sanders and John Sanders, Sr.
Anita and John used part of the Empire State Development grant to promote public forums and surveys for Project 890, providing the Kensington Bailey community with meaningful opportunities to be heard. The insights gathered have directly informed the project’s amenities and services, ensuring it is envisioned by and built for the very people who live, work, and invest in this East Buffalo neighborhood.
Ground Floor:
8,535 square feet of flexible commercial space designed to accommodate a variety of tenant configurations. Future tenants will have the option to either build out their spaces independently or work with the development team, with lease terms adjusted accordingly.
Residential Units:
The upper three floors will include 35 affordable rental apartments
in studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts. Rents will be set at rates aligned with 60–80% of Area Median Income (AMI).
Property Size
Project 890 is a four-story, 42,000-square-foot mixed-use complex
commercial space
The ground floor has 8,535 sq ft of flexible commercial space designed to accommodate a variety of tenant configurations.
Apartments
The upper three floors will include 35 affordable rental apartments in studio, one-, and two-bedroom layouts.
foundational principles
THE FOUR CORE CONCEPTS
01
Empowerment
A financial institution on the ground floor will provide residents and local entrepreneurs with access to capital and financial literacy resources, helping to promote long-term stability and wealth-building.
02
Engagement
The management will be dedicated to planning, promoting and overseeing ongoing community improvement projects on Kensington and Parkridge Avenues. These projects will enhance the area’s beauty, foster neighborhood pride, strengthen ties among residents, and drive grassroots revitalization. Community connections are vital to the area’s revitalization.
03
Sustainability
Project 890 tenants will provide a built-in consumer base for the building’s diverse and essential commercial services such as a restaurant/café, pharmacy, fresh food market, bank, barbershop, and daycare center. Additionally, the building will operate using energy efficient technologies, including heat pumps and solar power. Plans also include community-accessible green space and electric car ports. The ultimate goals for Project 890 are to become an integral part of the the Kensington/Bailey community, and serve as a catalyst for further development and revitalization.
04
Wellness
Building on the health benefits of a fresh food market, the project’s development plans include onsite partnerships with a medical school or private practice. The goal is to provide essential services such as flu shots and wellness clinics, and potentially vision and dental care, to address critical health care needs of underserved residents in the area.
Our Partners
THE PROJECT 890 ALLIANCE
The Empire State Development Grant enabled Anita and John to assemble a team of WNY industry experts, each committed to collaborating on the development and execution of their vision for this project. They include:
Woodruff Enterprises, LLC
Project leadership
Kideney Architects, P.C.
Architectural design (www.kideney.com)
Buffalo Construction Consultants, Inc.
Construction management (www.buffaloconstruct.com)
Urban Vantage, LLC
Urban planning and economic development consulting (www.urbanvantage.com)
Bellwether Advisors, LLC
Legal and financial advisory (www.bellwetheradvisors.com)
PD Engineering/Tredo Engineers
Environmental analysis (www.tredoengineers.com)
Location
This location was chosen with intention, as it lies in a once-vibrant East Buffalo neighborhood that has seen decades of disinvestment. This development aims to reverse that trend.
