Buffalorising has been redesigned.

Yuck! just as bland and sterile as the other crap already there.Oh, wait, is this exactly the same design as the ones built in the 80s?

They're keeping costs down by using the same blueprints. Very smart.

How sad, more low rise, more of the same crap they've been building on our waterfront for past 20 years. I thought we were trying to stop more of this spread and go with different looks? higher up? more attractive? urban friendly?
Am I missing something here?

Low rise is good that close to the waterfront. You wouldn't want to build huge, tall walls of concrete on the shore, or the rest of the city would feel divorced from the lake.

There is a taller tower planned next year.

Read between the lines, there is a tower next year. I wouldn't call that a low rise.

Where are these being built?

I like this entire area of the city and I know many people who do, its very nice

Why such small windows?

well, one solution, if you don't like the design ......Don't buy one!! That's right boycott waterfront village...Write the developer and tell him you will take you 600k and go elsewhere.

I believe the initial plans for townhouses adjacent to Admirals Walk followed by a 12-story high-rise is just the right balance for the last remaining parcel at Waterfront Village. More specific design plans have yet to be revealed but thus far it seems to be in sink with the rest of the highly successful Waterfront Village. This expensive property adds to the tax base in a positive way for the city of Buffalo and brings more high end people downtown with more $$$ to spend. It's all good!

I agree with Steel: why such small windows?

These structures would almost look contemporary and modern with more glass. As they are, they look some some old 1983 plans that have been recycled.

They front the Lake, forgodssake! It's called a VIEW!!!

what a joke that tower better have better design and put some retail down there somewhere idiots!

what does ellicott development done that looks sleek, cool, or modern? nothing. they've never been on the cutting edge of design nor do they care to be.
i don't mind the houses on the waterfront so much but i think that condo tower is fugly.

I'm sick of seeing our waterfront being taken over by these ugly brown (1980's) low rise, exclusive living spaces for the select few to enjoy. Why is there no other mix developments in place for the section of Downtown. A better design with first floor retail and restaurants would be a much better deal than exclusive living space only.
Have we not learned from our mistakes already? Do we not already complain about the current stock of these condos blocking off access? now we are getting more?
This section is already hard to get too, exclusive and looks too suburban. It looks like a waist of space and land. It is taking away public spaces and great development opportunities to create more of a mix enviroment here with not just living, but working and entertainment.
Too bad, some may see this as Great! I see it as a mistake, could be re-done.

Looks like government housing to me. That's the best they can do? What a waste.

Let them build these here because the site they are working with is already surrended by this type of development you are not going to get anything urban to work in what is basically a big subdividion. Think of putting in an elmwood style building in the middle of spaulding lake or Sheridan, never would work because those people dont walk anywhere since they all have built in garages.

Just never invite them back to do business once they are done ;)

we really need to get other people in office...these designs are just plain boring. we need to think outside the box to attract investors and developers to come and build condos in our city..

our local developers are just not cutting it..they want the projects but they can't commit financially to projects that need substantial financial resources to do the project right.

does anybody know if we have people in office even working on proactively finding developers from across the country or around the world for that matter?

Isn't always, "who we know" that get projects like this approved? Of course people in office are going to keep local boys in business, even if the design is awful. They don't want to upset family, friends, and those in their party. That's how it's always been, and it will stay that way, till we vote for NEW people in office who have NO TIES to these low lifes.

Confused and others: Would you really want a mess of high rise condo's blocking the view of the lake from the city, and blocking the view of City Hall from the lake. That is assinine. Low rise is the only proper way to go at the waters edge.

Sally,

Ever been to Oak Street Beach in Chicago?

low rise may be better but perhaps something more than two stories is warrented. Even one more floor would add a lot of residents and density to the area without compromising the views from the city at large.

i am not really sure on the location, however one thing is for sure, they better bring more of a vision to the outer harbor. The designs are nice and i believe that the size of each unit makes the windows look less. brick buildings always make some kind of impression and i would be intrested in what the grand plan looks like, tower and all. These buildings remind me of the old psy center its going to be intresting to see how they mix with the waterfront and the highrise. 12 stories can make a statement in our city.

daveydoo, Ever been to lower Manhattan? With a couple of noteworthy exceptions (Battery Park for one) you barely know you're on an island when you're in Manhattan because of the wall of high rise office towers that cuts the city off from the water. I agree with Sally in that the buildings should start low at the water's edge and gradually increase in height as you move away from the lakeshore. I actually like these buildings, and they're going to add nicely to the tax base at $600K or so apiece. Of course, you could just sit there at your computer and bitch about the small windows if you abslotuely cannot stand to be happy.

yes sally, let's stop any project that could yield our city millions of dollars in investments and also could attract thousands of residents to our waterfront by banning any high rise condos from being built, thus eliminating any kind of project that ruins a view that less than 1% of the population in WNY evens looks at. smart growth strategy.

OMG Stepford Houses!

I work on the waterfront and the best way I can describe it is to say it is well ... manicured. There is no vitality here at all. No commercial activity (no stores or restaurants), no kids on bikes, no barking dogs,no chatting neighbors. One way in, one way out. I have no problem with adding to the tax base, just wish it was done with a finer plan.

Cynthia pegs it. It's bland city here, and to equate it with amherst is apt. Anyone who has to get in a car and drive more than a mile to pick up groceries ain't enjoying city living. It's the only village in the world without so much as a dry cleaner's.

Sally,

You should check out chicago. The "wall" of highrises along the lake shore is nothing short of stunning....and guess what....Even a 1 story building blocks your view if you are on the wrong side of it.

BCB
can we come up with another term besides "high end people" . Maybe what you are trying to say is people with a lot of money or on the high end of income. Other than that I agree with your points.

On a separate note why is there so much negativity about this proposal. Its a good thing for Buffalo. Is it because the people here that don't agree with it want something bigger? That somehow our super high rise buildings bring esteem? Or that there is not space in Buffalo for other development that is less than perfect urbanism. We need to be careful about beign tyrannical about any veiws that people on this site hold dear. We should be very happy with what is going on in Buffalo right now its been so long with virtually nothing going on.

When Waterfront Village was being parceled out, IDI, probably the largest builder of high rise condos in the DC Metro area, propsed 3
seventeen story towers for Waterfront Village. IDI,with money coming out their ears, lost out to a proposal by a local developer which never materialized..

I believe it bgh, Typical for this area. Do we also remember the 50 story tower envisioned for the sight now occupied by Shanghi Reds? Yes, we could have had a 50 Story tower by now with a mix of residential, office, and rotating roof restaurant, but instead we ended up with the single 2 story restaurant. Typical for this area..Think Small.

I have to agree with the window thing, if I was paying 600k for water or harbour views, I had better have floor to ceiling glass and a plethora of balconies.

How can WNY have and support UB's School of Architecture and yet have such bad plans for almost every proposed development?

I don't get it.

Aren't they graduating ANY cutting edge talent that can be employed locally to ENHANCE places like the waterfront?

I'm so sick of this website--all you read about is wah, wah,wah and so much negativity. Buffalonians are so annoying!!! This is why our city does not see progress: if we can't please EVERYONE, then nothing get done.

3 - 17 story buildings this.. 50 story tower that...

If you can't even fill up the office space you have, and the HSBC center and other buildings are continually being put back on the market, what would possibly make anyone think that building buildings is the solution to your problems as a city? Honestly.
I like high-rise buildings as much as the next enthusiast, but let's be honest with ourselves here. Unless there was some major draw to bring a new Fortune 500 company HQ to Buffalo, I can't see you filling 50 stories worth of office space, residential, and retail. Not to mention that projects like that are over-proposed to generate public excitement. The reality is that you'd probably get a 12 story condo tower, and the other 2 would be cancelled... oh wait.. that's what you're getting now!

Let the builders build the ugly town homes if they want. It's their money. And if a project actually gets built in this city to the scale on which it was proposed, I'd wet my pants. Your city NEEDS the money from this so they can lower the individual tax burden, so they can get more developments, so they can lower the tax burden, etc.

Cynthia,

Many people like neighborhoods like the one you described on the waterfront:

Manicured
no commercial activity
no kids on bikes
no barking dogs
no chatting neighbors
One way in, one way out

Sounds like an urban oasis to me!

On my street on the West Side, we have plenty of unsupervised kids in the street playing basketball who won't even move out of the way when cars try to pass. I saw a stray dog get hit and killed by a passing car yesterday. My neighbors chat so loud (and play music) at all hours of the night. We have all kinds of commercial activity, like drugs being sold on street corners, prostitution, and a two Arab corner stores that are filthy, ugly, and smelly. And you should see the way the neighborhood is "manicured" on my street between the Puerto Rican flags, pink flamingos and windmills from my Polish neighbors, and "statues" and fountains from my Italian friends. It's a strange asthetic to say the least. Your description of the waterfront neighborhood sounded like an endorsement to me!

Let's face it, waterfronts are used for a variety of purposes. We have industrial uses, commerical, boating, residential and public. While I believe this section could have been planned a little better with a strip of public space directly on the water, I don't see these condos as a major negative. For years, this section has been for private residences and it appears that it will continue to be.

Why on earth would you want to place an urban, mixed use building right in the middle of it. It wouldn't work, there isn't enough foot traffic or density in this section, nor will there ever be. It's cut off from downtown.

In addition, these people are paying half a million dollars so that they can have a private, waterfront residence. It happens in cities everywhere!!! Take Tampa and parts of the Florida intercoastal waterway, they have private mansions right on the water, the same goes for Massachusetts, and Connecticut. And just like those cities, Buffalo has its own private area of the waterfront.

Believe it or not, the developers do their research and build products that are in demand. Granted, the buildings aren't the most attractive, but then again, it blends in with the rest of them, and I don't have to worry about it since I will never live there.

I agree with Melissa, it is a bit annoying how all anyone does is complain about everything and anything. Try being positive ;)

Dak,

It's all a matter of perspective. I have a photo of that area from the South Street Seaport. It's true that I can't see the Wall Street buildings from there. But if I go to the promenade on the other side of the river I can. Likewise if I go to the Hudson River walk on the Jersey side. Is the best view of downtown from the marina or Fort Erie? Or LaSalle Park for that matter? It's all a matter of opinion.
If you go to Chicago, I would particularly recommend sitting on a park bench in Millenium Park at night and taking in the skyscraper "wall" on Michigan Avenue. It is one of the most stunning urban spaces in the country. The skyscraper "walls" on each side of the Chicago River are even more so.

If kids are in your street and don't want to move when your driving....HIT THEM! They'll learn to move next time. I can't stand punks (young and old) who think they can do what ever they want and want others to wait for them when they are blocking you. Screw 'em, HIT THEM.

Dave, I wasn't endorsing the extreme opposite, either. Maybe you should move.

I just wonder why it is called "Pasquale" ...

The official name is "Pasquale at Waterfront Park." Named after Paladino's uncle according to Business First.

This design looks exactly like the Shoreline Apartments on Niagara St.