Update: Hertel Avenue Family Video
The Family Video location at 1488 Hertel Avenue is open for business. A controversial driveway on Sterling Avenue, however, is not. The driveway was built twice as wide as approved and has been ordered blocked off by City officials. Residents along Sterling Avenue objected to the store’s 28-car parking lot connecting to their residential street and claim the store is doing just fine without access to Sterling.
In March, Family Video purchased two properties at 1488 and 1500 Hertel, previously occupied by Martino's TV & Appliance. The retailer paid $537,500 for the one-story, 7,000 sq.ft. commercial building and adjacent parking lot.
Family Video received City approval to demolish Martino’s existing building and construct a smaller, 4,850 sq.ft. store with a re-worked 28-car parking lot.
Neighbors were not upset with the use or store design, but were unpleased to a new driveway onto Sterling Avenue. The City approved the parking lot connection last fall at a Planning Board meeting residents say was poorly noticed.
Despite a petition signed by over 50 residents and a community meeting attended by 75 neighbors, Family Video refused to make changes to their site plan.
“The company from Illinois that our City trusted, cut the driveway illegally and made it twice the size that was in the plans,” says Sterling Avenue resident Sue Luciano who organized neighborhood opposition to the driveway. “They had their own motive. But at this point the driveway is roped off pending a meeting between the Mayor and Family Video reps.”
“Business seems fine using only the driveway on Hertel like we requested. If they would have just done the right thing for the neighborhood,” says Luciano, “they would have had all these customers who will never patronize this store. I am hoping the City learned a big lesson through this ordeal and will ensure that neighbors are informed of what is happening in their own backyards.”
Family Video is the largest privately owned movie and game rentailer in the United States and the third largest overall. Family Video employs over 5,000 people across 18 states, with more than 550 stores, including 19 in New York State.
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
Related Articles
-
Lighting The Elmwood Village For Good
Now that the Elmwood Village has landed the distinction of being one of the Top 10 Great Places in America, I can't wait for the day when the city switches up the street's lamp standards. If you look at historic Allentown, you will see that the street lighting is attractive and effective. It places the importance of the neighborhood experience on the sidewalk, rather than on the cars. As we see the highway cobras being replaced (finally) in our neighborhoods, our commercial distri … - Today, 4:58pm
- Continue Reading
- 2 Comments
-
Open Discussion with Al Coppola and Ron Rienas
Tomorrow evening, Ron Rienas, General Manager of the Public Bridge Authority, will meet with former State Senator Al Coppola in order to discuss the Peace Bridge and plaza expansion once again, and word is that Hillary Clinton is sending representatives.
In addition to the aesthetics, health concerns and historical impact to the immediate area, final funding has not been previously disclosed and is obviously an important element in the ongoing controversy over the entire proposed … - Today, 3:34pm
- Continue Reading
- 4 Comments
-
Urban Roots During The Holidays
You know that you've run across a creative garden cooperative when you're shopping for gardening supplies and you come home with a work of art. That's why we're so lucky to have Urban Roots on the city's West Side. During the course of the year, the cooperative works hard towards teaming up with artists who live in the community. It is during the Holiday Season that there is a big push to shine a light on the creative individuals. And don't think that art just comes in the form of … - Today, 10:50am
- Continue Reading
- Join the conversation
-
Bills vs Miami- Tailgate for a Cure
The Bills have a home but away from home game this weekend against the hated Dolphins. Suneel's Light, a local medical research foundation, is throwing the largest tailgate party in Western New York as the Buffalo Bills try to revenge their early season loss to their divisional rivals, the Miami Dolphins this Sunday in Toronto.
Known as Tailgate for a Cure, the annual fundraiser organized by the Suneel's Light Foundation welcomes all to attend a full blown, festive tailgate part … - Today, 10:45am
- Continue Reading
- Join the conversation
Comment Options
Charger
It will be very interesting to see what the outcome of the driveway discussion between City Hall and Family Video is. I think in some parts of the development/construction community it is standard practice to ignore the scope of a permit and assume that the City will do nothing to enforce its own rules and/or approved designs. Maybe if Family Video is required to fix this problem, or, better yet, if the permission for the driveway is rescinded entirely it will set a new precedent.
Report this
al-alo
Im over on Norwalk that has a now city owned lot in much the same configuration as the FV lot, only much larger. Frankly, Id rather that the FV Hertel lot frontage was in filled with a new business and all the lots were in the rear (like the Utica block of Elmwood).
That said, I fail to see the problem.
So its a lot. So what if it accesses your street. Frankly it seems a lot safer. Are there any studies done that conclude a driveway like this is less safe? Id love to see it. Id bet that trying to merge onto Hertel is going to cause many more accidents than an exit on Sterling would.
If I was a business, I would do my best to accommodate my new neighbors. However, I haven’t heard a single fact, citation, or anything more than a feeling to show why it shouldn’t be done.
And its true, the Martino's building was much more attractive - and likely better built. At this point, it doesn’t matter. and although this building's design will not win any awards, you don’t really notice it too much as you walk down Hertel. At least its fronted to the corner, with a Hertel entrance (not that im excusing the buildings failings, but it is less ugly than i thought.
Perhaps the better dicussion is what the long term vision for the street should be, instead of piecemeal and parochial battles.
Report this
r129
Family Video can't measure a driveway correctly, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that they also cannot spell Hertel.
Report this
sbrof
haha, twice the size as they said they would build... classic.
Report this
Texpat10
What an ugly ass disposable piece of crap architecture. The whole exit onto Sterling thing is completely overblown. I swear people here act like they live on a private street that isn't open to traffic. If the driveway didnt exist cars would go right on Hertel and right on Sterling. More drivers that are afraid to go left on Hertel on the parking lot will probably use it to get the signal so they can go left on Hertel. Even if 200 cars a day are added to traffic on Sterling that amounts to 16 additional cars an hour or basically one every 4 minutes.
Report this
Joshua
I agree that the building could have blended in more with the streetscape. A replica of a building that was originally at the corner probably should have been researched.
Report this
WilliamZabkaAllStars
The bricks-and-mortar rental store is a doomed business plan. When Family Video inevitably declares bankruptcy and closes this location, it will make a great ETS/bank branch/Jim's/Mighty/etc.
Report this
Joshua
I would like Hertel to have a Spot Coffee.
Report this
DanielSack
Too bad the City doesn't insist on multi story mixed use which works so well on Hertel Avenue.
Report this
al-alo
Joshua,
I know that Dash's is planning an expansion - and that other locations do have a Spot. Is it in the cards here?
Report this
sbrof
This is actually not a horrid building. The bricks are actual bricks and were constructed row by row. They are not the stamped concrete panels that were used in the Niagara Center or other downtown buildings. Truth is.. if they kept the bricks right to the top of the building instead of that crappy metal roof overhang thing it would be a nicer building than was there.
Lets be honest about the Martino TV building. It was nothing more than a cinder block box... This could have been done much better, but it is far from the cheapest building built these days. An actual street entrance with a nice cornice line and this could have fit onto Hertel nicely. So it gets a C for almost ok..
Report this
lulu
Living one street over on Wellington, the fact that FV doesn't lease parking spots to La Marina, Shadow and Nova Photo is a much bigger deal to me than the driveway. What used to be a private version of a community lot (shared by about 5 businesses I believe) now sits empty and chained off when FV is closed. Wouldn't they want the revenue from leasing out 5-10 spots along the east edge of the lot? So far it appears FV is not proving to be a very good neighbor! Anyone check out the porn closet yet? Good selection?
Report this
Joshua
Al - It looked like Dash's added a parking lot next to the building. Which way are they expanding?
Report this
Joshua
Al - It looked like Dash's added a parking lot next to the building. Which way are they expanding?
Report this
al-alo
i havent seen any drawing myself, just intermintantly repeated news that they were planning to expand there.
i wonder what the deal is.
Report this
sbrof
I do agree that any parking on a commercial street like Hertel should be considered public for all businesses. That way you don't have people fighting to tear down neighboring businesses for private parking. When people have access to parking all businesses win. Private parking lots create parking problems (look at downtown). You can't find a parking spot even though parking the largest land use in the place.
Report this
MJWorthington
I agree with SBROF with the "C"
Family Video is not all that bad. Up by me a gas station was replaced with one, but the opportunity was lost to build up to the corner and replace it.
It is very cheap, very clean, the workers are very friendly. And I can walk/bike from home. It makes a nice destination and excuse to get out off the couch a bit before watching a flick.
Report this
urbanboarder
I live a few blocks away as well, and I think this project is a plus for the neighborhood. The closest video rental store is Blockbuster which is at Delaware and Hertel. So what the design does not rival Empire Grill, but its a video store, what do you expect? By design standards, its up to the lot line and has parking on the side. I think its stupid that the emergency exit is on Hertel and you have to enter in the parking lot. Also, in terms of public parking, there is a public lot right there, did we forget that?
Report this
STEEL
For some reason people never want to tear down buildings like this one.
Report this
icecreamsub
Yuk!!!!!!!!!...I hate it.....I hate video stores anyways but especially when they move into a fairly thriving city block. These things always seem to fail and are then left vacant for while until a new tenant moves in....usually some crappy chain ice cream place or a fancy bread store....and then that closes......I hate to sound like a typical Buffalonian by expressing disgust with capitalism but I have real sore spot for these lame franchise endeavors trying to take over neighborhoods that already have a strong local flavor.........I guarantee this will be closed in 3 years...
Report this
northside
Kudos to the neighbors for standing up for their street! Unless you live on the street, or your children play on the street you really don't know the daily living of that street. It is crucial for the planning board to examine all effects of changes before approving anything. Family Video had claimed they would share the parking spaces with the neighborhood restaurant patrons and didn't keep their promise to that. The parking shortage has spread to all neighboring side streets. The children safety issue is a vital one! Let's see what the city does now to correct past mistakes and ultimately what Family Video does from this point on.
Report this