The YMCA Buffalo Niagara has officially signed a letter of intent to move its North Buffalo branch to the former Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital property.

The commitment is one of the first steps toward the YMCA building a 70,000-square-foot facility that will help anchor the $63 million transformation of the now-vacant hospital complex into a mixed-use community. The project is being shepherded by TM Montante Development with Canterbury Woods agreeing to build a senior living facility on the property that will also serve as an anchor.

More here from Jim Fink at Buffalo Business First.

More here from Buffalo Rising.

Local economic development officials remain confident that Silevo, the California-based solar panel manufacturer being recruited to anchor a South Buffalo clean-energy hub, will follow through with its plans even though the company is being acquired by a rival firm lead by a well-known entrepreneur.

Elon Musk’s SolarCity Corp. announced plans Tuesday to acquire Silevo for $200 million — a price that could climb to $350 million — and bring more than 1,000 jobs to Buffalo. The deal would cement SolarCity’s position as one of the top producers of solar energy devices and products.

Combined the two companies represent a $1.5 billion investment. Silevo and Soraa are to jointly occupy 275,000-square-feet at Riverbend.

Musk on his SolarCity blog hinted that the Buffalo project would advance, but, instead of a 200-megawatt capacity, he envisions it having a 1 gigawatt output, five times the initial plans.

See more about these revised plans to a previously released story from Jim Fink at Buffalo Business First.

With its 2013-2014 season completed, officials from Shea’s Buffalo Theatre have turned their attention to the final phase of restoration work in its main auditorium.

Crews from Evergreene Architectural Arts have started restoring 80 percent of the theater’s main ceiling, including its dome and high walls. The project will be completed by late August, in time for Shea’s new season.

The project carries a $900,000 price tag and part of an overall $2.5 million renovation package of the downtown Buffalo cultural and architectural landmark.

Find the entire story here from James Fink at Buffalo Business First.