Buffalo Rising Online

I'll take Bendersons 60 to 70 unit proposal. The more density the better.

I know everyones feeling about big bad Benderson..... They will build what the towns and cities ALLOW them to build. Hopefully our politicians are awake.

Not allowing residential on the other parcel is absurd.

I also appreciate density, but if a project with single-family homes and duplexes faced opposition what makes you think a tower would be able to get through all of the red tape? Plus our density should be focused more in the core area of the city first instead of creating a wall along the water.

I want dense development too, but I want more feasible projects first. If a smaller density project can be success, then the market will follow and we wouldn't have blocked off the water for more dense projects. I thought we already had enough in Buffalo blocking the waterfront...

It would seem that the Benderson proposal has to include at least a mid-rise building of 10 floors or so in order to accomodate 60-70 units on this site. Does anyone know what that concrete thing is next to the site? Is that some sort of fountain? Does it work? If people are so gung ho for a park then why isn't that sliver of land turned into a community park if it isn't one already? I think that if the neighbors are so intent on this land being turned into a park then they should buy it, turn it into one and pay for its maintenance. After all they live next to LaSalle Park and the marina so it isn't like they are lacking for parkland. The real issue is that they either don't want the density or to have their view obstructed. It never ceases to amaze me that people who buy housing with a vacant lot between them and whatever it is that they want to look at expect that the vacant lot is going to be there in perpetuity or is somehow their right. So if they want this land to be forever off the tax rolls then they should have to pay for that privilege.

60-70 condos in what will probably be a mid rise tower sounds good, not great but it does seem the best of the 3. The McGwire proposal is very lame, 18 units, some of which are singles WTF??

I'd love to see another high-rise go up...or two if you count next to Shanghi Reds. I agree, most of those proposals are very boring. McGwire's proposal is as week as they come...and the Birchwoods proposal (two-storys?) should be thrown in any office park in WNY. As for the neighbors...what do you expect they would do with prime, lakefront land????? You silly people.

I would like to see a Wegmans on this site.

Townhouses? Go ahead, just put a bunch of townhouses in there, and the same rich folk who hold our city back can get homes on prime property and the rest of us get left behind. C'mon, the tower would be a lot better. 60-70 condos makes more economical sense than two dozen townhouses in the long run.

It would be a good idea, as per sleepl8, to have a supermarket, such as wegmans on the first floor. The building that should go here is a 20-25 apartment/condo floor tower. Having some retail in this area would prove to be successful, since there is not much down there. The wegmans would probably be on the smaller side, but still a supermarket would be beneficial.

Get the cranes up and lets get started.

GalaxyJay - I am surprised at your pessimism - U SEEM TO BE CONTRADICTING YOURSELF. I would think with the Hotel development boom that you believe we are having downtown, that you would most ceratinly believe that this project would also come to fruition.

Actually, on this one, I am gong to disagree with you. I THINK THIS PROJECT WILL HAPPEN, AND VERY SOON. TOO MUCH PUBLIC SUPPORT ON THIS ONE.

PS - how are those cheese puffs?

here here another 15 story tower!

Bring on a tower. Finally nice to feel sandwiched when driving the 190 through here. Another tower would bring it that much more to feeling atleast a little like driving the Gardner in Toronto. TOWER TOWER TOWER - density density density. THEN the grocer will arrive.

Build a tower!!!!!!! that would benefit more than just a few, its not up to the few rich and powerfull that live near by currently, it should be up to the whole city!

Hamp- the developers have to show the City what they're proposing, the City isn't releasing those materials however. A few of the proposals are likely to trickle out, but the info. will be from the developers.

Adding density at this location really means very little beyond tax base, because this neighborhood is so cut off from the rest of the city. The city failed years ago when these streets were built basically to function like a gated subdivision, and nothing has been done since to correct the problem. Its too bad, 60-70 condos would benefit the city far more if they were located on the Inner Harbor, as opposed to the waterfront village.

Benderson has proposed a high-rise tower according to the Buffalo News. Definitely the best proposal on the table, but I have serious concerns whether or not the city goes along with this plan. As someone stated earlier, the nearby residents will put up a major fight. Hopefully this doesn't scare off city officials. We need some density in this city.

Wait a minute, Bend-over-son isn't capable of building anything higher than a one story strip mall are they? I would love to see them get this piece, but for retail. the area could really use a nail botique, a dollar store, take out chinese food, etc.

I think the Benderson proposal sounds best given their desire to not build low density but I hate that the proposal came from them. The way they bolted from Buffalo, the city that made them, yet continue to benifit from its largess is disgraceful. Aren't their resources better spent on some nice project down in St. Pete? A little density down at the water's edge will be a mice counterpoint to the existing townhouses and low rise buildings.

Hoss no you are not welcome to walk around this area, once you pass the Waterfront Village sign you might as well have a beacon on your head that says outsider. Because no one around there walks. Public access to the water is on the books for most of the shoreline in buffalo but I doubt considering the precedent of privately owned shoreline in this area they would allow people into this little section. Shanghai Reds was supposed to let public access to their section of waterfront but alas we see how well that turned out. So to answer your question is the public is only allowed to the water where there are not those willing to spend money. Once that happens we loose our right to it.

Townline is right on here. In the ideal business world, we would see a perfect set of town homes, because it’s important that we don’t detract from the grounded elegance of community. Not that I wouldn’t rather have the tower, I just see the wiseacre identity of our waterfront as a solution to our problems.

The marine drive apartments are unsettling because so much empty space surrounds them. I like how the new waterfront tower buttons up our 190’s shirt. Though we need to continue to enhance the interpretative quality of our waterfront. The development of the inner harbor will demand a higher condition of living. If I was going after change, it would be by combining the efforts of Ciminelli and Benderson(hypothetically) and putting something higher then 20 stories on La Riviere drive.

If Benderson hadn't built all that disposable sh...hole crap on Transit Rd, NF Blvd and just about everywhere else don't think that someone else wouldn't have. And if they hadn't wouldn't we be better off anyway? This year's brand new strip mall is the empty decaying outdated property of 2020. Without growth we just keep re-shuffling the deck anyway. Old properties lose tenants and new properties gain them until something newer comes along. I guess that I am just being naive to think that since they make most of their money in WNY they should also be based here thereby helping the community that feeds them.

And Florida has no state income tax. Overall, NY is ranked #3 out of the 50 states in 2007 for highest state+local taxes (trailing Vermont and Maine) and Florida is #38. List

Earlier this year, City Mattress moved their corporate HQ and main warehouse from Buffalo to Florida as well and are focusing on that state for their store growth. And they didn't need to be lured there by incentives either apparently:

... While the county’s Economic Development Office wasn’t involved in City Mattress’ decision to relocate its headquarters to Lee County, the agency does work to attract similar businesses to the county. Tax credits and other incentives help the agency lure businesses trying to find a corporate home.

“These corporate-headquarters-type of operations typically pay a higher wage and bring skilled jobs to the area,” said Jennifer Berg, the Economic Development Office’s spokeswoman. “They’re the kind of business every county wants to attract.” ...

But I'm not implying Buffalo doesn't have a lot of positive intangibles. Benderson and City Mattress both displayed a shocking level of greed and materialism by leaving.

Seriously, how can anyone be defending Benderson? Are some of you so blind as to believe that any investment is a positive thing? Perhaps you were also lamenting the day Hooker Chemicals moved out of the area.

I absolutely lament the day that Occidental left the area. The loss of any Fortune 500 company is lamentable for the area. Now all the money from the jobs and community involvement are in Dallas. I feel the same way about National Gypsum, Trico, and Benderson or City Mattress.... The lost jobs, money and prestige are damaging for the community. There is no other way to see it.