Buff State '95
Oh good lord... Living in Buffalo all my life (except when I couldn't find a job and moved away for 4 years) you drive by these and other buildings and and say wouldn't it be great if....
Well these old buildings deserve a second chance. Buff State can be and needs to be more of a cataylst in the city especially in neighborhoods that are tetering in the brink of possibly never coming back. This could help in a decent sized way.
There is also a bridge right there that connects the bike path to the car impound. It is an old railroad bridge and I am sure could be secured with guard rails etc. So you might not even need or want a shuttle if you lit and built out the area between the new dorms and the campus center.
Plus have we not learned that concentrating a problem doesn't get rid of it but only makes it worse. This sounds like some sort of concentration camp for sex offenders. It almost seems inhuman to tell them they all need to live together in an old industrial brownfield, where you can't walk, find a job, or have real access to anything. Sure lets give them a cell and a place to die where no one can see them.
There are a couple on my street where I live, everyone knows about them and they are actually nice people. Sure they have issues but don't we all. I dunno. It sounds like Buffalo is trying to be a suburb by concentrating regional problems instead of acknowledging the problem and actually fixing them. Just because they are sex offenders doesn't mean they are less human or don't deserve to live a decent life. Murderers are allowed to go live where they want, rich extortionist CEO's that ruin the lives of thousands of people can go live where they want... It sounds immoral. It is bad enough they have their face and address plastered on the web for anyone with the internet to see and make fun of.
I am with you sbrof. I don't think the rate of repeat sexual offenders is any higher than any other criminal activity so why force them to live in a facility like this if we don't do that for murderers or armed robbers who sometimes graduate to become murderers? Just because it "feels good" doesn't make it right. No one wants to be branded as being soft on rapists and child molesters.
It would be nice to see this site get used for something more like the dorm plan. Too bad the Scajacqueda slices between the site and the campus. Maybe this project would help to mitigate the divide. I must say though, if I were coming to Buffalo as a visitor, I don't think I'd want to book a hotel room over there so I am not sure how successful that will be. The Elmwood and Forest location seemed much better. Has anyone else noticed that there sure are a lot of hotel rooms in the works? The City Tower, Statler and Dulski all have hotel components and then there is the casino hotel. I think it is time to get a new convention center if we ever hope to fill those rooms!
Good Neighbor Planning Alliance showed a proposal with the new stadium at the current impound lot, mixed usage and extension of Letchworth St. to Tonawanda St. Personally I think getting Buff State to utilize the area is a fantastic project. As for the row of buildings that could be lofts.....I can see them as being 'quirky' enough to appeal to college students. Why not a mini type of artspace? There's already the steelworks there. I'm a firm believer that Black Rock deserves a much better development than either Sex Offenders or a multi-level truck plaza. Yes, crime is a problem and there's some serious need for development. There's also a number of fantastic groups, block clubs and business groups that believe in this area. UB is investing in Buffalo and I would think Buff State would do the same thing to keep their share of the pie.
"Sure they have issues but don't we all" Speak for yourself. Eeesh, creepy!
As for recidivism, 2 minutes with google pulled up this report: -Incest offenders ranged between 4 and 10 percent. -Rapists ranged between 7 and 35 percent. -Child molesters with female victims ranged between 10 and 29 percent. -Child molesters with male victims ranged between 13 and 40 percent. -Exhibitionists ranged between 41 and 71 percent. (.csom.org/pubs/recidsexof.html)
Therefore, statistically speaking if you round up 30+ perverts and put them in one neighborhood, you will have a lot more women raped, children molested and old ladies flashed. But hey, it is just poor old Black Rock right? Who cares about them anyway.
Ed Hogle, thank you for not building the sex offender housing. They don't belong near other people period. If someone wants to build new housing for them, it should not be in a populated area.
As a Mom of two young kids, I am against housing offenders together.Granted, there are different levels of sexual offenses, but any pedophile will tell you he/she WILL do it again. Student housing seems much more benign. Kudos to Ed Hogle for having a conscience while trying to develop a project.
There's a creepy illogicality to putting sex offenders under one roof. One imagines a gathering like in the movie "Oliver" where Fagan controls a few dozen street criminals under one roof. It just becomes a school for the trade.
If the offender is free from jail and on parole, he won't grow healthy in mixed-society while residing in a scarlet letter residence. Better to keep them in jail, or parole them off to a work farm.
A quick google finds that "About 80 percent of sex offenders are likely to repeat their crime if they are not treated, according to statistics from a Department of Justice report...." -- housing them in a sex offender center doesn't seem like confident treatment.
Congratulations Ed Hogle on principle over principal.
I'm all for the sex offender housing if all of the residents are castrated upon habitating.
With all of the talk of UB, Buff State sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. Just dream with me for a second.
Imagine that Grant was turned into a parkway for the section that cuts through the campus. This section of Grant is designed to become a "College Town Main Street" with retail to the street. Parking ramps are built for safety and space. Micro Parks throughout.
On the West side of Grant, student housing is built in a village like atmosphere. Building are reused for charm and new builds match the style. Housing is built to grow Buff State by 10k students.
Now fast forward to 2020 and you are a senior in HS. You go to visit Buff State in the fall to see if you want to attend.
Essentially on the same campus you have one of the Worlds greatest city parks designed by Olmsted and Vaux. You have a world renowned museum of modern art and a the nationally know "Penny" and architecture fans can visit the HH museum in one the finest structures of the 19th century. At the doorstep of the campus is a nationally recognized best places to live in the Elmwood Village.
Because of the increased enrollment, Buffalo State has expanded its offerings and is now know as one of the best technical colleges on the east coast. They have also invested back in their roots and have become known as the premier institute for teachers offering an extensive 5 year masters program. The phrase that sweeps the nation is "Our children's education starts in Buffalo".
The 17 year old heads back home with great anticipation of attending Buff State in the fall and a new love for Buffalo.
Ok...you can wake up now.
Keith, per the latest Department of Justice and Bureau of Justice Statistics reports, it shows that 67.5% of people released from prison will be rearrested for a felony or serious misdemeanor within 3 years of release. By comparison, only 5.3% of sexual offenders will be arrested for committing another sex crime within 3 years of release. The majority of sexual offenders who are re-arrested (14%) are charged with non-sexual crimes that include probation violations and drug offenses. Of the sexual offenders who commit another sexual crime 40% of those commit within a few months of release.
We run a much greater risk from all felons, why single out the sex offenders? I am more concerned about the murderer that receives 2 - 5 years in prison and has a 78% chance of committing another felony than I am about the majority of sexual offenders who do not repeat after release. Zimmerman is correct that 80% of sex offenders will repeat if not treated; however all sexual offenders are required to complete mandatory, court ordered treatment programs both during incarceration and after release.
For the record, I would love to see this parcel used as productive space for Buffalo State, and not used to house sexual offenders. I believe that the vast majority of people who have been convicted of a sexual crime should be allowed to integrate back into the community, with a predetermined release and parole plan, just like other felons. If we point out the sexual predators in our neighborhoods, regardless of the offense committed, then why not highlight the other offenders, like the repeat DWI offenders, the paroled murders, drug abusers, and tax evaders?
Why is the city always the first option for things like a sex offender hostel? I bet there is a good piece of land on Main street in Hamburg available for that use
the problem with Buffalo is the people are not career oriented, especially the women.
Too much time tyring to find someone to split the bills, make babies they can't afford, and wathcing the Sabres..
Get some aspirations.
I love the title of this article, like there is a choice!
On a serious note, this thread makes me think of my neighbor. I found out that he was on the sex offender registry when I received an anonymous message in my mailbox a few years ago. The message stated that we have child molesters and sexual predators in our community, and listed the names and house numbers of every one of them, including one of my neighbors who is a good friend. A couple weeks after receiving the letter, I asked him about it over beers on his porch and he started to laugh. He told me that he was convicted of statutory rape when he was 19 and still in High School. His girlfriend's parents (now his wife) caught the two of them in a compromising position, she was a 15 year old sophomore at the same high school at the time. When confronted, he said that he didn't deny anything, that the love was mutual and the sex was consensual, but it is only the difference in their ages that really mattered. He was forced to spend 3 years away from her, he did his ordered community service and education, and seven days after she turned 18 they were married. He says that his record, which he is required to include on every job and college application, held him back at first. He finished college, couldn't find a job because of the felony, so he started his own business.
He tells me that he gets threats every once in a while, and a mailer is sent out every couple of years. He expects it and hates the accusation that he is a pedophile or molester. His story made me rethink the way that I view sexual offenders. I agree with many of the comments above. He did the time for his crime, he paid his debt to society, and should be free to live his life.
I think this project will not happen for many years. SUNY officials will need to be convinced that these dorms/lofts will not be sitting in the shadow of an international bridge plaza. Last I checked the Ambassador Niagara project wasn't completely dead yet.
The scajaquada need not be any more of an impediment to Buffalo State than Millersport Highway is to UB.
As I predicted, I will skip my usual diatribe against Howard for the moment to say that AS I PREDICTED this period in time is critical to Howard and Buffalo State and if they ignore it then Buffalo State will be crippled for forever.
On one hand we have Contract Pharmacueticals (the Former Bristol Myers Plant) which if properly engaged would make an incredible INCREDIBLE small business campus if the Contract Pharmacueticals facility were properly integrated into Buffalo State by surrounding it with offices for small businesses (aka business incubators as SUN@UB refers to them).
On the other hand we have the Ambassador Bridge proposal which could bound up all the available land for an international truck plaza killing the surrounding neighborhood and loading Contract Pharmaceuticals and Buffalo State with campus killing noise and truck fumes.
Now, getting back to the known sex offenders.....this is not a concern to consensual age college students and singles but to families with children for that I have to agree....as I have heard many times its better to know your neighbor than to not know your neighbor.....in that sense....its better to have them in one known location than to have them scattered among the community where the possibility of anonymity is higher. Im not sure but sex offenders can range from actual physical abuse all the way to public exposure or even the viewing of indecent material in pictures or on the internet.....so while some may warrant concern by the general public others...may not.....and knowing who they are...and where they live...is better than not.
Sounds like blackmail, "buy my building or else I will be forced to house sex offenders here." Nice.
OK the above statement was pretty harsh by me, I just don't like the way the deal was put. I agree that it would be best all around if Buffalo State buys the land and expands, but I wonder how realistic and in what time frame it would happen? They have been talking about making the Richardson Complex next to Buffalo State part of the college since I went there, many years ago. If it happens, great.
Personally, Buffalo State College needs to expand more in the City. It seems like D'Youville and Canisius are doing a better job spreading throughout the City. In fact D'Youville expanded there campus all the way to Main St. I believe that this property should be used for the college's purposes. This section of city is nasty and needs to be cleaned up. The properties are not very good looking as you are driving on the curvy and dangerous 198.
I owe Steve Stip an apology. I laughed at the idea of Buff State going to Tonawanda Street. They're serious? I'll eat my hat!
Still think it's a good location for ABG, but am absolutely shocked Buff State is seriously considering this location for dorms. Personally I like this land better as industrial (so much rail access as well as highway) and I think Buff State should stick closer to Grant (there's plenty of neighborhood to benefit there), but it ain't my land or my money. An interesting story unfolding.
Biniszkiewicz, If Buffalo State builds those dorms on Tonawanda...then the future of Buffalo State and its student population will gradually shift from Elmwood (which is following delaware and going upscale) to Grant Street. Grant will be the new retail center for college focuses businesses.
Elmwood will be reinvented to suit the surrounding appreciating property values and the rising incomes that can pay for those property values. Not to worry
…nothing short of surgical castration with a dull butcher knife would suffice for sex offenders and the thought of putting a bunch of perverts under one roof would only be acceptable if the doors were locked and the building set ablaze.
But I digress; student housing is an excellent idea and considering how ugly this whole area is at the concept of student housing is an excellent one. If the concept could be extended to the former Buffalo Structural Steel complex that would be even better for the entire area relieving the area of an ugly auto junk yard in the process.
Olcott - Nearly 19% of all convicted and registered sex offenders are female. I wanted to state that to counter your overly reactionary and otherwise idiotic comment about what justice means to you.
I might be wrong, but couldn't Joe Golombek and the Mayor stop the whole idea of a sex offender home at this location once and for all by refusing to allow the zoning change such a structure would require? Or have they already made the necessary zoning approvals and slid it under the radar to avoid real public comment? What is the real story from the City of Buffalo?
well if it is zoned as industrial that typically means you can do whatever you want with it. The ancient system of Euclidean zoning that the city uses acts like a pyramid. at the top is residential, below that is commercial and at the bottom industrial (very simplified) residential zones it is difficult to do anything but residential. Commercial areas allow for both commercial & residential at at the bottom industrial would all all three. So if it is zoned for industrial it is most likely already allowed to be there in which case they would need to change zoning to prohibit such a use, and changing a use to disallow a proposed project can result in a suit. Look at walmart etc.. they go where the zoning says they can and when the place tries to change it they sue them and typically win.
The best and most sensible place to put sex offenders housing is in hospitals. There are security, medical and counseling facilities in place, and the facilities are already fairly diffused around our communities. There is an over supply of hospital space - it is time for a fresh review by the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century to include where supportive and specialized housing can be placed into existing infrastructure..
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