Buffalo has thousands of vacant lots, and the city wants small builders to fill them. Its plan is to hand them a set of house plans that already meet the rules.
Mayor Sean Ryan and the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning announced Buffalo Ready Homes on Oct. 7, according to the city. The program will develop pre-approved single-family and two-family house plans that meet Buffalo's zoning requirements and fit the character of its neighborhoods. It will start on the East Side, with room to expand.
"Across Buffalo, we have thousands of vacant lots where homes once stood and thousands of families struggling to find quality homes they can afford," Ryan said. "Buffalo Ready Homes will help us address both of those problems at the same time by making it easier to turn vacant land into new homes."
Who it's for
By settling key design and zoning questions up front, the program aims to cut uncertainty and streamline development for small builders, nonprofit housing groups and property owners.
"Our target audience would be individuals or small-scale developers who own a lot in the city where they want to build a house and not-for-profits that would sell the houses to qualified individuals," Matt Roland, director of UB's real estate development program, said in the university's announcement. He said potential buyers would include people earning below area median income, in line with state Homes and Community Renewal programs and incentives.
Once finished, the plans will be available through the city to property owners, developers, nonprofits and community partners. Individual projects will still need city review and permits based on the specific property, site conditions and other requirements, so pre-approved doesn't mean permit-free.
The UB Regional Institute is leading the work with city staff, with Roland managing the project and associate professor of architecture Nicholas Rajkovich advising. Trautman Associates will lead the home designs and architectural plans.
"We want to provide a tool that can promote new homes that fit the character of their neighborhoods, are built to a high standard, and remain valuable assets for residents and communities over time," said Bart Roberts, the institute's director.
Borrowing a proven idea
The program is modeled on pre-approved plan programs in South Bend, Ind., and Kalamazoo, Mich.; UB also pointed to Port Angeles, Wash. Buffalo Rising reported that South Bend has seen 68 projects with a total of 91 units built since 2022, a figure Inside Indiana Business also reported.
Roberts said the UB team has talked with South Bend leaders about their program. He compared the idea to the kit and catalog homes from Sears that make up much of Buffalo's older housing, but said that "doesn't mean every house in this project will look alike."
"It's meant as a tool to reduce barriers, especially those faced by small-scale developers who are trying to revitalize neighborhoods through housing development," he said.
School of Architecture and Planning Dean Julia Czerniak said the partnership gives faculty and students a chance to apply "their knowledge to real-world challenges" while working with experienced professionals.
The partnership grew out of the institute's work, supported by Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, on pilot projects to spur reinvestment on residential blocks near the Kensington Expressway.
Over the summer, the team studied Buffalo's zoning and permitting requirements and vacant lots. This fall and winter it will gather feedback from residents, neighborhood leaders, builders, nonprofits and others, including through a survey on the Buffalo Ready Homes website. Design work is expected to run through winter and spring, with finished plans expected in summer 2027.
Why it matters for Contractors
Pre-approved plans could lower one of the biggest hurdles for small residential builders in Buffalo: the time and money spent on design and zoning before a shovel hits the ground. If the program works the way it has in South Bend, East Side infill could become steadier work for small general builders, framers, foundation crews, roofers, and plumbing, electrical and HVAC subs. Builders still have to pull permits and handle site conditions, but starting from a plan the city has already vetted should speed things up. The UB team is asking builders for input now, and contractors who weigh in this fall and winter can help make sure the plans are practical and affordable to build.