Construction Watch: Electric Tower Ramp
Iskalo Development is busy constructing a parking deck at the southwest corner of Oak and Sycamore streets. The 47-vehicle ramp will be used by the US Drug Enforcement Agency, a tenant in Iskalo’s nearby Electric Tower building. The balance of the site will remain surface parking for 71 cars.
In late-2007, Iskalo floated a proposal for a larger, three-level, 350 space ramp for the site (rendering below). The developer down-scaled those plans to just one-story to accommodate the secure parking needs of the DEA. Electric Tower has been steadily filling since Iskalo reopened the renovated downtown landmark in August 2007.
The developer is also seeking a restaurant tenant for 5 E. Huron Street overlooking Roosevelt Plaza. Howard’s Shoes previously occupied the building at the corner of Washington Street until closing in 2006. The 4,500 sq.ft. structure with a glazed tile exterior is located across the street from Electric Tower. Prior to Howard’s Shoes, the building was a Waldorf restaurant for approximately three decades.
Get connected: Iskalo Development, 716.633.2096
Previous design for a larger ramp on the site.
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Buffalo21stcentury
If one follows washington and ellicott there is another surface lot across the street and yet another full city block surface lot 2 blocks away.
Iskalo would be better to pursue those lots for a parking garage and expand the Electric Tower 7story addition to occupy its full lot (city lot) which could include underground parking or 1st floor parking for the DEA.
Its a loss for the city because further developments on Washington, Ellicott and Oak need a significant amount of parking available to the community for further development.
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onestarmartin
good pic, i see more parking lots than buildings. speaks volumnes
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jackalope21
I didn't realize available parking was such a scarce commodity in this area. If they're putting one up, then they're putting one up, but are they incorporating any small commercial space in the building? the rendering looks as if some might be available. I guess atleast it won't be a completely dead block
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urbansoul
What a waste of land. Anothre reason why the city should require more dense project(s). This i a joke.
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sonyactivision
The ramp is far better than that empty surface lot but patience will be required over those other lots. The economy is too lousy for anything there but it's nice to dream and the city should lay out a plan for the entire area with building heights that respect the Electric's scale and height, as well as uses that segue with the Genesee gateway development.
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Buffalo21stcentury
Those big swooping access ramps to the Kensington should go..
Entering from Tupper is just a straight line. Exiting to Goodell is a straight line
I see no reason why we need to waste multiple city blocks in order to have a sweeping ramp to access the Kensington...
Its why the Elm Oak and Kensington all act as Barriers...and now that the Life Sciences Complex has taken over the MWile and Trico Factories, it only makes sense to reconsider these access ramps...so that it can grow along Washington and Ellicott and Oak.
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dmdesigner
Expanding the Electric Tower would ruin the integrity of the significant white terracotta facade.....no one should cover such a eutiful building with more parking therefore expanding with in the site I do not feel is a great idea. There is a lot of office space contained with in tower and I can bet that if you were working in there you would love a secired parking area close to the building for your car. If you want other things then retail on the first floor would be a great idea....lets all pool our money and offer it to Iskalo as an improvement. People do not realize that everything needs money, you can not simply add space to building with out huge increases in cost.
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dmdesigner
Expanding the Electric Tower would ruin the integrity of the significant white terracotta facade.....no one should cover such a eutiful building with more parking therefore expanding with in the site I do not feel is a great idea. There is a lot of office space contained with in tower and I can bet that if you were working in there you would love a secired parking area close to the building for your car. If you want other things then retail on the first floor would be a great idea....lets all pool our money and offer it to Iskalo as an improvement. People do not realize that everything needs money, you can not simply add space to building with out huge increases in cost.
Report this