Fillmore District Council Member Mitch Nowakowski is seeking an update from developer Nick Sinatra, CEO of Sinatra and Company, per the hold up of the Heritage Point Development project at Canalside. Work remains at a standstill, which has become worrisome for the City, as well as for neighbors of the development, or lack thereof.
In December 2019, the developer paid the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation $1 for the project parcels. At the time, this looked like a promising proposal, with a restaurant, retail and office space, and 61 apartments coming to the waterfront. And for a while, the project was moving right along, until it hit a financial roadblock. In recent months the site has been dormant, leaving people wondering exactly what it would take to get it back on track.
Now Nowakowski is expecting answers, which he hopes to get at the City’s Community Development Committee meeting on September 10, 2024, at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers.
In his letter filed with the Buffalo Common Council on the Tuesday, July 23, 2024 Council Meeting Nowakowski questioned the delays that have been brought about by a a $10 million funding gap that has resulted in Sinatra and Company calling upon New York State for a $4 million loan in order to get back to the business at hand.
The update from Sinatra and Company should detail the steps being taken to address the funding gap and the anticipated timeline for resuming and completing construction.
“These delays have not only affected the immediate neighbors but also disrupted programming, quality of life, and prompted concern from many residents,” stated Nowakowski, who is asking for more transparency seeing that taxpayer resources are invested in the project. “It is crucial that we address these issues expeditiously and transparently to maintain the trust of our community, so that Canalside can continue to progress into a wonderful and inviting area.
“According to Pamm Lent, a spokesperson for the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, the project is still slated to be completed in 2025. The pause in construction is untenable, and we must work together to find a viable solution that will allow us to move this forward.
“It is essential that we keep our community informed and work collaboratively to overcome these challenges.”