Developer Gerald Buchheit, a principal in Queen City Landing LLC, confirmed his group has retained JCJ Architects of Hartford, Conn., to design a combination condominium/hotel complex for the nearly 20 acre Fuhrmann Boulevard parcel. Queen City Landing LLC bought the 350,000-square-foot, six-story warehouse and the adjoining property at a foreclosure auction in November, paying $3 million.

Buchheit said Queen City Landing's first phase will focus on the Freezer Queen warehouse, which could be home to as many as 130 upscale condominiums. Initial plans call for adding two more floors to the building to make way for the extra condo units.

Construction could start later this year.

JCJ is working on a final design for the building while Economic Research Associates of Washington is conducting a marketing and feasibility study focusing not only on the Freezer Queen warehouse, but also future phases of the project. The Economic Research Associates report is expected to be completed by late April.

"If everything comes together, we'll be submitting plans to the (Buffalo) planning board within the next 60 to 90 days," Buchheit said.

Future phases may include the construction of a 250-unit condo tower that could be as tall as 15 stories and building a 250-room full service hotel that could be expanded by another 100 rooms.

JCJ is no stranger to the Buffalo Niagara market having designed the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel complex in Niagara Falls.

Buchheit also worked with the JCJ Architects when he owned the Statler Towers and was attempting to sway the Seneca Gaming Corp. to open its downtown Buffalo casino in the building. The Senecas opted for a nine-acre site along South Park Avenue and Buchheit subsequently sold the Statler to British investor Bashir Issa.