Buffalo Rising Online

That hole has to be filled in.

What's up with that stupid set-back rule?

Yes a gaping hole on the way to city hall. I really hope he plans on allowing first floor tenants. Its a very high profile location. He shouldnt have too much of a problem signing someone. Its not the worst building ever. I too have never heard of that set back rule. why doesnt the court tower have to do it? Lets hope he actually does break ground this spring

The step-back rule is another example of the hang-over we still have from having a zoning code from 1951.

This will go a long way in filling in our gap-toothed downtown, as will the new court house on Niagara Square. Idea: add 10 floors of residential on top of the office space creating a true multi use building with life 24-7. This location downtown deserves a much taller building. Of course this is easy for me to say while this isn't my money!! Kudos to Carl Paladino. (I hope he wins his lawsuit)

yeah those types of zoning codes were popular and functional in allowing sunlight and air to reach the streets in more densly built cities. Both important factors in creating comfortable spaces but in a city like Buffalo, where 50% of the land in our downtown they are unecessary. Plus starting the setback on the 4th floor of a structure is ridiculous. Usually they are talking about 10+ stories before setbacks are required in other cities. 4 just goes to show how our codes are trying to be like the big boys... when they really shouldn't be.

sweet....one parking lot down

Pragon, Good point. I know everyone is sick of hearing this but why not throw on a floor or two of residential on top. Its not like the man doesn't have the experience to do it. I cant imagine them not selling right in the heart of down town in a new building like that. If I were a lawyer that worked down town you bet I'd be first in line for a condo in that location. The only thing that is going to turn our downtown around is if more people live down there.

Build baby build! I have always saw that lot as one of the biggest gaping eyesores downtown. It is such an amazing view to look from Lafayette Square to City Hall... yet that parking lot always took away from it. And even walking past it, perhaps on your way to one of the forementioned sites, is just plain unpleasant. It just takes away from the overall experience of being downtown... in the heart of the city. This coupled with the new courthouse in Niagara Square will fill two big holes in the downtown core. And perhaps just as important, they will help to start changing the perception of the city, among visitors and natives.

what a stupid lawsuit, carl should now sue them for his setback.

he tried too sue them back, I think it was dismissed?

The building does work well with coarthouse farther down.

Nothing wrong with a set-back. They work rather well on City Hall in the background ;) any one going to research the actual code?

WCP, or anyone else with some info care to enlighten us as to why the City Planning Board felt they had to knock down 3 floors?

What is the criticism? How is that area negatively effected by 3 extra floors? I'm guessing they were responding to pressure applied by the clowns at MPLG. What a joke

There won't be a demand or need to build up as long as it is so easy to build out (here and the 'burbs). If I could snap my fingers and change legislation I would: Stop new commercial construction (unless it serves the immediate locale) in the 'burbs until the city was occupied to some % (say 90%); Either provide an incentive (not fond of that) to re-hab existing buildings and/or impose a penalty or premium to construct new within a certain radius of existing unoccupied buildings so that it is no longer cheaper to build new. I know that's a simplified solution to a complex problem but my point is that something (many things) needs to be done to curb sprawl and encourage the stabilization and growth of the CBD.

I think its rather stupid and short sighted...build the extra 3 floors as intended

Look at the M&T Building on Delaware which they are kicking themselves for not making it taller....

Both the M&T Building on Delaware on the Court Street Building are playing it to conservative....downtown is underdeveloped...and it can absorb this space....

Whoa,

phrank sounds just like me

I believe the parking ramp behind the building is 9 stories. But parking ramp levels are typically not has high as each floor in a building.. at least the first floor. I'm pretty sure that even though the Paladino building will technically be 8 stories tall, it will still be as tall as the parking ramp, if not taller. Either way... it's a lot better than having a parking lot smack dab in the middle of our downtown.

All right, I am glad this is finally being built! It is definitely a fitting architectural style and perhaps it will succeed without the extra floors? We do have enough complementary history, its too bad the developers can ‘t always see eye to eye. I came up with a sweet architectural design for this location. The liberty building can even make Victoria’s secret look tacky. Such an adventurous page for our city's chapter.

As for this block, I think I can recall when the whole block was cleared. this 1966 Aerial still shows the block intact so I'm not sure when it was cleared though. Aerial photography from the past to the present!

I must admit there was some good foresight in putting the ramp mid block with store fronts along the west facade. It left room for Erie County Family court to the south and this to the west. now if we can only fill in across the street where a cool building was demoed for the never used SE Convention Center entrence.