Lots of Space in Buffalo New York; the City Saves One of Its Most Historic

I realize the two have little relation, but I really dislike the timing of Bloomberg's comment, and the next day Verizon saying they have no interest in Somerset. Do you think Ms. Rizzo has any idea how much 4 Billion is?

As for the Statler... let's hope he pulls it off.

I remember reading the facility was to draw employees from the Rochester and Buffalo jobs markets. This would have required employees to commute an hour each way or move. This would likely have spurred demand for subdivisions in northeastern Niagara County adding to the problem of sprawl in the area. Why should we subsidize this project on open space along Lake Ontario when there are likely brownfield locations between Buffalo, Lockport and Niagara Falls that would have contributed to the metro region as a whole. Even these locations are roughly the same travel time to Rochester, so the facility would still be able to pull workers from there.

Bloomberg said we have space no one wants it, well maybe if we were not roped into the same crazy laws NYC has we could adjust them and people would be able to set up shop here. I feel like he missed his own point.

Saying this is a "missed opportunity" for WNY is like saying Bass Pro was a missed opportunity.

Stop the madness folks. Think of the other great things that money could be used for, like renovating the Statler and creating jobs in the city (where the unemployment rate is the highest).

It makes no sense to subsidize suburban sprawl. Especially with gas prices are headed to $4/gallon and more.

Most people aound here don't even know where Somerset is.

The Verizon gig was a bad deal and whatever is right that they love to buy influence, but Hamp can you please shut up, you sound like they live in la la land. Are you 20? If so I can understand and go with it, but if not...

I'd like to see the local government try and draw high school graduation ceremonies to this location. As a for profit renovation effort.

If by "the city saved one its most historic" you mean the politicians in office I think you ought to say it clearly. The money the politicians are using for this "save" came from a small segment of this city that had their assessments rise and therefore their taxes so Byron and the council could take the surplus and give it to a private developer. By the end of this development the city, county and state will invest millions of dollars in a private real estate scheme and then they will relocate government offices into the "historic " building , paying high rents. The taxpayer will have his taxes uses to renovate and then to sustain this renovation and afterward the developer will go to the media and declare that through his business acumen he has saved a "historic " structure. No one will look to see how much it is costing the taxpayer. Public expense and private gain.

It's funny no one mentions the huge amount of tax breaks Uniland got for the Avant. After everything said and done they basically ended up with a building asbestos free and ready for build-out at zero cost essentially from the Federal Gov't. That's not even a historic building and it's being used for 100% private use. So why are people so up in arms about $5.3 mill to stabilize the Statler?

I think people need to step back and look at the big picture here. Imagine for a second that no one stepped up and bought the Statler. At some point the city would have to step in to either address the safety issues and/or possibly demolish the building. I assure you the cost to demolish the Statler is much higher than $5.3 mill and every year that goes by the stabilization costs will rise as well. Please don't argue that the other developers who showed interest should have been able to buy it. If they were serious they should have bought it through one of the two public sales when they had the chance, period.

The way I see it is that ultimately the Statler is an asset to the community at large and deserves some public money to save it. A relatively small investment by the city will go a long way in saving a mammoth architectural gem that can serve as a beacon of renaissance for Buffalo. We could certainly use the enthusiasm and positive public image that we are progressing and not collapsing like so many people view this City. That alone to me is worth the money.

I concur. The money spent on the Statler is relatively small in governmental terms and it staves off an architectural & financial disaster for Buffalo. When the family car gets rusty, you spend some money on paint, you don't pay your neighbor to haul it away.

So, what exactly is the plans for this building? I luv what he did to the Curtiss Building on Huron @ Franklin and the other building he owns on Pearl Street near Shea's. Both have never seen any work done. Of course, Croce got it, he's a local boy. The city does'nt like outsiders with experience on such large projects to take over anything here.

Any money spent by the city of Buffalo for the Statler renovation is money down the drain. There is no way that beast can be brought back to life. It's a mammoth architectural monstrousity! The sooner it's torn down the better. I'm sure that time will prove me correct. Isn't there some way Ms. Rizzo can get involved in the Statler project? Also, concerning the killed Verizon project: anyone who is worried about Verizon using up too much open land is crazy. Have you ever driven from Lockport to Rochester? How much opened land do you need? Maybe that individual needs to move to Wyoming or Montana or Canada or someplace like that.