Buffalo Rising Online

May I make an observation WestCoastPerspective and BuffaloRising in general.

There is a difference between covering local development projects and huge projects in other cities that actually have a growing economy. Buffalo wil never be able to emulate these mega-projects except to enlighten local Buffalonians what can be done with regard to small projects here....but in many cases we already know what those projects are and to a certain degree their priorities.

First, let me say that Buffalo was built on railroads. The reason Buffalo was such a prosperous city was because none of the other businesses had to carry as significant a tax burdern as did the railroads. Second with Buffalo being the auxillary Port of NY/NJ and rail being the most efficient means of transportation during this oil crisis. Plans are to re-open our railyards...that were shuttered.

Still even without our rail yards...Buffalo is still 60% empty.

Second, since we have no mega-developments...the basic principles are sufficient. Preservation, mass transportation (light rail), infill density, mixed use/multi-purpose business, reopen the street grid, etc.

What am I leading up to? My point is whats the point of these articles on megaprojects when Buffalo has none to speak of!

There can be no development in Buffalo even on a medium scale until Buffalo addresses infrastructure and maintenance and brownfield remediation, which pave the way for residential, commercial and industrial infill. Little of which is happening.

Lastly, part and parcel of development is job growth. The stories on colleges are great but they are fluff pieces because few of the articles have anything to do with the higher educational industry and their role as an engine of growth for our economy and what their doing.

There are practically no stories on the Seneca Rail Yards being the auxillary port of ny/nj and if that has meant any growth for our region, reopening the rail yards in Niagara Falls or reopening the rail crossing on the whirlpool bridge. This is a way our region could add value to the billions of dollars of goods that pass thru our region.

There are no stories about light rail extensions even though the NFTA announced it was going to recommission its consultants so it could apply for startup funds next year to extend.

There are no stories about expansion or collapse of banking in our area, nanodynamics, UBs nano-technology, why other colleges dont have small business incubators, no stories on Buffalo Niagara partnership that attract business here, etc.

BuffaloRising...even when you try to be advocates...its very spotty...the list of historic and or achitecturally significant buildings in Buffalo whose roofs have fallen in and are in queue for demolition by destruction needs to be highlighted.

There are no stories of how good a job or what the plans are for upgrading our water mains which leak 50% (meaning we are paying 2x because of leakage before it gets to our house), upgrading our sewars and sewage overflows (did you know that there are companies like Coskata, Bell Bio and others that can turn sewage into fuel), no stories of repaving our roads, curbs, sidewalks and street lights so we dont look like Beirut.

And its not just our city...we have people that wont even plant a tree, clean their gutters, paint their house for fix a window much less put on a new roof.

How wonderful would it be to highlight our growing ecommerce businesses?

Development comes from 4 areas: government, residential (homeowner), business expansion (commercial and industrial).

In times of a real estate crisis, debt crisis and energy crisis all occuring simultaneously to which Buffalo is fairing well compared to other cities but it would be wise to think about reporting basic growth oriented postings that spur growth here!

Big mega projects...its kinda great for pie in the sky posts but its not relevant to Buffalo. We need stories that take Buffalo to the next stage in its future.

(PS...thats why Im so darn hard on Howard over at Buffalo State. Buffalo State is an engine of growth...and its not being used as such)

Actually, the Sacramento economy is awful. Housing values have fallen 29% in the last year, with no end in site. It makes Buffalo's real estate market look like Dubai. This proposal seems like a fantasy. Article states that the property was purchased in late 2006, which was just prior to the crash.

List of failed projects.

Most would drive the ambitious person away from Buffalo:

1.) Casino

2.) Bass Pro - will not be built without casino, I'm taking bets

3.) New Peace Bridge - 15 yrs out

4.) Erie Canal Harbor Phase 2 - 10 yrs off, took 10 years to build phase one

5.) Statler - this building has been abandoned, wake up

6.) Returning traffic to Main - at least 10 yrs off

7) Light Rail Extension - never happen

8.) Tearing down the Skyway - comical, never happen

9.) Outer Harbor development connector bridge

10.) Elmwood Hotel

11.) Park Lane Condos

12.) Riverside water front Park

13.) City Tower

You will hear the same news, every week about the same projects for years on end. It will make your head spin

Look at all the time wasted discussing these projects. Most have failed!

its more important for us to identify with the obsticles other cities align themselfs with. These big projects are our golden compas to be more like some other city. Strange how some of these citys need development and in our city it goes as a diffrent effort.

@rugbygreta, many cities are in a slump now, but once the economy picks up steam agaian they will take off and leave us behind. Buffalowieners post hits home pretty hard, but it speaks a truth to many people ignore, we are not by any way shape or means a growing city....just a small one shrinking into itself and trying to stay stable.

weiner - great points but you forgot to mention the 3 most critical factors hindering development:

1. unfairly high taxes - There is no need for this. We need to try to keep the remaining 1,432 residents of Buffalo in the city and try to attract others to move there. Raising taxes (tax and spend) is not the way to do that. People like to keep their money.

2. government / labor unions - yes they had their reason for existence, but that time has now passed. It is too easy a way out for those who did not choose college to make undeserving high salaries. The city's and county's total yearly spend would be HALF (thereby reducing taxes) if they went with private developers, laborers, employees, who work hard and seek competitive advantages due to the non monopolistic nature they hold.

3. do nothing politicians - every mayor since 1884 has been, in effect, the same. Nobody will shake things up at city hall, or challenge the status quo. Politicians appoint family members to high positions, they abuse the system, and the tax payers are stuck footing the bill. Not only does appointment by association give jobs to unqualified, it creates an appearance to all those trying to hold these spots that attainment will never be a reality. Once again, putting the most qualified for the best price (capitalism) is the best approach. Yet this will never happen as long as politicians continue to take handmeouts from large investors in return for favorable legislation or giving away positions; nonetheless someone from this state trying to take on the unions for once.

only then will you have an economic environment friendly enough to have ceos, planners, and real businesses start to take a serious look at Buffalo, NY, not just RiteAid/Save-ALot/Dollar General which don't count.

The greed of business has had more to do with present state of WNY than all the above.

Businesses are in business for the people. They are here to provide goods and services for customers, to provide pay and benefits for employees, and to provide stability for families. Greed has made too many boards of directors and c level executives forget that simple fact.

Businesses are in business for the people. They are here to provide goods and services for customers, to provide pay and benefits for employees, and to provide stability for families. Greed has made too many boards of directors and c level executives forget that simple fact.

No, Quijibo, businesses are not in business for the people. They are in business to make money for their owners. That's the essence of free market capitalism. Companies don't provide quality products and services to customers or high wages/benefits to employees out of the goodness of their heart. Companies do those things because they believe they are necessary in order to turn a profit. In economics, this is called the "invisible hand." People/businesses looking out for their own self interests end up promoting the greater good of society as a whole.

The pro-big gov't and pro-union mindset is what sets Buffalo & WNY back. We are trying to compete with other regions in the country who understand that hindering the development of private enterprise, via high taxes and regulations, will devistate the local economy. Unfortunately, our local and state governments have not yet received that memo.

businesses are for the owners and shareholders. non-profits are for the people.

The best possible scenario is for business, government, and unions to work together. This worked quite well in the 50's and 60's and America enjoyed a time of relative prosperity and closed the gap between rich and poor. Unbridled capitalism unleashed by decades of conservative-republican dominance has resulted in the mess we are in today.

Sacramento has took one of the hardest hits in the real estate market. A project like this would only happen if their was a huge turnaround in the economy/real estate market. I wish you can say this could be a reasonable plan for buffalo, lets say the bethlem steel area... I am so unhappy in seeing all of these exciting projects in buffalo fall apart and for what reason?? I really think its taxes! bottom line, I would not build squat here if it was going to cost me twice is much in 10 years? There is no guarantee of profit in buffalo worth the risk! sometimes I hate seeing these articles because we can not do these things here EVER! lol

Instead of sitting around complaining that Buffalo cant get things done, a bunch of people will be protesting the restoration of the elevated section of the south towns connector on saturday 9/13 at 10am along the bike path near the small boat harbor.

There will be plenty of people there to discuss ideas of how to take back our community from corrupt and incompetent authorities.

9/13 10am

I hope to see you there!!!

Yes, Newell will be there. And the follow-up will be commensurately unrealistic.

blackrock - you must have failed every economics course you ever took. Government needs to keep its hands off (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laissez-faire) and unions need to butt out. Companies do not exist to give you a job. Greed is what makes America great and is the great equalizer. If you think your boss is greedy, then quit and start a business and do it better. You will put him out quick and his greed will evaporate fast. There is nothing that I hate more than hearing people complain about how greedy the rich are. My boss is the same, yet I keep working hard to one day hand him his pink slip. Capitalism is, imo, the best thing about this country.

Hard work and sweat is what made America great, stop looking for handmeouts and a free ride. Nobody owes you anything.

If it is truly a free marketplace everyone should be free to fully exercise their leverage and that includes labor unions and political organizations.

tonyarmani, greed is not what makes america great....conversely neither are giveaways like welfare (individual, illegal immigrant, business, foreign aid)

greed is when you own a building, collect the rent but pocket the money instead of fixing a leaky roof or cleaning the gutters or maintaining it.

greed is taking an incredible building made of hand hewn stone (Erie County Savings Bank) or hand fired terra cotta (original Hotel Statler) or designed by a world class architect (Larkin Adm Building) or locally cast iron (German American Insurance Building) and demolishing it for an empty parking lot.

The reason why greed rules america is simple. There is no sovereignty left in our country. There is no nationalism. Illegal immigrants are as much US citizens as well US Citizens. Foreign Countries are as much a part of the US as a state. Foreign Lobbies are as american as US lobbies. Foreign Aid and Foreign Corporations are no different than state aid and domestic corporations.

A country is built like a family or an indivdual, through hard work and self sacrifice and delayed satisfaction thru repeated saving and investing so that the fruit of tomorrow is bigger and sweeter than the seeds of today.

David, no it should not be a free marketplace. The media, a business lobby, a union lobby, a business lobby, a lobby for a foreign nation or a foreign corporation all have more power and influence over your government than you do individually as a taxpayer and a voter. The power should be in the citizen voter.

Buffalo and Erie County aresuffering from the lobbies controlling albany that silence the voices of all of upstate.

Our nation is suffering from the lobbies that are controlling DC that silence out the US citizen voter.

The result is that people consider themselves global citizens (no such thing) and that like Freudenheim (F-them) its ok to take money without any loyalty to anyone except themselves.

The housing market may be in the tank in various cities around the country and Sacramento, too, but there's big misunderstanding in these comments about the Sacto metro area's dynamic, likely tainted by a Buffalo/WNY perspective. There's been worse conditions in Sacto before with ten's of thousands of high skill/paying jobs abruptly leaving two times I can think of off the top of my head. I think it was in the late 60's when Aerojet closed down and you couldn't give away your house. Then in the early 90's two Air Force bases closed. One reason they will have an even quicker recovery from today's troubles is the metro area's critical mass. I lived there 10 years from 1975 to 1985 and saw US 50 double in size and miles of vineyards and orchards along it disappear and sprout thousands of houses in just a few years. I was glad to get out (and move back to Buffalo after 14 years absence) when US 50 maxed out at 12 lanes and stop lights were installed at the end of the on-ramps to meter cars on 2 at a time during rush hours. I was one of 14,000 civilian employees and 6,000 military at one of the bases that closed less than 10 years after I left. When the area gets its second wind after the current financial mess, it'll be off to the races on this project. With Sacto's natural resources, location, in-place infrastructure and a very good mix of government & private employment - no doubt in my mind about it.

After being back in Buffalo for 23 years with my Sacramento bride (her parents and siblings still live there), we've always felt it a right move to come here to have and raise children. Only problem is next year the first one leaves for college to some other city (100% certainty) and then career will take him to some other city (99.something % certainty). The following year, most likely the same for the second child. Part of this is due to some excellent educational opportunities available here that includes Buffalo Public Schools (surprise, surprise!). But having the reality dawning of our children bugging out soon is depressing and having lots of company isn't at all comforting. 8-(

A few points...

Sally-

I take a bit of umbrage to the Liberal Arts student/Non-Profit comments you've repeated a few times. Not only is it out of line, it's truly uninformed. One of the most passionate Non-Profit directors I know (Helene Kramer of Good Schools for All, Buffalo) has a background in Healthcare; and many of the people I know in Non-Profits do it for love of the job. Period. They're not concerned that they make $20K/year, and adapt to do what they like. I'd venture an addictions counselor probably has a greater impact on society than either of us.

I'm a Liberal Arts undergrad dual-major (Psych and History), and earn a quite comfortable living doing marketing for a rather larger telecom company. Don't pigeonhole. It makes you sound ignorant. May I ask what your collegiate education is in, and how you've applied it?

As far as the overall project goes; I like the concept, but this feels Adelphia-tower esque. I agree their timeline, and impacts are a bit more realistic than what usually gets floated around Buffalo, but c'mon. In a shrinking mortgage/financing pool, and a poor real estate market, are they insane? Cool idea, bad timing.

And, yes Buffalo is in trouble Weiner. I love this place, but when I finish my grad school, I'm strongly considering leaving for a multitude of reasons. It's sad, because it's become my adopted home for the past 8 years, but I'm starting to face some facts that are pretty harsh. I'll never stop trumpeting it, nor missing it, but...

I may not be here to do it in person. :(

Sonyactivison, it was albany that reactivated our rail yards by making the Seneca Rail Yards the Auxillary Port for NY/NJ because their port is at capacity.

Plus, the recent energy crisis put many truckers diesel trucks out of business and grounded many airlines that couldnt afford fuel prices.

Plus, 911 proved that our nation cannot depend on air travel as the only means of long distance mass transportation.

Only rail boomed because even today, rail whether freight or passenger, is the single most efficient form of transportation.

The Central Terminal Yards are still in use The Seneca Rail Yards have been reactivated for the Port of NY/NJ The whirlpool bridge deck for rail is next to be reactivated along with a deactivated rail yard in Niagara Falls which I havent checked its location but could be a boon for freight at the Niagara Airport.

Buffalo was built on rail! Buffalos future is still and will always be linked to transportation.

That being said, Buffalo is not going to be getting uber mega projects so this whole topic of Sacramento is kinda stupid.