The City of Buffalo is putting a prominent Peace Bridge area property on the market. A five-acre site at Porter Avenue and Fourth Street is going to be cleared and offered up for development ideas. A former Ted’s Red Hots location and a brick cold storage building currently occupying the property will be demolished early next year. Development of the site, at the Peace Bridge’s “front door,” could help reshape the neighborhood. For better or worse.
The Buffalo News has the story in today’s paper. Timothy Wanamaker, the City of Buffalo’s strategic planning director did not go on record indicating whether the city will suggest commercial, residential or a mix of uses or let the development community bring all proposals forward. One commercial broker, a former city development official, offered up his idea:
James Militello, of Buffalo’s J.R. Militello Real Estate, predicted the city will get a “heavy response,” from local and out-of-area developers when it puts out a call for proposals.
“It’s the perfect stop after exiting the Peace Bridge and heading into the city, or getting on the I-190. A mix of fast food, a Wilson Farms-type store and possibly gas services would make a lot of sense,” Militello said.
He also suggested the plaza could be configured to include a mid-rise office building to house customs and brokerage services offices.
Note to City Hall: It is probably a good idea to chat with neighbors and discuss an appropriate land use prior to issuing the Request for Proposals. Nearby residents have been fighting the Peace Bridge Plaza expansion plans. They are engaged and suspicious.
"The Niagara Gateway Columbus Park historical waterfront community is not on the auction block," says Kathy Mecca, President of the Niagara Gateway Columbus Park Association. "We will not be sold off brick-by-brick, house-by-house or block-by-block to the highest bidder. The good people of this community believe in what Bill Banas and Harvey Garrett wrote- This is no longer just a neighborhood issue. This is about the city and its future. A decision needs to be made; we rebuild a city for people who want to stay or for people who want to leave."
"The leadership that is representing us thinks they have made a final determination regarding our future," Kathy adds. "What do the taxpayers and voters think? How about the local preservationists? D'Youville? Olmsted? Why have they been silent? Porter has historical designation. It is a part of our history for a reason."
While I do not believe the community is against high quality development of this prominent and under-utilized site, I cannot fathom they are going to accept a truck stop, convenience store, fast food and gas pumps. Porter is already scarred by these uses to the east.
