The once vibrant brick building at the corner of Delaware and Hertel avenues, once the home of the North Park Branch Library, has been vacant for almost 10 years. But now, the Centro Culturale Italiano di Buffalo plans to give it new life by transforming it into an Italian American Cultural Center.

“This is a monumental moment in the history of the Italian-American community in Western New York,” said former Buffalo Mayor Anthony M. Masiello during an announcement ceremony Monday afternoon at the former library site. A team from CCI of Buffalo was chosen as the designated developer for the redevelopment of the building. Board members from CCI of Buffalo and consultants will be putting together a comprehensive plan for the reuse of the building, said Mayor Byron W. Brown.