News & Updates
April 17, 2024 – Stephen Development to open Clarence's first coworking space
CLARENCE, NY —
Stephen Development has repurposed 4,000 square feet of office space at its Clarence headquarters into Main Stage, the town's first coworking space.
"Right now, especially since Covid, it's very hard to find any takers for fully built out office space on Main Street, but there are a lot of people who are independent professionals like Realtors or insurance brokers or private investigators who need office space," said Paul Stephen II, director of strategy.
Until recently the space at 9580 Main St. had been used by Stephen Development employees. They've been moved elsewhere within the building, Stephen said.
March 1, 2024 – BestCellar Book Bar coming to Main Center Summer 2024
Clarence, NY —
Inspired by her father, Devon Powers is turning her lifelong love of reading into a business opportunity. BestCellar Book Bar is in development at 9560 Main St. in Clarence, where Powers and her father, Peter, will open an independent bookstore and community space that includes a full-service beer and wine bar, plus small plates.
The concept will be housed at Main Center, a multi-use building operated by Stephen Development that also houses Nana’s Mediterranean restaurant. Powers plans to put in couches and cozy seating where guests can enjoy a glass of wine with a book, or meet with a book club.
June 27, 2023 – Stephen Development holds grand-opening of Buffalo Airport Hotel
Cheektowaga, NY —
Stephen Hospitality LLC, a subsidiary of Clarence-based Stephen Development LLC, announced the grand-opening of a new hotel property called the Buffalo Airport Hotel. Formally a Holiday Inn, it is located at the corner of Holtz Road and Genesee Street in Cheektowaga, NY.
A press release stated, “The property was acquired in January 2021. Since acquisition, extensive renovations have been done to the hotel, including the lobby area, banquet facilities, courtyard, guest rooms and restaurant. Owners Paul S. Stephen and James J. Stephen made the decision to make the property an independent full-service hotel offering a range of amenities.
June 12, 2023 – Stephen Development Obtains Final Approval for Dunkirk Community Solar Project
CLARENCE — Stephen Development is pleased to announce it has received final approval for a community solar park to be constructed in the Town of Dunkirk, off Lake Shore Drive. The Dunkirk Community Solar Park consists of two separate solar projects located side-by-side, covering a total of nearly 42 acres of land, and will generate approximately 9.8 megawatts of energy—enough to power 1,500 homes.
The project was a joint collaboration between Stephen Development LLC and OurGeneration LLC, a development firm specializing in community-scale solar energy projects. In order to accommodate the power, the project will cover the cost to upgrade National Grid’s nearby substation and distribution lines, which will result in more reliable electric service for local customers. Fire lanes were added to the project to allow access to the rail line running behind the site. The project’s developers anticipate breaking ground later this year.
Stephen Development and OurGeneration are excited to be bringing a similarly sized project to the Town of Clarence, to be located on Research Parkway off Wehrle Drive, alongside the planned Clarence Solar Industrial Park, a business park that will potentially tap up to 40% of the project’s output to renewably power new job-creating manufacturing and distribution facilities. The Clarence Community Solar project, much like the Dunkirk facility, will allow the local community, residents and businesses to save more than one month per year of their current electric bills, while avoiding the need to buy, install, and maintain solar panels on their own rooftops and property.
“One significant advantage of the Clarence project is that it allows us to utilize industrially
zoned land that would otherwise sit vacant due to its relative inaccessibility,” said Paul
Stephen, President of Stephen Development “This green energy project will allow the town to generate significant tax revenue from land that is currently vacant and unused and put money back in the savings accounts of hundreds of residents.”
The project is currently before the town’s Planning Board. Stephen Development is proud to
remain at the forefront of sustainable development in Western New York.