Real Estate August 6, 2012 12:10 AM

Construction Watch: Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino

Construction Watch: Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino
WCPerspective
WCPerspective 35
Love it or hate it, the new Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino is coming.  Officials from Seneca Gaming Corporation gathered to officially kicked-off work on the $130 million project last week and revealed further details of what visitors can expect when the casino opens next year. 

"We believe the new Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino will add to the overall energy and excitement taking shape in the Inner Harbor area," said Robert Mele, Chairman, Seneca Gaming Corporation. "Thanks to the efforts of many of our neighbors and our colleagues in the development community, people are rediscovering this section of downtown as one of the jewels of the Queen City. We are excited to redefine our presence in the area with our new casino property." 



casino2012rev.jpg
In addition to the 800 slots and 16 table games that will be a part of the new Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, visitors will also be able to enjoy some of the local flavors for which Buffalo is famous. The menu of the American-style restaurant that will be located in the casino will feature such signature items as chicken wings from the Anchor Bar, Sahlen's hot dogs, beef-on-weck from Charlie the Butcher and other local favorites made possible through partnerships with local restaurants. 

Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino opened in 2007 and has undergone two subsequent expansions, in 2008 and 2010. Today, the casino features 457 slot machines. The new casino, which is being designed by The Hnedak Bobo Group, will nearly double the number of slot machines, add table games and the restaurant, as well as an attached parking garage, and will replace the existing casino. 

Construction is scheduled to last approximately 15 months. In all, the project is expected to impact a total of 600 construction period jobs, including 300 direct construction jobs and additional jobs related to the production of materials and other services related to the project. 

casinophoto3.jpg

View image

Categories:

Comments

35 Comments Leave a comment
RaChaCha
August 6, 2012 1:28 AM
RaChaCha

Wait, I thought Judge Skretny said it's illegal for the Senecas to build a casino on land they acquired in Buffalo--?

No?

[ Reply ]
Score: -15 ( 37 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
grad94
August 6, 2012 7:37 AM
grad94

maybe a journalist (like you!) could call william hochul's office and ask why this activity is not being prosecuted. do we need to file an injunction?

[ Reply ]
replied to RaChaCha
Score: -12 ( 32 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
hamp
August 6, 2012 7:14 AM
hamp

The Seneca casino is an insult to the City and all the people that have spent years developing Canalside and the Cobblestone District.

The building's design and the "American Style Restaurant" are a joke.

I look forward to the day when the entire project is deemed illegal and this piece of garbage is wiped away.

[ Reply ]
Score: -5 ( 63 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Chris
August 6, 2012 7:43 AM
Chris

Bass Pro had it's pluses and minuses no matter what side you were on. A real casino resort would have debatable points. This shrunken down project is nothing but a mad scramble by the Seneca's to build something before Cuomo makes Casino gambling legal in NYS.

What is the greater good to the community other then the token 1 million that was given? It doesn't fit the area and the seneca's are not paying the state/community on the royalties.

For a city that is so good at slowing projects down I think it is time to throw up some red tape.

[ Reply ]
replied to hamp
Score: -7 ( 27 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Jesse
August 6, 2012 8:01 AM
Jesse

Yep, lots of other organizations throw a "token" 1 million around.

Doesn't fit the area??? Have you BEEN there? It's a train wreck.

[ Reply ]
replied to Chris
Score: 1 ( 29 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
RaChaCha
August 6, 2012 10:45 AM
RaChaCha

It's called an "American-style" restaurant not for the food, but because it's surrounded by parking.

[ Reply ]
replied to hamp
Score: -2 ( 24 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
elmdog
August 6, 2012 11:40 AM
elmdog

16 Gaming tables is embarrasing....This isnt a casino, its place to rape old people on slots....I have been to casinos all over the country and rarely do i see 16 tables...Pathetic.....
Also it looks like this casino block is 80% parking garage and parking lot and 20% casino...I cant believe all of the concrete....what about underground parking and or more greenspace...How in the world is Porter or anyone else happy with this?

[ Reply ]
replied to hamp
Score: 5 ( 19 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
sonyactivision
August 6, 2012 11:22 PM
sonyactivision

Yeah, it's a shame that the $5 billion Rouse Company proposal featuring dense, vernacular New Urbanist midrises and cobbled alleys filled with chocolatiers and artisanal bakeries fell through...

[ Reply ]
replied to hamp
Score: 1 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Travelrrr
August 6, 2012 8:16 AM
Travelrrr

This is so utterly depressing--it's beyond words.

The $1MM "token" will pale in comparison to the detriment this facility will have on the community at large. I've lost complete respect for the Senecas.

[ Reply ]
Score: -3 ( 31 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
sonyactivision
August 6, 2012 11:23 PM
sonyactivision

Really? It took you this long?

[ Reply ]
replied to Travelrrr
Score: 2 ( 2 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
rubagreta
August 6, 2012 8:34 AM
rubagreta

Well the 600 people with jobs in the bad economy are happy. And the hundreds of future full-time employees will be happy. The metropolitan area will be happy because fewer people will move to NC and FL.

Look. To me there can be nothing dumber than throwing your money away in a casino. But apparently millions of people love it. So if they love it that's fine with me. And 99%+ are not losing their homes and families because they gamble.

And I don't agree with this notion that any dollar spent in the casino is taken away from another business. With that rationale, we should just ban all new businesses. And in this case, I believe casinos attract a large stay at home and watch TV crowd.

[ Reply ]
Score: 34 ( 46 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
brownteeth
August 6, 2012 8:58 AM
brownteeth

Yeah I don't get why so many people are up in arms over this? The location is not very desriable and would probably sit vacant and overgrown otherwise. The argument that casino's suck money from people is no different than pissing away thousands of dollars every year on Bill's season tix, yet many people do that every year. It's just a matter of personal preference on what people want to spend their money on for entertainment.

With all the issues we have to face in the city why some people focus on this is beyond me. Right now the only other developer proposing this much of a private investment is Pegula and to no surprise the city still has to ponder on who to give that project to. With all the vacant land we have why anyone would block any development on it makes no sense. I mean really, what are we waiting for? In this case, there is no alternative.

However, since the Senecas scaled back the size of the casino I would prefer that they either give back some of the property or develop some out buildings to offset the expanse of space they now have. It makes the casino look smaller and is not consistent with the adjacent city block sizes.

[ Reply ]
replied to rubagreta
Score: 32 ( 44 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
hamp
August 6, 2012 9:58 AM
hamp

This is not a typical business.

The Seneca's pay no taxes, and they don't follow any laws.
So they do not compete fairly with other businesses.
They don't have to follow zoning laws, fire safety, etc.
And they don't have to include the community in any of their plans. That's why they can build this piece of trash.

Study after study show that casinos are not good economic development projects. There will be no spin off development from this casino. The Seneca's know this, and they most likely don't care. If they wanted to have spin off development they wouldn't build a box in the middle of a huge asphalt parking lot.

The $1 million "donation" to the local community was essentially hush money to stop any of the abutters from complaining.

For a company that pulls in millions of dollars a day, $1 million is a joke and pales in comparison to what a private developer would be contributing.

If Mayor Brown wanted to get a better deal for the city (which he should) he should have sat down with the Seneca's and played hardball. "You give us the casino we want, or we close all the streets leading to it"

[ Reply ]
replied to brownteeth
Score: -4 ( 34 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
brownteeth
August 6, 2012 11:01 AM
brownteeth

You're right, they aren't a typical business, they are a casino with nearly zero competition, except for the NF Canada Casino, which benefits us if they draw Canadians. Therefore who are they really stealing business away from? The restaurants they plan appear to be outside local businesses leasing space and there's no longer a hotel included. I do absolutely agree that the design is lacking, most especially the site plan. But in the big scheme of things this isn't really taking anything away from the community.

Like I've said, we have professional sports teams that under-perform every year and only add to the negative image we already have nationally yet we hand over money for tix, parking, merchandise, etc. Not to mention the county owned facilities we pay for via taxes. But you have an issue with this because?

[ Reply ]
replied to hamp
Score: 20 ( 20 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
hamp
August 6, 2012 11:33 AM
hamp

Basic economics: there is only so much money that a community can spend. Money spent at the casino is money that can't be spent at other places. And these other places can have a much more positive impact on the city than a casino.

The Sabres, Bills, Elmwood Ave, local stores and restaurants, contribute more to the community than a casino. This is what studies show over and over.

Where would you prefer the community's money go?

Casino: pays no taxes, contributes no social good for the community, a building in a sea of asphalt that detracts from what could be a great Cobblestone District.

Buffalo Sabres: huge payroll, pay taxes, great entertainment, helping revive downtown and Canalside, Buffalo pride, generous philanthropic contributions to countless events and charities, etc, etc.

There is no question where I want my money to go.

[ Reply ]
replied to brownteeth
Score: -11 ( 25 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
whatever
August 6, 2012 2:28 PM
whatever

So buy-local doesn't matter much after all?

The Senecas are WNYers and have been since before the 1700s when this area first became called part of NY. Ownerships of BIlls & Sabres are 1%er billionaires who don't live in WNY. The Bills ownership is in very wealthy sprawled suburban Michigan, while the Sabres ownership lives in Boca Raton, Florida.
(Yes, I realize Pegula earned his wealth in Pennsylvania from fracking, but since then he moved from PA to Florida where coincidentally the previous Sabres billionaire owner Tom Golisano also lives - and maybe not coincidentally there's no state income tax compared to around a 9% state income tax for upper incomes in NYS).

http://www.forbes.com/profile/terrence-pegula/
"Net Worth $3.1B as of March 2012 #114 Forbes 400
Source of Wealth: Natural gas, Self-made
Residence: Boca Raton, FL"

Since I'm not a buy-local zealot in the least or in the anti-1% crowd, it doesn't make any difference to me that Bills & Sabres very wealthy owners don't live in WNY. I support fracking and it's great that Pegula bought the team.

However, it's interesting if none of the people who do sometimes preach buy-from-locally-owned-whenever-possible won't do so for the Senecas in competition for entertainment spending vs non-locally-owned Bills & Sabres. Why could that be, one could wonder…?

And about this...

hamp>"Buffalo Sabres: huge payroll, pay taxes, great entertainment, helping revive downtown and Canalside, Buffalo pride, generous philanthropic contributions to countless events and charities, etc, etc."

"huge payroll"
Unclear how that matters, since do people favor shopping at Tops over Guercio's Market or Dash's Market just because Tops has a more "huge payroll" than those others? Or prefer M&T because its payroll is more huge than that of First Niagara or Evans Bank, etc?
But if it does matter - I've no idea how much of the $75M player payroll gets spent in WNY compared to how much casino profit is distributed to WNY-based Senecas. For the support staff, I have no idea how many the Sabres employ and how much they're paid compared to the Senecas' casino staff (non-Senecas of whom who do pay full taxes, btw). Unless anyone has that info, one can only can only guess about those comparisons.

"generous philanthropic contributions"
Is there any evidence that the Senecas donate less?

"great entertainment, helping revive downtown and Canalside,"
The Sabres have played downtown for over 40 years.
As to which is more entertaining between a night at the casino compared to a mid-season game against the Islanders or Winnepeg for examples, it's a matter of taste obviously.
Even with the temporary metal casino the Senecas are having more customers annually than the number who've attended Sabres games in recent years. The better casino they're building might expand that gap. We'll see.

[ Reply ]
replied to hamp
Score: 9 ( 13 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
PaulBuffalo
August 6, 2012 2:50 PM
PaulBuffalo

Even with the temporary metal casino the Senecas are having more customers annually than the number who've attended Sabres games in recent years.

That there are more gambling addicts than Sabres addicts is no surprise.

[ Reply ]
replied to whatever
Score: -3 ( 9 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
whatever
August 6, 2012 3:24 PM
whatever

"That there are more gambling addicts than Sabres addicts is no surprise."

And there could be some who like casinos occasionally even if not addicted, and also some overlap with people who do both things on different nights.
Since a Sabres ticket might be considered kind of expensive for 3 hours entertainment
http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=639042
going to the casino might be more affordable to do more often, for some.

Those $240 tickets at 'platinum' regular season games could be a pricey addiction - almost $500 for a couple.

[ Reply ]
replied to PaulBuffalo
Score: 4 ( 6 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
PaulBuffalo
August 6, 2012 3:59 PM
PaulBuffalo

Those $240 tickets at 'platinum' regular season games could be a pricey addiction - almost $500 for a couple.

I doubt that creation of a Sabres Anonymous would compete in attendance against a gamblers anonymous chapter.

[ Reply ]
replied to whatever
Score: -2 ( 4 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
whatever
August 7, 2012 8:14 PM
whatever

Paul, true, that was a loose informal use of the word addiction - like when some people say we're addicted to cars or imported oil. Those are different from a more clinical use of the word addiction such as to alcohol or gambling.

Funny thing is when an alcohol-selling business or event is discussed on here it's almost always in a positive way and A.A. seems never to be brought up in comments. And for that kind of clinical addiction, nobody seems to publicly advocate making bars, beer stores, wine stores, brewfests, and so on illegal for everyone due to some people having an addiction problem.

Interesting contrasts.

[ Reply ]
replied to PaulBuffalo
Score: 5 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
brownteeth
August 6, 2012 3:08 PM
brownteeth

Basic economics also allows you spend your money wherever you like. I was referring to the Bills but the Sabres are somewhat part of that equation too although I have way more faith in Pegula to do us better than previous owners.

"Casino: pays no taxes, contributes no social good for the community, a building in a sea of asphalt that detracts from what could be a great Cobblestone District."

Neither does an empty gravel lot, which is what we would have if the Senecas didn't come along. Call their $1 mill donation what you will but that's more money spent on this area then the city has put in. The reality is that this land is worthless otherwise. The prime Webster Block only had two responses to the RFP, so who exactly is clamoring for this land?

[ Reply ]
replied to hamp
Score: 6 ( 6 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
bobbyraz49
August 6, 2012 8:41 AM
bobbyraz49

I hope this casino flourishes !!
The Indians had their land taken from them centuries ago. The land where the casino is being built was empty and now it has potential.
The Seneca's could have included a hotel AND entertainment venues similar to their casino in N.F.
Imagine the uproar if the Buffalo theater's and hotels had to compete with this project !!

[ Reply ]
Score: 10 ( 36 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
DeanerPPX
August 6, 2012 9:31 AM
DeanerPPX

I'm not a gambler, but if I were, I'd rather spend my money in Buffalo at a casino that employs Buffalonians than go to Vegas, Canada, or even NF-NY.

If I win I'd spend the money here, and if I lose I'd know that it was going into my neighbor's paycheck. Or going to a community that we've been screwing over for 500 years.

[ Reply ]
Score: 15 ( 21 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
schvanstuchen
August 6, 2012 10:26 AM
schvanstuchen

My biggest gripe is the horrific design. Why not mimick a design from the canal era? Built to the sidewalk with all the paring in the back. I am thinking of the design of the greektown casino in Detroit.
http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/05/greektown_casino_in_detroit_fi.html

[ Reply ]
Score: 5 ( 9 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
ccbuffalo
August 6, 2012 10:45 AM
ccbuffalo

dont like it dont go, no one is forcing you to spend your money there. i cant wait for this to open !!

[ Reply ]
Score: 14 ( 18 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
old school
August 6, 2012 10:45 AM
old school

If you don't want a Nazi in your house don't let one. I don't gamble regularly. I like the option to be able to spend my money as I please. I may go to the casino once every year or two. I have season tickets for the Sabres. I prefer to spend my money on that entertainment, insert laughter here. I have nothing to show for either of the two. It is my preference though.

[ Reply ]
Score: 9 ( 13 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
elmdog
August 6, 2012 11:39 AM
elmdog

16 Gaming tables is embarrasing....This isnt a casino, its place to rape old people on slots....I have been to casinos all over the country and rarely do i see 16 tables...Pathetic.....
Also it looks like this casino block is 80% parking garage and parking lot and 20% casino...I cant believe all of the concrete....what about underground parking and or more greenspace...How in the world is Porter or anyone else happy with this?

[ Reply ]
Score: -2 ( 20 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
JMc44113
August 6, 2012 12:55 PM
JMc44113

Cleveland opened its new downtown casino only two months ago in an old department store downtown - BEST move made (like casinos or not aside). It has introduced people on the streets now at all hours and is a win-win the adjacent businesses are finding now. I walk the streets on my exercise loop daily and see the difference. The city worked with the developer to add police, work in accomodating parking, etc. If you travel to CLE, check out how places like East 4th and nearby retail are now benefiting from it! Buffalo really lost a great opportunity by not learning to dance with the devil and get it in a spot that would have benefited downtown more.

[ Reply ]
Score: 15 ( 15 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
townline
August 6, 2012 1:23 PM
townline

That's quite a claim after a mere 2 months. Remember the incredible success of Taylor's department store after the first couple months?

[ Reply ]
replied to JMc44113
Score: -4 ( 8 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
No_Illusions
August 6, 2012 1:14 PM
No_Illusions

If you look at the casino as just another entertainment option its great!

However there are a few problems. Its too small to actually attract people to the city from outside the immediate area(where at least then it could in fact be a net gain for the city with enough tourists).

Also it is a very poor use of space. Ok, they scaled down the casino, that's fine they might expand it eventually. However they have a ton of space...and they filled it with parking in a prime location. This does give them potential room to expand relatively easily (and they probably will have to sooner than later), however they could have easily added a second parking garage built the casino to the curb, and used the rest of the space as a park, garden, or even a board walk with some shops.

There are plenty of high density casinos in European cities, there is no reason why they couldn't follow suit.

A lot of people are complaining that casinos are money sinks. But you have to realize that these people are going to gamble anyways. If not in Buffalo, then in Niagara Falls, Salamanca, or even The Fair Grounds slots just a few miles away. At least this casino gives those people to come downtown. Even if they just stay at the casino, they might pass something that piques their interests.

The design sucks, but we have to remember that one casino will not turn Buffalo into Atlantic City (for better or worse).

[ Reply ]
Score: 3 ( 3 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Buffalo All Star
August 6, 2012 1:36 PM
Buffalo All Star

Its a gambling hall..I don't blame them for downsizing..it seemed for a while it would have just ate their business in Niagara Falls. Its a very popular request with tourists and it is another thing to do downtown.

I despise..DESPISE..the whole "it takes money out of the economy" "limited entertainment budget" crowd...on that theory every new restaurant..every new store...every new entertainment option down to PUTT PUTT shouldn't be an option because we're a shrinking community? Please..realize what your saying. People gamble and a lot of them like it...your putting people in your community to work and the first ward isn't exactly the 'high rent district" either...the land is worthless..one less vacant lot in the City of Buffalo.

[ Reply ]
Score: 12 ( 12 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
sonyactivision
August 6, 2012 11:18 PM
sonyactivision

It's dreamy! How lucky can a city get?

[ Reply ]
Score: 1 ( 3 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
STEEL
August 6, 2012 11:52 PM
STEEL

Sholdn't they have to give that street back to the city? This casino seems to violate everything agrred to in exchange for that eztra city property.

[ Reply ]
Score: -1 ( 5 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
Tom
August 7, 2012 10:03 AM
Tom

I don't mind a casino being downtown because it does draw people downtown. However this Casino design looks terrible. If they want to build one they should have a parking garage that encompasses all of the parking space, with a Casino that goes almost curb to curb. So it looks like it belongs in a city.

[ Reply ]
Score: -1 ( 3 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment
impressingagent
September 18, 2012 9:38 PM
impressingagent

The seneca allegany casino is awesome! This is the "I can behave in church design ". Please. Please don't build this. They will come but it doesn't do much to help the brand.

[ Reply ]
Score: -1 ( 1 votes ) Vote up Vote down Report this comment

Leave a comment

Recent Comments