The new Vistas at Avant represents a strategic evolution of one of downtown Buffalo’s most transformative mixed‑use assets, addressing a gap in the market for high‑quality, flexible‑term housing in the city’s central business district.
Developed by Uniland within the Avant building at 200 Delaware Ave., the project reflects how adaptive reuse and operational creativity can unlock new value in established urban properties.
Originally constructed in 1971 as the Thaddeus J. Dulski Federal Office Building, the Brutalist tower once served as a regional federal hub before being decommissioned in 2006. Uniland acquired the building and repositioned it as Avant, Buffalo’s first mixed‑use development in the central business district. Since opening in 2009 with an Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel, office space, condominiums and on‑site dining, the building has come to play a central role in downtown Buffalo’s resurgence.
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Uniland reassessed portions of the hotel component as travel patterns shifted. Led by CEO Michael J. Montante and a cross‑functional development team, the company identified market demand for premium, fully furnished short‑term apartments catering to corporate relocations, extended business stays and temporary assignments. Construction began in fall 2024 to convert two of the hotel's floors into upscale studio and one‑bedroom units, with work completed in spring 2025.
Senior architectural and interior designer Mary C. Hazlett guided the design approach, moving away from the hotel’s brighter palette toward a modern, biophilic aesthetic that included earth‑tone finishes, lighter wood flooring, and floor‑to‑ceiling windows with views of downtown Buffalo and Lake Erie. Each fully furnished unit includes a complete living and bedroom setup, dining furnishings and a fully equipped kitchen, offering turnkey accommodations with a 60‑day minimum lease.
By delivering hospitality‑inspired short-term rental apartments in a walkable, amenity‑rich location near major employers, government offices and medical campuses, Vistas at Avant filled an unmet need in downtown Buffalo and was recognized with a 2025 CoStar Impact Award for multifamily development of the year, as selected by a panel of real estate professionals familiar with the local market.
About the project: Vistas at Avant includes 59 units with an average unit size of 633 square feet within a 15‑story, Class B building at 200 Delaware Ave. The project totals 50,000 square feet with a typical floor plate of 3,333 square feet, according to CoStar data. The conversion delivered fully furnished studio and one‑bedroom apartments designed for flexible‑term occupancy in Buffalo’s central business district.
What the judges said: The panel of judges in Buffalo highlighted the project’s role in strengthening the city's downtown through adaptive reuse and talent attraction. “The adaptive reuse of historic, centrally located structures is crucial to the real estate market and economy. It also furthers talent attraction efforts needed to continue the growth of the local region,” said Brandye Merriweather, president of downtown development at the Buffalo Urban Development Corp.
The judges also noted the project’s location and its role in addressing a clear market need. “Located in the heart of the downtown Buffalo Central Business District, there is a need for this type of product,” said Eric Tudor, broker and owner of Tudor Collins Commercial Real Estate.
They made it happen: The project was led by Michael Montante, CEO of Uniland Development Co., along with Kelly Maloney, director of construction; John Dieter, director of property management; Jennifer O’Connell, senior property manager; Jacob Montante, development project analyst; Jacob Zelasko, senior real estate investment manager; and Mary Hazlett, senior architectural and interior designer. Construction was overseen by Michael Parisi, construction manager, and Robert D’Arata Jr., construction site superintendent. Victoria Smith, residential manager, and Anthony Dantonio, property manager, supported operations and delivery.