Buffalorising has been redesigned.

Where did the drawing above, come from?? Either the Buffalo River got wider overnight or they moved the skyway to make the parcel of land between it and the Buffalo River bigger?

Somebody describe what I am looking at?

yeah it does look like its a little stretched... but then again it is just a concept sketch so it's not a big deal.

Are their other drawings (site plan) that can give us a closer look at this proposal. Is it full of silver bullets or real city developments?

I added the revised November 2006 Site Plan. I think what you are looking at is the chunk of land that was at one point proposed to be removed in place of a marina.

A few thoughts...

-What is Plan B for the Aud if Bass Pro bails? Will we sit with a boarded up eyesore for another ten years while Buffalo stews?

-Name me one national retailer who will want to lease space across the street from the Boarded Up Eyesore.

-Benderson the lead developer? Will the design of these new buildings replicate the growth period of the 19th century, or Transit Road strip plazas of the 20th century?

-And oh, that oversized red tool shed next to the slip does not exactly inspire confidence as to who is in charge of architectural review here.

-When is the Donovan Building coming down?

-Where are the maps, renderings and timetable for lift bridges to the Outer Harbor?

-Why isn't the second floor of the DLW maintenance building in play as part of the comprehensive plan?

-Is the ugly Aud LRRT station and that ridculous temporary station used for arena events going to be replaced with a new station, dramatic and worthy of its new environs? Here's a novel concept - climate controlled access from the train right INTO the arena!

-Skyway left up? Skyway torn down? Will construction of the "Canal Place" neighborhood go on with the Skyway up, and what demolition challenges does it bring later on if the structure is removed with buildings in place below?

-And what about that tract of land marked "C" on the above map? All paved parking bisected by cobblestone streets, one could just envision rowhouses and mid rise condominiums, interspersed with neighborhood service type retail. Anyone marketing the site, soliciting RFP's? Or are we content to keep it for arena events parking in perpetutity?

Had I been among the media corps yesterday, these are the questions I would have been pressing, among others.

I don't want to be a wet blanket about all this. I am hoping and praying that just once Buffalo gets this right. As I travel around and see Tampa's bustling Channelside neighborhood, Columbus' Arena District, Washington's Gallery Place, and Baltimore's Inner Habor - all dynamic communities grown these last few years around their sports venues, I shake my head and repeatedly ask. - Why not in Buffalo.

But sorry, yesterday's dog and pony show by the Mayor and the ECHDC does not inspire confidence. This has E Zone written all over it.

sportsroadtrip...all GREAT questions and I too would like the answers to these, but the mighty & powerful ECHDC membership cannot be bothered with trivial stuff like this ;).

Sarcasm aside, considering that the ECHDC is a government appointed group, shouldn't their meetings be open to the public? If so, where is their meeting schedule or how do you get a hold of them.

It happened sooner than I thought; already dishing out more money for more consulting projects on unrealsitic proposals that will never happen. The whole thing is a Scam. Politicians need to make it look like something is happening while they spend the money - its been going on for years - WAKE UP BUFFALO.

This new proposal is something that will cushin the blow. Unitl some major developer comes along and decides to build with his own money (LIKE SAVARINO) not much of anything is gonna be happening down there.

How long has the Aud been empty for now? A little too long to rehab...

One thing I'm reminded of whenever I look at proposed plans for the inner harbor...

Somebody please tell me that they are going to address the HORRIBLE ODOR coming from the Kelly Island Pumping Station.

You bloggers are DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING...

You bloggers are DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING, DEPRESSING...

queenseyes....thanks for the enlarged site plan. With the buildings on the drawing, it does seem out of scale, but I can see where they are coming from.

Ok, to answer the myriad of questions with what I know:

1. The enlarged part of the Buffalo River is the so-called 'South Basin' which has been part of almost every inner harbor plan as a place to dock tour and 'tall' ships.

2. Supposedly, if Bass Pro bails, ECHDC will still renovate the Aud for retail purposes, as it is planning, and Benderson and ECHDC will look for another tenant(s).

3. Benderson will have to build to the design standards set forth by ECHDC, so no Transit Road retail style. The retail will be ground floor, built up to the sidewalk in mixed-use buildings.

4. Last I heard, the State is right now selecting a contractor to demo the Donovan, and that it should come down in the Spring.

5. Unfortunately, the plans have not been fully released to the public yet, so there is no place yet to observe them. What you see is what you get so far.

6. The Comprehensive Master Plan developed by EEK takes into account the DL&W as well as the rest of the Cobblestone District, those would be later phases of development. What was announced yesterday was Phase 1.

7. The LRRT Stations will be combined into one new station on the site of the current Events Station, and will be done during the first phase of the Main Street project, supposedly in early 2008.

8. At present, planning is based around the Skyway being up, since at present, there are no definitive plans to take it down. The development is flexible enough that this could change if the Skyway comes down, but that project has farther to go at present.

9. The tract of land marked 'C' is the Cobblestone District, and will be part of Phase 2 of development. This project should be similar to the others listed around the country, this is the creation of an entirely new neighborhood.

10. No Money, Benderson, who is a major developer is putting up their own money as part of this project, $60 million worth. This is real, there are not going to be lots more studies, this is a "go plan". Every part of the Phase 1 plan is funded minus the bridge at the foot of Main Street to the Outer Harbor, but Higgins is working on that one as we speak.

This is not pie in the sky, its creating a destination retail center, like a small mall, at the foot of Main Street, with residential and commercial (office) components, to create a lively, 24 hour neighborhood, where currently mostly parking exists. There will be the Great Lakes Museum still, a welcome center, and a hotel, nothing too 'silver bullet-esque' like E-Zone, or the original Bass Pro plan. This is much, much, much better, and if Bass Pro doesn't sign on, it'll be their loss, not ours.

Balth, i think these "bloggers" are just realistic after years of broken promises. I for one would hope that everyone sees this plan as great and a positive step as i do but as always we'll believe it when we see some action.

thestip...thanks for the informative post!

Im glad that Bass Pro isnt coming....I think we will have a better Erie Canal Wharf District without them dominating every stipulation to serve their convenience....nor did I support their tax and rental give aways to sign on to the project....for what a temporary minimum wage retail company...please thats just ridiculous.

But with so much retail development planned for this area....can we demolish part of Main Place Mall and restore the street grid to traffic and perhaps put up another office tower at the other end.

Can we also raise the discussion of demolishing the site of the present convention center and reopening the street grid.....and finally building a new convention and conference center.....even Erie PA has bigger convention and conference facilities...its embarrassing.

Can we bring back the DL&W concourse that was demolished as part of the plan, too! Im supprised more people arent asking for it! Its perfect to dock great lakes cruise ships, it has light rail connections and rail connections.

Can we re-activate the Central Terminal as the bus station, parking, light rail, rail, taxi, etc....whatever cannot happen at the DLW should be located at the Central Terminal.

channel 4 has something about waterfront development on tonight at 8.

Thestip -

Why will this mall be different from the mall two blocks up Main street?

What makes you think that people will flock to Buffalo in the same manner that they flock to Baltimore. There is only a 10 x 10 block section of Baltimore that is attractive, go one block in any direction and you are right in the middle of the slums. Samething with Tampa, three blocks from the Channel is the most crime ridden area of Tampa. Is this what we are hoping for in Buffalo, a safe zone for travellers and suburbanites to shop and sleep?

An attraction yet to be noticed by the larger media outlets but by no means undoable:

The Pedaling History Center’s Vision is to relocate America’s largest collection of bicycling heritage to Buffalo’s Inner Harbor and re-establish it on the original footprint of the George N. Pierce & Company bicycle manufacturing building. This new building will evoke the original look and feel of its predecessor within the historic street grid of the Erie Canal Harbor which will be located along the Niagara River Greenway.

The Pedaling History Center continues to be an established world-class museum and educational historic resource in Western New York for the past fifteen years. It is among the largest of about a dozen bicycle museums in the world. It was the first in America since it was established in 1991 by Carl & Clarice Burgwardt of Orchard Park, NY. The museum exhibits their personal collection of over 500 historic bicycles and thousands of pieces of bicycling memorabilia, ephemera, advertising, photographs, posters and original manufacturer’s catalogs. The museum’s presentation offers a chronological and comprehensive history profiling the bicycle as the catalyst leading to all of man’s personal transportation of today and dispelling today’s common thoughts of bicycling as just a children’s recreation pastime.

Ninety-five percent of this collection is original American Heritage artifacts telling the story of the beginning of our personal mechanical transportation as we were weaned from the horse and moved quickly on to road building, road signs, rules of the road, motorcycles, automobiles and the airplane – all pioneered by the bicycle. The bicycle’s popularity, use and its tremendous surge of patents in the last two decades of the 19th century is part of the museum heritage experience. This collection is worth in excess of five million dollars, is the largest American Bicycling heritage collection in the world, is recognized as such and should be a component of the realisrtic heritage experiences of the inner harbor.

Lou...Bass Pro is more than likely not coming, but it is not dead yet. Also, why do you classify the Bass Pro jobs as temporary? Last but not least, what retail store are you going open in the inner harbor that provides something more than "minimum wage" jobs?

I have day walked Baltimore from West of the Raven's Stadium down to the Harbor, past it down into little Italy. Not in one place did I come across a "slum". My friend owns one of those 13 ft wide two story row houses that lines all those streets. Cost before refinishing: $275K. Just because it doesn't look like "Deer Crossing" subdivision and it is not clad in vinyl, does not mean it is a slum.

I actually found the harbor area the tackiest, although it was clean and "family" friendly. I don't think the main goal here in Buffalo is to get people to "flock" here. The idea is to jump start a mixed use neighborhood on the water with historic and shopping opportunities that would draw some visitors. Then let it grow and evolve into something unique and special.

Just like Baltimore, all these areas need fighters and those that care about a greater good to invest, take the risk and bring back something great and worth passing on. Everyone else can keep running farther and farther out while pointing thier fingers back complaining a neighborhood or area does not fix itself.

Of coarse you will eventually see "slum" areas if you walk far enough. Its an aspect of today's society, where we rather build cheap vinyl and cinder block crap so we can pick up and move (run) at the first opportunity. There seem to be very few who respect history and the value of investing time, money, and personal risk to build something long lasting and valuable.

We all complain about corporations that "don't care" and "pick up and leave" when we do the same things with our households and neighborhoods. But it is understandable since most people hold everyone else to different standards then themselves. Wonder what our city would be like if they held themselves to a higher one?

Is that empty space in the middle (towards the water) a Tennis Court? or just a park space?

Did anyone else notice on the news last night or even the bottom left of the first picture....SMALL SUBURBAN STYLE HOMES? I thought we were over this a hundred times....NO MORE SMALL SINGLE SUBURBAN STYLE HOMES IN THIS CITY. If your going to build housing, build townhouse style or high rises, mix the living up with first floor retail/restaurants, built to the sidewalks like in REAL CITIES.
And how is this even allowed in the plans for the outer harbor?

I see alot of public planning and not a whole lot of private capital interested in this project. Not good.

Though, I'm not worrying about Benderson here. They did renovate the Hampton Inn on Chippewa/Delaware into a nice mixed use project. They do have the capability of building semi-nice stuff.

It's just this whole thing is bound to go nowhere if turns out to be nothing beyond a massive publicly-funded boondoggle.

Memo to thestip.

Great post and you nailed all of my questions!

Please tell me that you're somebody in the know, and not some holdover hack from Dennis Gorski's (ewww!) Horizons Waterfront Commission.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp needs to be highly accountable to the PUBLIC! After all it's our money $$$ they are playing with. I propose that they open ALL their meetings to the public and hold at least 1 public news conference per quarter updating the public and media as to EXACTLY what is happening. The public is kept in the dark way too long on these projects. We are only updated when we are told that the project is not happening! THE ECHDC needs to get their public relations in order now!

When they say that the design can go on with or without bass pro I don’t believe you! For my understanding bass pro is not ideal for this space and like the skyway its presence seems more forced then fully realized. The money is there to create a comprehensive plan and unfortunately, we have been restricted because of a few bad ideas (the skyway and the central transition of the AUD).
If the plan is to remove the skyway, this plan does not take advantage of the space as much as it could! It breaks up the look of the skyway but does not empower the triangular space. What are we building the backstage lot at mgm studios? The French would spit in your face for this lack of continuity. (a nice drawing does not mean a good theory)
Other then keeping the façade of the AUD, why engross the city with a jumbo-sized building in an area of particular? I wonder if the project would not be stronger if the canal was longer. If you must keep the AUD make it into some coliseum like housing. (It would be cool to have a round central vista.) Maybe keep caged bears in the middle.
The strength of the canal project is obviously its history yet the real success will be if this area can excavate a proper path toward the outer harbor. Our bragging rights will come when we desire the land to be complicated and comfortable. I would just like a nice indoor place to sit with a book and look out onto the harbor. All those tourists we want!

Go sabres!

I think the Aud should be turned into a mixed-use retail center.
How about,,,House of Blues, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, ESPN Zone.

Are you all forgetting, or missed last nights news? If Bass Pro backs out, there are other major retailers interested in taking it's place. So, either way, we still get a major retailer to the downtown waterfront.

I think the Aud should be turned into a mixed-use retail center.
How about,,,House of Blues, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, ESPN Zone.

Jai...I'll believe when I see it. If they have all these retailers just begging to open up shop in this space, don't you think they would have told Bass Pro to shit or get off the pot a long time ago? In fact if all these retailers are itching to come here, why not Bass pro AND other retailers? Why is it one or the other. Just food for thought.

Make the aud into a coliseum for apts and Sustainable living ( or just something intelligent and resourceful.) You could do a lot with the design and implementation into the harbor plans, if the price is right.

with a large atrium in the center, you could look across to your nabors who are not holding a foam finger.an open roof to let in light. i still like the idea of bears in cages.

noname...I wouldn't get so upset about what you are looking at in the drawing, across from the inner harbor. Not only is it very hard to tell what is being represented in the corner of the drawing, this isn't part of the inner or outer harbor parcels that are being considered for development(at least in the initial phases). It is currently a privately owned marina and my guess is that the architect who did the drawing thought it would be "cute" to fill in that space with "something".

BCB..I posted this earlier and agree. Why the ECDHC is allowed to have these closed door meetings and only make public announcements when they feel like it(which is not nearly often enough), is unacceptable. I'm not even sure how you would contact them to express your concerns.

While Buffalo Rising is providing a tremendous forum for the public to raise its concerns, where is the REAL public invovlement? I hardly trust a quasi-governmental, state-appointed "development corporation" to make GOOD decisions on our behalfs. Perhaps somebody can tell me where the SEQR documentation can be found for this project? Was an Environmental Assessment Form filed or an Environmental Impact Statement completed? I understand that this is all still conceptual, but considering that this amounts to a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan and/or Neighborhood Master Plan, a Generic Environmental Impact Statement should've been prepared. I'm sure site-specific projects will be subject to the SEQR process and evaluated on a case-by-case basis as they are more formally developed, but it would be nice to see a venue or forum dedicated to receiving public input BEFORE they start designing buildings and applying for permits. I've been paying close attention to this for a few years now, but maybe I missed the boat.

On another note, is Bass Pro holding out for additional subsidies? I mean, when the government provides subsidies in excess of 2/3 of the project costs, that's still not enough? At what point do we say, "projects stand or fall on their own merit." I mean, $45 million just to stabilize/remediate/abate/update the Aud? That's absurd! Benderson has said that they will be committing $60 million of their own money for the mixed-use development proposed for the areas surrounding the Aud. If that's the case, how much of the total project costs will be subsidized? If we use the 2/3 model, that means $120 million more in public subsidies. And by the way, BENDERSON??? Are you frickin' kidding me? The same company that moved their headquarters out of Western New York not too long ago? The same company that builds cinder-block boxes in the middle of blacktop ponds? What assurances will the citizens of Buffalo have that Benderson will build quality structures that fit within the historic aesthetic envisioned for the wider project area? In my opinion, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation should devise a Master Plan that includes urban design guidelines, and then let developers compete for the public subsidies. Why hand this project over to a private developer with a multi-billion dollar portfolio when we can spread the wealth, give everybody equal opportunity, and allow the neighborhood to be carved out and built up by more than one interest group. At the very least, this will ensure that building designs are varied. I mean, come on, you can spot a Benderson Development from a mile away...and they're not pretty.

With all of that said, I support the plan in principle. I think that this is a tremendous opportunity for the City (if done correctly), I'm encourage (despite all of the typical Buffalonian pessimism and nay-saying) by the work that is already being conducted, and I think that the Phase I development is proof enough that this is more than just another plan for the shelf, so to speak.. I am discouraged by the fact that the ECHDC doesn't even have a website that I can go to for more information on the project, though. Why is it that Buffalo Rising is the most accurate (not always, I'll admit) and up-to-date source of information on this? If somebody can point me in the direction of a website that describes the project in greater detail and has conceptual plans/renderings that I can actually pull details off, I'd appreciate it. The images above don't tell me much.

On a final note, Rich Newburg is hosting a special tonight on Channel 4 at 8:00pm dealing with waterfront development and 100 years of failed planning efforts. From what I understand this special will showcase waterfront plans dating as far back as 1905. The Buffalo News has this to say about the story:

"If there's one missed opportunity in a city of missed opportunities that stares at us every day, it's the Buffalo waterfront. Finally, however, there appears to be new hope for its development. News 4's senior correspondent Rich Newberg hosts this new special detailing how, after a century of missed opportunities, there is real evidence of progress and the money to back up waterfront development. The hourlong special also relives the colorful history of the Erie Canal district."

Fond fairwell and happy blogging!

A larger version of the rendering and a site plan are available for download from Channel 2's website in .pdf form.

One thing I noticed while perusing the site plan was that the Kelly Island Pumping Station is to be relocated, and Lou you may also get your DL&W Concourse building because there is a future DL&W expansion where the old concourse building was.

Does anyone know what the possible replacements might be for Bass Pro?

thestip....thanks for the links on the wgrz website. Very nice!!!

I'm not getting the whole, "We have other retailers interested if Bass Pro backs out". If this were true, why didn't anyone allow these other retailers to take over (First Come First Serve)? And Bass Pro or the other retailers could have looked at other downtown sites.- The empty lots that surround the Aud? Old AM&A's Department Store? Courtyard Mall (before Palidino decided to put in Probation and Mental Offices in it), or any of the other available sites in Downtown?
Why do we have to settle for just 1 Big Retailer here when from what it sounded like, we could have a about six- a dozen here and signed already. What would have been so wrong with that?

I think I remember back when this whole BassPro thing started, that one of their greatest concerns was that they did not want to be an island on to themselves. It was that concern the prompted the initial plan of a hotel and great lakes museum adjacent to the store. I’m sure that aside from the financial issues, BassPro has been waiting to see if Buffalo would make any progress on building up the surrounding areas, so that they would not be alone down there. Things like the Casino deal and the work on the commercial slip / Military Park, kept them somewhat interested to see what would develop. I’m also relatively sure that this whole inner harbor plan as well as the ultimatum to BassPro are (in part) sales tactics to close the deal with BassPro. The 200 mil plan shows BassPro the future features and benefits of the site, and the ultimatum is the old take away sales tactic. I believe them when they say this is the plan with or with out BassPro, as a location with that kind of development SHOULD be able to draw large national retailers. I would love to see this kind of development down there… too long coming. The proof being in the pudding… open the box and start stirring, we’ve been read the ingredients enough times…we are ready for a taste.

I hope they plan on brining in other destination here besides a few vintage looking buildings and small retailers. IMAX Theatre/Movie Theatre, ESPN Zone or simular attractions, event spaces, and other attractions will be what is needed to create a real "Destination"

Once again, maybe the drawings aren't accurate, but what happened to all the interpretive elements related to canal history that were supposed to be part of the inner harbor. All I see are a few remnants of basement walls and a lot of proposed green space. I guess we will find out shortly.

When is the public hearing?

Chiming in again...

I've been reading and studying all the stuff I can today on this development proposal. This caught my eye:

"250 room hotel at the southwest corner of Washington and Scott Streets." Indeed, look at the artist rendering and there is a building depicted on that spot looks to be 9-10 stories tall.

Might the Wyndham people and Savarino Construction be interested in taking their vision and investment capital to this site? Elmwood/Forest's loss could be the Inner Harbor's gain!

I'll never forget the conversation I had with one of Benderson's vice presidents on the footsteps of City Hall a few years back.

When I asked him what was his vision for downtown, he replied, "It should look like Amherst."

Ouch.

ECHDC needs to solicit the community's vision for the inner harbor and then put it into the city code or else we will end up with crap.

And why is there just ONE DEVELOPER?

Downtown is beginning to revitalize because there are MULTIPLE developers sharing risk and completing projects.

Imagine the shock if the Mayor announced one developer would be in charge of developing an entire city neighborhood (Downtown, the Elmwood Village, Allentown, etc..) There would be an uproar!

thesportsroadtrip, they have to put that hotel there....they need to make the argument that there are enough private sector tax paying hotel rooms in Buffalo to prevent and restrict the Senecas from using their tax exempt status to expand into non-casino businesses such as hotels....as they are doing in Niagara Falls.

and the comment about downtown Buffalo looking like Amherst is apalling to say the least.

I've always thought IKEA maybe a good retail anchor. I know they prefer suburban locations, but it we are willing to throw even a fraction of what we were going to give bass pro they may consider it. These store definately draw from all over. When I lived in CT people were driving 2 hours to NJ. Rochester, Erie, and Syracuse people would drive here for an IKEA.

Lou,
Buffalo could learn a lot from the Town of Amherst.

Amherst turned vacant lots, fields, and run-down buildings and turned it into the residential, industrial, and commerical zip code of choice for Western New York. This didn't happen by accident, it was done through strict guidance and adherence to their master plan.

Does Buffalo have a master plan? Does Buffalo even have a plan?

The architecture and planning may not suit your 'tastes'; however they have been able to accomplish the very thing that has eluded the city for decades. I have lived in the University Heights for 30+ years and still don't understand what the city is doing.

Hey Jim Walters,

Get a f@#$ing clue! This site is not called Amherst Rising, so take your uninformed opinions elsewhere. First, Amherst is not the "zip code of choice" for WNY. Second, if you knew anything about Amherst you'd know that they just completed a new Master Plan because they're old one was 30+ years old and was an absolute jumbled mess. In my opinion, Buffalo can't learn anything from the Town of Amherst...apples to oranges, man.

Amherst's master plan... ohh you mean the one that the Town Board still hasn't approved to legally support? The one that says sprawl is bad for WNY and just because you gain from it doesn't mean it is morally acceptable. They prefer to stick with the notion of any development is good development even it is sucks people and population from other areas. Keep your sinking homes, the government KNEW it would happen when they built them but let it happen anyway. They are not looking out for you but their own tax role.

We all have our problems but Amherst is far from a "role model" I think the only place that could be considered a role model for development is probably the Village of East Aurora.

My point about the hotel on Washington and Scott had nothing to do with Amherst zoning or architecture.

Simply stating that the Wyndham/Savarino hotel for Elmwood and Forest is dead in the water. Rather than taking their capital and concept and disappearing, perhaps they could turn their attention to the Inner Harbor for their new hotel.

Dumb idea?

I never gave the Seneca interests and their possible expansion a second thought. Good point I guess.

Calm down Bidell911. This is a forum for all to discuss their views, whether you agree or not. Stop the attacks and respond respectfully.

Amherst does have a master plan, and it was revised recently. Buffalo too has a master plan, the Queen City Hub. You can find it on the City of Buffalo website.

I believe that what Jim Winters was saying is that Amherst has been pro development and had a guide to where they wanted development to grow, hence the master plan. Buffalo was, until now, lacking one. If you like the suburban style architecture or not, Amherst has been successful in developing itself. Buffalo could look to Amherst and take some notes. While not all the types of development from Amherst would work in Buffalo, nor should be found in Buffalo, the City could learn some tricks.

Amherst has:

Attracted businesses to specific areas
Created critical mass for retail businesses
Business friendly tax structures
Business friendly permit processes

Understand, I am not saying that I want to see Main Street, Buffalo turned into Transit Road. Just look and see what is working elsewhere and see how it could work in the City.

Also, look at Benderson’s portfolio outside WNY. They have some fantastic developments that look like they were built in the early 1900’s and most on this site would be proud to have in downtown Buffalo.

I like the Snyder, Eggertsville and Williamsville villages in the Town of Amherst. The Town has done a good job of preserving the integrity and charm of these areas and probably could have done a better job if the state hadn't stepped in to mandate widening of Main St. Amherst defined four corridors for commercial (Big Box Store) development, and limited most of the development to these specific areas (transit and NFB, bordering the town on the East and West). Commercial office parks are only allowed in certain areas, and only where they maintain the look and feel of the surrounding area. Look at what they did to the area around the University. They turned down scores of development offers until they found offers that made sense for the non-commercial (off audoban / campbell / millersport) areas.

I have lived in Buffalo for most of my adult life. I love the city and have backed any number of projects. I have participated in several outreach initiatives with UB, Buffalo, and the Town of Amherst. We are all far from perfect, but as CK outlined above, we can learn something from the surrounding area.

The short-sighted, reactionary, spiteful attitude expressed by Bidell highlights one of the problems with this entire region. We think locally, at the neighborhood level. Why not begin to look at Western New York as a viable entitiy, instead of trying to build Buffalo up at the expense of the suburbs. Yes, many people fled Buffalo for the suburbs, but that doesn't mean that we need to bring them back. There is a huge population of people that would love to move to Buffalo, if we made it more attractive for them.

This is why I ask about the master plan. Yes, we have the HUB plan on file; however it does not appear as though we are following it.

Sorry to hijack this thread with comments about Amherst. In my view, they play as much a part in the city renaissance as anyone in the city. Just my two cents.
-PJW

Sound Familiar. Bass Pro in Memphis. Mentions Buffalo.

http://smartcitymemphis.blogspot.com/2006/08/bass-pro-shops-leads-demands-for.html

CK, I followed your advice and looked at about 2 dozen sites outside Buffalo in Bendersons portfolio. Maybe I am not looking at the right ones but they were all strip malls. Could you pls.recommend a portfolo entry.

So.................
Larry Quinn will speedily spend $130 million on Buffalo Benderson aterfront Plaza themes and our waterfront will suddenly rock.
Hmmm.
Don't get me wrong, because I'm excited and involved, yes..but I can't help thinking about that view in ArtVoice a few months back when Jamie came back from his publisher's tour of China-- the paper showed a picture of Shanghei just ten years ago, a blunt barren smokey landscape of bitter nothingness, and now, the top visual city landscape in the world.
How come we can't work closer, better, quicker, Buffalo?

I hope everyone got a chance to see the waterfront developmnent special on Channel 4 this past Tuesday. I thought it was very well done.

One thing that I haven't heard addressed in awhile(and was not mentioned during this special)...I thought there was talk to move the Coast Guard to a location where they would not be sitting on PRIME property?

I'm very satisfied that Benderson is involved. They bring a sizable checkback, and will not solely look to use ours. And as for the question of what other retailers would be intrested in the waterfront area, who better to ask then Benderson, they know and pursue every reatailer in the world, and speak to them specifically about WNY.

So.....not trying to sound to pro-Benderson.
I think there involvement is the greatest part of this project.
They have the ability to get projects done....
And on there own dime.