Recently in Regional Category

I have long touted the sports strategy that Indianapolis used to revitalize its downtown as a model for cities to follow in terms of strategy led economic and community development. I really think it sets the benchmark in terms of how to do it, and it has been very successful.

Indy is hosting the Super Bowl on Sunday, something that is locally seen as a sort of crowning achievement of the 40 year sports journey. As part of that, the Indianapolis Star and public TV station WFYI produced an hour long documentary on the journey called "Naptown to Super City." I think it's a must watch for

By Nicholas Miller

I'd like to start out this post by saying that I've had very good experiences on the NFTA.  The buses were timely. I can check the schedule through Google Maps on my smartphone. The MetroRail is fast and actually goes to quite a few of the destinations I care about - UB South, the Darwin Martin House, Downtown, Allentown, and it's not too far of walk from much of Elmwood, if you're not in a rush.  There's also decent airport bus service.  However, there are some very simple things that the NFTA could do to improve their service.  Here are

After visiting cities and doing some research on them, I like to come back and write a "master narrative" survey of my impressions of a place. I've been able to do this fairly successfully - at least natives have viewed my take as basically fair - and pretty easily for Midwest cities.

I've spent some time in Providence, Rhode Island recently, a small city reasonably comparable to the ones I focus on in the Midwest, and was hoping to do something similar there. But I've found it difficult. New England culture is something I just don't grok, so

By Dave Majewski

Buffalo and WNY are witnessing perhaps unprecedented development projects that are in progress and certainly much more in the planning phases. We truly have the chance of a lifetime. The chance to show the region, nation and world how it can and should be done the right way.   That way is through smarter design and focusing on the Economic of the Environment, or E2.

We build big awe inspiring modern buildings and give them big flat rubber lined black heat absorbing EPDM roofs that collectively generate more urban heat for us - so all city dwellers

By Dave Majewski

In Western New York we are undergoing an amazing transformation this very day. Canalside, Lafayette Hotel, Buffalo Public Schools renovations, Statler City, Medical Campus, Central Terminal, Fuhrman Blvd and the Outer Harbor, various infrastructure improvements, and many other "development" projects too numerous to list.

Are these good? Of course they are. They create pride, jobs, tax rolls, community enhancement, tourism, enjoyment, and so on. Perhaps even more potentially exciting is the recent notice from Albany regarding $1 billion in incentives should

Young Citizens for ECC delivered a message today to Gov. Andrew Cuomo: "The ECC North Campus expansion happens over our dead bodies!"

The group is protesting Governor's proposed $15 million budget allocation to help build a Health Sciences Center for Excellence at ECC's North Campus, rather than the City Campus where it can tap into

Buffalo General Hospital's Behavioral Health Department has opened its new "Patrick P. Lee Foundation After Hours Clinic."  The clinic, made possible by a $363,746 grant from the Patrick P. Lee Foundation, is an alternative for those struggling with mental or behavioral health issues.  Previously, people had to wait for an appointment with their physician or endure long waits at an emergency room for intervention.  It is designed to divert individuals from seeking urgent behavioral health services from a hospital emergency

The Las Vegas Hilton has just released 2013 Super Bowl future odds, for all NFL teams including the Buffalo Bills. According to oddsmakers, the Bills are 50-1 to win the Super Bowl next year. Frankly, that seems rather generous to the Bills after a remarkable collapse to end of the 2011-12 season. 
Not surprisingly, the most heavily favored teams include the Green Bay Packers (5/1), New Orleans Saints (6/1) and New England Patriots (8/1). 
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Three community organizations have joined to support Re-Tree WNY's five-year effort to plant trees throughout the Buffalo area.  On Sunday, Re-Tree WNY launched the "Green Goal" campaign to raise funds for the purchase of trees to be planted along the streets and in parks of Buffalo and surrounding communities.

The Buffalo Sabres Foundation, The Buffalo News, and Entercom Radio have announced their commitment to support the effort.

"We have a sustainable community program, 'The Sabres Green Team', that adopts a project each season

Governor Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address brought big news for not only New York State, but for Buffalo as well. Governor Cuomo announced a $1 Billion economic development package for the city to promote large investments in growth industries to locate or relocate to Buffalo.

"New York State is on the way to coming back stronger than ever before. By working together in a bipartisan manner and putting the people first, we have established the credibility to govern and to lead. Now we must build on what we have already accomplished to begin to

Adapted from a press release

Mark C. Poloncarz signed five Executive Orders as his first order of business since being sworn in as Erie County's eighth County Executive.  The orders concerned a number of issues including: the Buffalo Bills Stadium Lease, the creation of a Medicaid Anti-Fraud Task Force, the County's electronic time keeping "swipe card" system, updating Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") guidelines and the County Attorney's use of outside counsel.

"As

We wanted to make someone's Christmas a little brighter. So we had a Twitter contest.  
We called it our Christmas Do-Over Contest and we asked our 7,500+ followers to share with us their worst Christmas present and we'd give the poor soul with the absolute worst gift a $100 gift certificate to Trattoria Aroma. 
Well, we received plenty of candidates for worst Christmas gift of 2011. One woman received a tooth brush. Not even a Colgate or Oral B toothbrush but a generic toothbrush. One woman

The Ice Ball promises to be one of the year's signature events.  It will also allow thousands to see the work that Mark Croce has completed since buying the shuttered landmark just nine months ago.  New Year's Eve revelers will have access to nine different venues in the Statler that will feature five different bands, two DJs, a five hour long buffet by Buffalo Chophouse and five hours of premium open bar starting at 9 PM.  Over 3,000 guests are expected.

For months, work crews have been focusing on the Statler's public areas and banquet rooms to allow weddings, meetings

This week the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA) approved over $1.2 million in various tax abatements for several different projects throughout the region. The aid is expected to create over $12 million in private investment while also creating 150 new local jobs.

The ECIDA signed-off on a $300,000 brownfield redevelopment program grant from National Grid for the Bethlehem Steel Rail Improvement Project. The ECIDA, Erie County, Tecumseh Redevelopment, Inc., South Buffalo Railway, and National

Ellicott Development Company is planning two new local hotels in mixed-use projects, one downtown and the second in Amherst.  The downtown hotel would anchor the long-planned project at 50 Court Street at Court and Pearl streets.  In Amherst, a six-story hotel and apartment building is planned for 5195 Main Street, the current site of Stereo Advantage.  The $20 million project is just west of the Village of Williamsville. 

To anyplace that considers itself a "global city" - New York, Chicago, etc - globalization and global competitive reality are the defining lens through which they see their present and future. I happen to think that with the exception of a handful of the most exceptional cities, this is to some extent unhealthy. These cities take too narrow a view. Yet clearly there is an aspect of this global city thing that's very relevant to them.

But to those smaller places that aren't global cities, globalization seems curiously absent from the radar. I would define a global city as a place that

Assemblyman Sean Ryan held a press conference yesterday at 3445 Delaware Avenue in front of Prime Wines and Spirits to discuss the wasteful use of tax dollars to finance ill conceived projects. Projects he says that cost this region millions of dollars with only modest positive affect. This is because each of Erie County's six IDAs pull in different directions, competing against one another, all at the expense of Erie County according to Ryan.

Assemblyman Ryan is calling for IDAs to approve projects that reflect a regional growth model. "Projects that result in a net gain of jobs and

The Seneca Nation of Indians have filed for arbitration claiming New York State has violated its gaming compact. The compact guarantees the Nation a 14-county Western New York exclusivity zone for casino gambling. It defines the term "gaming devices" to include slot machines and video lottery gaming devices. The zone essentially covers all land west of State Route 14, which bisects the state from Sodus Point to the Pennsylvania line.

After more than a year of unproductive discussions with state officials, the Seneca Nation of Indians

The reviving 500 block of Main Street is having a block party this Friday, December 16.  The Holiday Open House will run from 5 to 11 PM and features art, music and shopping.  All events are free and family-friendly. 

• WNY Book Arts Center, 468 Washington - Last Minute Panic Holiday Marketplace

• e-Café, 465 Main St - Delicious food, warm drinks & music by Jeremy Hoyle

• Lloyd's Taco Truck - Corner