Braymiller has signed a letter of intent to occupy 20,000-square-feet in the proposed $50 million 201 Ellicott project, set for a downtown parcel nestled between the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority’s headquarters and the Buffalo & Erie County Central Library.

“This is a much-anticipated addition to the downtown core, and an exciting one at that,” said Paul Ciminelli, Ciminelli president and CEO.

Stuart Green, Braymiller president, said the 1.5 -story market will employ 65 full- and part-time workers, with an emphasis on hiring city residents. The market will offer both wholesale and traditional retail sales.

Braymiller not only gives the 201 Ellicott project its anchor, it also fulfills a vision by Mayor Byron Brown to bring a supermarket to downtown.

“As downtown Buffalo grows and evolves, the Braymiller mix of wholesale and retail fits perfectly in this neighborhood,” Brown said.

Initial plans called for Tops to open a market at the site.

The 201 Ellicott project will also include 201 apartments - a mix of one- and two-bedroom units — all priced in the affordable housing range from $660-to-$790 per month.

Set for what is now a surface parking lot, the project still has to gain approvals from the Buffalo Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and Common Council. Realistically, the building and market won’t open until spring 2021 with a construction start targeted for this year. The project will be the subject of a community information meeting, set for 6 p.m., March 21 at the Bank of America building at the corner of Main and Huron streets.

“There’s still a lot of steps to be taken,” Brown said. “But, this deal (Braymller) is inked. This project is moving forward.”