As Buffalo's potential in the filmmaking industry continues to rise, a new film studio is being planned on a 27-acre parcel just off the banks of the Buffalo River to meet the demand.
The $72 million project was announced Thursday, not far from the development site, across from the Tesla plant on South Park Avenue in South Buffalo.
It promises not only to bring new film and television productions to the region, but also hundreds of new job opportunities and collaborative programs whereby students seeking to enter the industry can learn various aspects of the trade, said Buffalo Studios CEO and founder – and Grand Island native – Matt Fleckenstein.
”We’re building the first true Hollywood movie lot in Buffalo, and that’s truly the vision we wanted to bring,” said Fleckenstein, a multiple Emmy-nominated writer and producer, who has nearly 20 years of experience developing, writing and producing TV programs after graduating from Syracuse University and moving to Los Angeles.
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Fleckenstein said Buffalo Studios is slated to become the only studio lot in North America with access to a river, the Buffalo River.
“Not only is it a great resource for productions to shoot against, but they can get on the river," he said.
"They can get on the river to shoot, and in a couple of minutes they’re in Lake Erie,” Fleckenstein added. “It’s an unparalleled asset that is going to be much of the draw to Buffalo Studios.”
Phase one of the project has already entered the New York State Brownfield Clean-Up Program. The proposed studio will be developed on the site of a former steel mill. Phase one of the construction is slated for groundbreaking in late spring of 2021, with a tentative completion set for late 2022.
Once completed, it will consist of six sound stages and four support buildings.
A covered alleyway is also planned on the lot, Fleckenstein said.
“This being Buffalo, we wanted to make sure it was a place where people could come and work, but if they don’t want to, they don’t have to ever go outside. They could be driven in where it’s nice and warm, go to the soundstage, go to the production office, go into a trailer and never have to step out into the cold,” he said.
He said the project has been in the planning stages for about two years, with the cooperation and collaboration of local officials at all levels of government, from the state, county and the city.
Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown was unable to attend Thursday's announcement, but welcomed the new investment in the city in a prepared statement.
"As my administration continues to build on its commitment to increase access and opportunity for city residents who work in the film and television industry, today's announcement that a second major studio is under development in our community reinforces that Buffalo is a destination for filmmakers, people who want to come here and they want to make movies," Brown said.
Earlier this summer, London-based Great Point Media, a media investment fund manager, announced a proposed $50 million project to construct a 57,700-square-foot building at the corner of Niagara and West Ferry streets.
Brendan R. Mehaffy of the City of Buffalo's Office of Strategic Planning, who attended in the mayor's place, lauded the proposed partnership between the studio and the University at Buffalo.
"The partnership with the University at Buffalo cannot be overstated in terms of what a tremendous asset the university is," Mehaffy said.
Dr. Tom Feeley, chairman of Media Studies at UB, said the project has the potential of adding nearly 50% to 75% more maker and exhibition space that has been sorely missing in media studies at UB, which now has more than 250 undergraduates and 35 graduate students in its program.
State Sen. Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, who did attend Thursday's announcement, commended Fleckenstein for his commitment to his hometown.
"The visionary behind this project is a Buffalonian committed to our community, despite the fact that he was 3,000 plus miles away out in California, and he could have gone anywhere. He said, 'I'm bringing Hollywood to Buffalo,' and with that, he's bringing a $75 million investment that's going to create hundreds of jobs," Kennedy said.
Read the full story from News Staff Reporter Mark Sommer
