Buffalorising has been redesigned.

Downtown can never really come back as a vibrant urban core until there is retail. Retail is what gives life to a downtown. The question is who's going to be first? One store isn't critical mass and isn't a destination. There needs to be a coordinated effort to open clusters of shops at the same time. This way no one has to be first and there is a destination. Far too much ground floor space is dedicated to office which does nothing to add life to the streetscape.

Speaking of who might be first, wouldn't a retailer be hard pressed to locate on Main St. when we're about to tear it back up to reintroduce vehicular traffic? Wouldn't it be more prudent to wait until *after* the Main St. reconfiguration? Nothing kills business more than the inconvenience and inaccessibility of construction.

The ground floor space would be more appealing to retail if the storefront glass was more transparent. Retail spaces need to be seen from the outside.

In my opinion, the building also needs to be "humanized" with some details, like awnings, light fixtures, signage, etc. It's current condition is too sterile and forbidding, this may be discouraging potential retail tenants.

its not windows or signage...its the fact that the wig stores and nail salons are the only stores there while AM&A's rotts and MPM disintigrates...no one will take the risk...it has to be multiple tennants coming into downtown at once as a group effort in order for us to see a start to the revival of downtown retail

Not to stir-up the hornets nest, but I cannot help but notice that this building “design” looks like the proposed Elmwood Avenue Hotel the only difference being that this building is less ornate…

Same architectural firm?

What about that other beautiful building that was built in the Theater District a couple of years ago? It's in that space where there used to be a McDonald's, next door to the youth hostel. That building has retail space on the ground floor, and it has been vacant for all that time. I hope that this is not an indication that it will be a long time before the space gets filled.

I suggest that Bass Pro convert the AM&A's building for their store to bring life back Main St. If this was originally proposed, I feel that they would have the place almost complete. It appears that the Aud is much too large of a project for everyone to handle at this point.

You are right! This is a great retail ready site. I don't know who is presently the rental agent, but I would love to speak with him/her. There is a group of folks presently beginning a retail push for downton. We are a loosely formed group, working with and through Buffalo Rising. None of us is trying to make a buck. We are trying to put packages together, finding incentives, and looking toward mass retail for the city.
Let's work together!

Katie,
I agree with you. New Buffalo is taking bloom. Though the process as we all know, doesn't happen overnight, it would be very smart to grab hold of some of this prime retail space currently available. Once the retail business really picks up, it will not be as easy to find affordable space. I think this location has a lot of potential. It will take a collaborative effort from small businesses WITH A VISION, who are willing to take a RISK...together. That's what being in business is all about. So many people can benefit from it, not to mention the city as a whole.

I live right accross the street and I walk by it all the time wondering why there is nothing there, but more specifically retail. There are pretty good sized windows for showcasing clothing or whatever. Prime location in downtown, and a nice area, hopefully something will move in soon.

I don't think any retailer is moving onto Main St. until they first know what's going to happen to Main St.

Let's hope it doesn't turn into yet another road construction FIASCO like Herlet Ave or Main St @ UB!!!

How ANY of those businesses survived the years & years & years of constructuion, I'll never know! If indeed we're going to do this, let's just get the job done & not allow any strikes or other shenanigans to prolong the process. Doing business is hard enough!

I live in the University Heights district and the construction is not all that bad. It forces the driver to be a bit more alert because things change from day to day. But seriously, its not all that bad. I'm glad that the investment is being made. It will ultimatley strengthen the neighborhood. Hertel is better because of the investment that was made. Oh, and how do you suggest we "not allow strikes"?? I agree that improvement should happen in a very efficient way, but inevitably shit does happen. Its part of living in a city. Imagine living or working near the big dig in Boston. Yikes. In the long run, traffic on main street will make this space much more leasable. Part of the beauty of architecture is its longevity. The investment has been made and even if the immediate future is rocky, that building will eventually see a better Buffalo.

the rendition on the sign in slide #1 has more architectural details than the completed building. i find that interesting given all the current lines of debate regarding the looks of the new projects on elmwood. do we really know what we will get before it's built?

Big Retailers don't care what the windows or the awning. Instead, they care about demographics (number of people and disposable income). What usually happens is that an area of a city becomes populated b/c it cheap or "hip", then local retail takes hold and finally, when the numbers final meet whatever formula Big Retailer is using, the Big Retailers start move into the area. Like Elmwood, first develop a neighborhood D-town and encourage local stores to take back Main Street. Rome wasn’t built in a day (let alone rebuilt like we have to do in BLO).

PQ,

Good call.

-jb

How about some ideas for retail storefronts? After housing has been established and there are people living downtown, what progression of offerings should be followed? Food, clothing, hardware, coffee shop, shoes? As it appears the mix of residents will include a large medical corridor presence, what will these folks desire in their time between 18 hour shifts?

Delaware between Chippewa and Edward has real poetential for a retail core. It already has Pitt Petri and the Ultimate Men's Shop. There are some buildings along the area that have great windows and parking is fairly easy. The street has huge visibilty. With the new Uniland Building going up it even looks better. The strip is anchored by two nice hotels (Hampton and Mansion), there are serveral eating places and cafes along the way and residential is fairly dense. Delaware is after all our version of 5th Ave.