Growing up, Colleen Young moved a lot. “This is my 20th address—I’ve cried doing background checks,” she jokes.
Moving a lot continued into adulthood. Originally from East Aurora, Colleen relocated into the city on her own at 19 when she began working for the mayor and hasn’t looked back.
From Elmwood Village to downtown, she’s moved all around Buffalo and seen her fair share of apartments—studios to be exact. So much so that her friends used to joke that she had an annual housewarming party. “It’s true,” Colleen says as we chat in the hallway of her Larkinville apartment complex, Millrace Commons.
Colleen’s impressive green thumb on full display.
This complex, however, is different. She’s been here for two, going on three, years now with no intention of leaving anytime soon. Thanks to her good friends, Buffalo power couple Chef Darian and Jessica Bryan, Colleen got the scoop on the new building where Chef Darian’s Plating Society occupies the ground floor.
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“I saw it and I was sold! The giant windows, the view of Grand Central Terminal with all the light that comes in,” she gushes.
Walking into Colleen’s apartment, the allure is palpable. The floor-to-ceiling windows span the entirety of the front “wall.” It’s understandable then that Colleen found this to be the first place she’s ever felt settled into enough to really decorate or make it hers.
In the kitchen, Colleen added an island and bar stools to maximize space.
Second only to the wall of windows is Colleen’s growing plant collection. There’s 27—Colleen counted in real-time—high and low, all different shapes and sizes surrounding the 528-square-foot studio. Sourcing from spots around Buffalo, including Daddy’s Plants on Niagara Street and Wegmans, Colleen’s also become a plant foster for friends whose greenery need a little extra love.
Choosing a studio is both a financial and lifestyle decision for Colleen, who began living in them because it’s what she could afford. But has continued to favor them due to her penchant for moving around.
Colleen’s walk-in closet that dreams are made of is maximized with extra storage space and aesthetic chair cushion.
The good thing about living in a studio? You only have to pack up a studio’s worth of belongings when you move.
The amenities at Millrace Commons are a nice touch as well. For Colleen, an avid entertainer, the ice maker machine and in-unit laundry were game changers. For communal use, there’s also a pool, 24/7 gym, fire pit and grill. These sometimes-secondary features were at the top of the list for Colleen and her neighbors, who moved in during the Covid-19 pandemic and found a sense of community.
What started out as a chance meeting out by the fire pits for wine has turned into a close-knit community and group chat.
“How many people are in your group chat?” I asked. “Oof, now? Probably 15,” Colleen says. Not exclusive at all, any and all neighbors are welcome. “It’s whoever we stumble upon, and they get stuck in the crew,” she explains. “You’re in it for life.”
Members of the Millrace Mafia, as the group of neighbors playfully call themselves, and boyfriend Tyshaun toast to a good night gathered around Colleen’s impressive snack spread.
As we wrap up our chat, Colleen prepares to do what she does best: host. Her fellow neighbors and partner are meeting her to have some food and drinks on the roof. Opening her fridge, it’s spilling over with sushi, charcuterie and everything you’d need to host an epic gathering.
A host through and through, Colleen proves that it’s not about the size of the dwelling but what you make of it and your intentions. She’s made a great home for herself and looks forward to continuing to build community in her complex and the city she loves.
