About 500 Seneca Street
500 Seneca is a dynamic mixed use development located in Buffalo’s Hydraulics District.

The project involved the adaptive reuse of the historic former factory and offices of the F.N. Burt Company, which at one time was the world’s largest manufacturer of paper boxes.

The building has been transformed into a mixed use development facility featuring over 300,000 square feet of space for Class A offices, loft apartments, cultural space and storage space for tenants. The building features a large multi-story interior green atrium area, courtyard, tenant activity center with outdoor patio, conference center, fitness center, Animal Outfitters Doggy Daycare, The Lunch Box eatery, Phoenix Rising Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, Crown salon and in summer of 2017, Dobutsu restaurant.

Other features of the building include free on site parking and close proximity to Larkinville, downtown Buffalo, Canalside, Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus and quick and easy access to both southbound and northbound I-190.

Seneca St. Greenway Connector Plans

History
500 Seneca Street was constructed as a series of buildings between 1901 and 1927 for the offices and manufacturing facilities of the F.N. Burt Company, at one point the world’s largest paper box manufacturer. It was one of the largest employers in Buffalo’s oldest manufacturing district. Mary Cass took over operations of the company in 1909 and grew the company to its size and influential role in the industry. In a time where woman were unable to vote, Mary Cass proved to be one of the most influential businesswomen of the early 20th Century.

In 1986, New Era Cap Company brought manufacturing back to 500 Seneca when they began textile fabrication at the site. As New Era grew, they moved out of 500 Seneca resuming full vacancy of the building in October 2004. New Era decommissioned 500 Seneca in 2009.

500 Seneca Street, LLC was formed by experienced local real estate developers to investigate the potential uses of the former manufacturing plant. A deal was finalized in early 2010 to sell 500 Seneca Street to the development team with intent to rehabilitate the property as a mixed use facility.

Development Team
500 Seneca Street, LLC is comprised of experienced investors, Frontier Group of Companies and Savarino Companies, LLC, both Buffalo based companies well versed in adaptive re-use and rehabilitation.

Frontier Group of Companies is a veteran real estate investment and development firm with several successful adaptive reuse projects in their portfolio in Western New York and the Midwest. The Frontier Group has successfully partnered with Savarino on several development projects in Western New York.

Savarino Companies is seasoned in all aspects of construction, development and property management—from general contracting and construction management to planning, financing and operating projects.

Savarino has successfully developed, constructed and managed projects such as 26 Mississippi Street, 30 Mississippi Street and 95 Perry Street in Buffalo’s Historic Cobblestone District, Elmwood Village Charter School in Allentown, White’s Livery Apartments on Buffalo’s West Side and Niagara Charter School in Niagara Falls.