good point chiknlil, I lived in a Fischer owned property and I only met them once in the 14 months I rented. I moved out in July and the trees from the October storm were still in the backyard. Talk about neglect. They seemed like good people, I was just a little dismayed with the lack of respect they showed to the property. I don't mean to hate on em, because they did a great job with the church, but yeesh, let's be wary with Fischer involved.
As Tony the Tiger would say this is Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat! ;) sorry for the quip I couldn't help myself.
A view from my window... agghh I wish I was rich enough to rent this place.. it'd make a cool office too. The fact taht CityView is involved ( and Bini) should take a huge load off of everyones shoulders.
I think M&t bank being the socially responsible company they are will eventually sell off that lot to someone who will put somethign there... after the m&t lot is gone.. and this project is developed... we'll finally have a neighborhood on our hands heree..I hope I'm in the area in 15 years...things are changing!!!
M&T has a tower, the gold dome, the big glass curved building connected to the gold dome, the new building on Delaware and how knows how many other office buildings, Brisbane is mostly M&T now right? They add more density and vitality to downtown than a single tower ever could. This setup makes it more convenient for their employees to get out and go some pace in downtown. Ridding down 40 stories to the ground then having to go some place else means you are just going to eat in the building's cafe... and not go into the streets.
The renovation of the Genesee block and the 500 block of Main Street are incredible positive signs for downtown. Couple these with the purchase of the old Trico Building and Century City by UB from the Garvey estate and downtown continues to see major investments. It would be great to see UB start a new incubator near the Buffalo Niagara Medical campus as soon as possible. Time to start getting new retail and new jobs downtown to fuel this investment.
RE: The M&T lot: Bob Shibley @ UB ten years ago proposed a parking ramp fronted by retail/office on Chippewa. This in fill project would physically connect east and west Chippewa Streets. M&T can't give up parking. Maybe the economics are changing enough that a new ramp/mixed use building could be feasible. But if it stays an asphalt lot for a while, at least the view from the ground beyond the sea of parking will look good in all four directions (the theater block of Washington, Termini's block of Ellicott, St. Michael's and Genesee Street's Genrich block and Electric Tower). In a way, it would be a shame to block the views of the buildings with new construction (especially at night I love the way these buildings look).
A developer (Matt Neil) suggested to me today that the island in the triangle between Genesee, Chippewa and Ellicott should have a monument. Maybe a fountain. Something. It's wasted space now. Put something there and call it something identifiable, like Chippewa square or Cleveland square, or whatever. Give the immediate neighborhood a name: "i live on Chippewa Square. . ." He says the neighborhood needs a name and icon identifying it. I think that's a great idea.
With regard to credit for this deal: Roger and Scot were my buyers but two other gentlemen in our office had the listing (Art Judelsohn and Rob Cowing). We all share the deal.
Roger Trettel gets credit for biting the bullet and buying into the block without guarantees that anything would be happening around him. That takes courage. He also gets credit for bringing in Scot. In the end, he's the one who convinced Scot and Jesse to jump in.
Scot and Jesse, in turn, should get a lot of credit for putting together a capable team willing to pull off the project. He and Jesse spent a ton of money and ran into a ton of bad luck trying to save the corner building from the wrecking ball several years ago. I understand that people are upset about how it's looked the last few years, but remember that without Jesse it would have been demolished years ago (and their plot of land is too small to do anything with. It's tiny). This project incorporates the properties the Fishers put their necks out to save. Credit them with trying valliantly to do the best thing for the city back then. Credit them today with getting the project into great hands (and creating a team of which they will be a part). They deserve the most credit.
And in regards to the Fishers' property at Ferry and Main, Chiknlil, it is under contract to Housing Opportunities Made Equal. HOME is optimistic about tax credit funding next round (the environmental remediation plan wasn't completed in time for this yeyar's round, but the signs look promising for next summer). That project will completely rehab the existing two buildings (adding a third floor to the former pizzeria).
Again, credit the Fishers. They saved a significant building from probable disaster. The two buidlings were vacant for decades (owned by the father of Mark Virginia, the guy whose son was choked to death getting arrested). Virginia eventually donated them to Bill Zimmerman's Sea Scouts group. In turn, I got Scot to buy them from the scouts (Scot and Jesse live literally around the corner from Main/Ferry and were concerned that the buildings might get demolished. With another owner, they likely would have). So they bought the properties, alarmed them, secured them (previously vagrants were constantly breaking in to squat there). They have a grass cutting service and a snow plow service. They saved the properties from demolition by neglect and are getting them into the hands of an exceptionally responsible developer committed to rehabbing, not demolishing, the buildings. That's a good deed.
Yes, their corner @ Main and Ferry looks bad. But it looked worse before they bought it. And it's future looks very bright. Don't just look at a property and say: The owner ought to hang for how bad that thing looks. Consider instead the other options and likely futures of some of the properties most in danger. Scot and Jesse have been doing the right thing in both these cases (Genesee and Ferry/Main), not just the Church (I'm sorry, Babeland is it?).
And give Genrich a little love while you're at it. Yes, he sat on them for too, too long. But he saved them back in the day, and saved them well enough to make bring them intact to this day. And now they have a very bright future, a future they would not have had were it not for the ownership of Genrich. You may hate that he didn't finish them. But he started them so well that they lasted. He was committed to his vision. He didn't sell for a long time, but he protected the skeletons for a long time. They weren't protected by Historic Preservation as Granite Works was. But they made it through to today because of Bill Genrich. Future generations and we will reap the benefits of the work he and others did once. Once the eyesores are out of our field of vision, perhaps people will be more generous to those, like genrich and the fishers, who carried the buildings through the hard times. Sure the City Centre Developments and Bernie Obletz's and Terminis and Iskalos and Paladinos of the world deserve our deep appreciation for the restoration of our city to the extent they are responsible. They deserve the most credit. But guys like Bill Genrich also contribute. If you appreciated the effort and expense and vision he poured into assembling and securing and improving the properties years ago, if you appreciated how soundly he secured the skelotons and how wisely he planned (particularly in the Werner Photographic building), you'd give him some credit too. We're all going to benefit from the restoration of those properties.
In my heart this was always a set of properties that would signal the true turnaround for the city. When I was younger there was a sign on the facade that read, "Will the last one to leave Buffalo turn the lights out?" It always upset me to see those words, and I always knew that the buildings would be a major milestone for the non-believers... to hold over the heads of the spirited drivers. I'm still having trouble processing this good news. If I could hug Scot and Roger and Bob and the rest I would. This is so exciting. This project is a reward for all those people who had hope in Buffalo.
What a treat! Now as to M&T, A $55 billion bank ought to look like something. The time is now, guys. Put up a tower worthy of respect or I'll open an account in your once fine institution and ruin everything.
That view from inside the Werners window should be overlooking a public park that is fasioned after Bryant Park in NYC or Millennium Park in Chicago. (smaller scale of course). Public performance space, ice rink, cafe kiosks, chess board tables and flower kiosks. Construction of small buildings along the curb will lend to street appeal. Bury two levels of parking undermeath with underground access to to Main St buildings. Bulid on all lots, including the triangular M&T lot, around the park. The store fronts along Ellicott St would come to life and there is already a residential base forming here.....and now you have a cool urban neighborhood. And how about a parkway feel as you enter the "Genesse Gateway" (all the way to the Hyatt). Simliar to Genesse St near the Statler between Niagara Sq and Franklin St. This plan might reduce speed and create a calmer and more cozy feel.
I don't think you can blame Fisher for what happened at his properties. It seemed that a ton of difficult circumstances, including a storm that destroyed the building, came upon the project all at once that just made it unworkable. They were absolutely attempting to set a good precedent but had a load of circumstances cripple the project. I Fisher credit for sticking it out, and apparently finding a new avenue to get it done, and this is it.
Great news for Buffalo and Great Work by Bob Biniszkiewicz. I refuse to extend any accolades or kudos to Scot Fischer, he has made a disgrace of his properties. He could have set the tone for this block instead of letting his buildings fall into disrepair and decay. Why should we reward him for bringing in Wendt to enable him to profit from the neglect that he has shown for his properties? Will he do the same thing with the Main / Ferry property, just wait for the neighborhood to hit bottom then convince a major foundation to pay for remediation of a problem that he contributed to? It doesn't make sense, he should have lost this property years ago, or he should be forced to pay for the damage that his neglect has cost the city in reputation and lost revenue / commerce. The building, if developed when purchased, would have made the same profound impact on the city that we are expecting today. Fischer and Genrich, as investors who are profiting from their neglect, should be held accountable for the opportunity cost that the city has incurred as a result of their collective lack of action.
There is a thin line between a hero and a villain in Buffalo. It is a matter of timing and how desperate we are at the time the announcement is made.
Finally! Awesome awesome awesome. Looking forward to the renderings. Things are turning around, with all the new developments, Elmwood's award and such. It's a very exciting time in Buffalo.
Damn, something needs to be done about that parking lot. After taking another look at the picture above, I didn't realize how massive it is. Jay you're right, hopefully we'll be hearing about that lot next.
Many have speculated that this will officially mark downtown's symbolic turn-around. I concur. This is wonderful news in a week of other great Buffalo-related development news.
About the M&T lot....very valid concerns. The lot is massive and created a bit of a spatial disconnect. I recommend dividing the plot up into two. Run a narrow new street down the middle from Elliott to Washington. One of the new parcels could make a great park/plaza space, while the other should be earmarked for development.
There ya go-- my armchair planner two-cents of the day.
Is M&T even considering building a tower? Is that even an option for them? It would be great though.
I absolutely have the same feelings as you queenseyes. There is something about this stretch of buildings that gives me the same impression that once this gets turned around Buffalo is truly in an upswing. It is a big day for everyone living here, the buffalo boosters, the naysayers, and those who have moved away. Buffalo's on the move.
Interestingly, I think the MandT surface lots are going to become a topic of mixed-used development discussions down the road. I cannot see how this can possibly stay a surface lot in light of all the recent area investments.
Great news.
How about we look to the past for some inspiration on what that block could be. It used to be a beautiful grand market for downtown, and many of the adjacent neighborhoods. It is located to be convenient to all downtown residents, workers, visitors as well as Allentown, The fruitbelt and the near east side. It has a much larger draw for customers than the DL&W would. This doesn't or shouldn't preclude maybe a nice park and green space, or commercial buildings with cafes spilling onto this new area or some new widened sidewalks. It could absorb and improve upon the existing downtown country market, giving it some permanence and potential year round activity. Cheese, Break, Jams, Winter shares, drop off / pick up location for the CSA's we have been hearing about.
Think of the whole square together, Church to the north (existing), the completed Ellicott Street facade to the East, the Genesee Block Redeveloped to the south and the Washington street rear facades on the west and we can start to see how this could be a really special place.
Think Quincey Market in Boston, The NT Market, or the numerous successful downtown markets + squares. Ours could really become the heart, living, breathing, vibrant, for this whole area of downtown.
How come our wonderful leaders before could not figure out that a single project will not save the city and it takes multiply small projects like this that I read about pretty much everyday to put the city back together??? Let the good news keep pouring in
This is awesome news!! I can't wait to visit Buffalo and come off the 33 to see this development. Something needs to happen to the M&T Block now. Perhaps M&T could put up a tower w/ 1st floor retail there for their ever growing needs. If nothing else, they could sell the lot to someone that would. A lawyer could easily work out a deal that would parking for them. A paralegal friend of mine did that for a condo project in Charlotte. I guess that happens a lot.
I like the park idea too. I'm not sure how much faith I have in City Government to have that sort of vision though.
We are all very lucky the Wednt Foundation is involved.
They dont just throw money around.....they will make sure this project happens.
Good job Bob. B @ Pyramid Brokerage, he found a buyer for every building on this block. He continued to pursue these buildings and market them when everyone else gave up.
I can't wait to this corner 5 years from now.
Buffalo is coming around and i'll be alive to see it.
In order to conect this row of buidlings, chippewa, main st, the flower district and the theatre district.....
The M&T parking lot has got to go.
Bini, thanks for the perspective. I trust everything you say is quite accurate. One bone to pick about the M&T lot though...
M&T can't give up parking..
I don't buy this. Obviously if they can get a nice sum for the land, they'd sell it. Parking isn't the end all. I'd much rather see M&T do something proactive and environmentally responsible like buy their employees NFTA passes and/or offer them lower-rate mortgages if they relocate within 1/4 mile of a bus line or rail station.
If the city actually used site-value taxation instead of the dumb system (based on built improvements not site context), the big parking lot would be taxed for it's development potential, not for what's currently (not) built on it, it would have been built up years ago. Our current taxation system encourages speculators to freeze unproductive downtown land in cold storage for decades.
This is great news!
I think the City of Buffalo needs to take a look at the M&T lot for a Major public project - construct underground parking to serve the residential area, M&T, as well as the theatre district, with a great urban public park at the surface. Perhaps the entire lot does not need to be park, redevelop certain corners or edges. I think this would cause the housing market i this area to just explode and it would open it to a whole new market of people who need the public green space access. Although, it kind of serves as a bit of a courtyard for the rich condo dwellers nearby, perhaps we could look at doing something like Teardrop Park in Manhattan - just a really cool and interesting space.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_72/park.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_72/teardroppark.html&h=355&w=293&sz=77&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=FjSN0gDJokA4bM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dteardrop%2Bpark%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLG,GGLG:2006-30,GGLG:en%26sa%3DN
This is a huge immage change for those who come into DT from the 33. Any timeline yet?
This is good news for sure but the article doesn't say (1) what the plan is for the buildings and (2) when work will begin. Two points too important to overlook, IMO.
Good point, sbrof, but you know what happens: the bank with back offices scattered all over hooks up with a developer and consolidates in an existing building or a new one. What we don't want here is the "Chicago Effect" which is where a cheapskate developer trumps a great building proposal with 30 floors of rock-bottom gross leaseable area in a squat, hideous monstrosity called "555 Dearborn". M&T owes Buffalo a little more consideration than this ...but it's coming, bro.
( "555 Dearborn" is used for demonstrative purposes only and is not an actual building. Hideous eyesore addresses may vary. )
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