Speculation has been rampant on where the Buffalo IT Innovation and Commercialization Hub anchored by IBM would land: One Seneca Tower, Key Center, Trico, AM&A’s, somewhere else? That hasn’t been decided, but a Request for Proposals (RFP) released unveils what exactly the State is looking for.
New York State’s Fort Schuyler Management Corporation (FSMC) is working with McGuire Development Company to develop the Buffalo IT Innovation and Commercialization Hub. Some details from the RFP:
Ownership: FSMC must have title ownership to the proposed property, either a whole building or a portion of a building via a condominium division. The condominium route was chosen by the State at Conventus where FSMC is putting a biomedical research facility on the seventh floor anchored by Albany Molecular Research Inc.
Location: Central business district “as well as within suitable secondary business districts including the confines of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the Cobblestone District, and/or Waterfront Village.” That’s reassuring to downtown property owners but there is wiggle room in the RFP: “FSMC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to alter the geographic boundaries described herein if an economically or operationally suitable option is not discoverable within the initial geographic boundaries.”
Size: FSMC is seeking 100,000 contiguous square feet that must be made available for FSMC’s completion of the entirety of its improvements as soon as possible but no later than October 1, 2015. The property must also be able to accommodate between 50,000 and 100,000 square feet of expansion space for purchase by FSMC.
Initial Facility: If the proposed property is unable to accommodate the full 100,000 sq.ft. by November 1, 2014, but will be able to accommodate the Facility within a reasonable timeframe after that date, FSMC may be willing to enter into a short-term lease for 25,000 contiguous sq.ft. of office space made available to it no later than June 1, 2014.
Occupancy: FSMC requires occupancy of the Facility, or initial facility, on or before November 1, 2014.
Signage: FSMC is requesting the right to install exterior signage on the building and/or site.
The State and McGuire Development Group are moving quickly. Proposals from property owners are due May 2.