40+ Story Tower for Buffalo?

[ExWNY'er]

It's all speculation until we see the architect's rendering. But don't break out the champagne until we see the first shovel hit the ground.

[AmherstMan]

acording to channel 4 he does. It is some parcle of land in the "CBD" Also having the land already bought is a big step.

"Issa said, "We have already acquired other land in the city center of Buffalo. We have already commissioned Canon Design to actually design a dramatic building. ... It's not far from the Statler. It will be very tall. It will be an iconic, symbolic building."

[Architorture]

cannon...booo

[ExWNY'er]

Keep an eye on the Canon site for news

[AmherstMan]

what is the site???

[ExWNY'er]

www.cannondesign.com
You can browse their projects and see a few Buffalo ones you might recognize, such as the HSBC atrium building near the arena. They have their HQ on Grand Island. If this project comes together, they will have news of it.

[Architorture]

i just don't know about cannon for such a 'hopefully' signature highrise

[sargeantcm]

Originally Posted by Architorture

i just don't know about cannon for such a 'hopefully' signature highrise

Well, architecturally, aesthetically, and comparatively to their other works, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill laid an egg with the Marine Midland/HSBC Tower. So maybe it can work the other way around.

[BuffCity]

it will be interesting, I'm sure when it comes out...it will be big news.

[bjfan82]

If this is true and something is unveiled in the near future, please God don't let the unions, special interest groups, preservationists, and unreasonable city/county/state regulations destroy this for us.

[BuffCity]

I think it will have to endure all of those and some...old Buffalo style for the new Buffalo


...ya know?

[WZ1]

i hope this happens, the skyline would then change!

[BuffCity]

yea WZ, then we are gonna have to take half of our photos again.

[BuffCity]

Errant Remark overheard a conversation among Issa’s people: Here’s a telling tidbit I heard from someone who’s had indepth contact with Issa and his group: One of Issa’s top-tier guys said this about Buffalo: “Buffalo is where Manchester was 15 years ago. You’re right on the cusp of an explosion.”

[bjfan82]

Originally Posted by BuffCity

Errant Remark overheard a conversation among Issa’s people: Here’s a telling tidbit I heard from someone who’s had indepth contact with Issa and his group: One of Issa’s top-tier guys said this about Buffalo: “Buffalo is where Manchester was 15 years ago. You’re right on the cusp of an explosion.”

Oh God Bless that man.

[sargeantcm]

I read that the other night, on Buffalo Pundit or something. Was going to post it but SSC had shit the bed. Thanks for posting!

[BuffCity]

we cover each other from time to time...I don't think much slips thru our filter here

[Architorture]

well thats interesting...although i'd like to see something on paper...or the purchase of some land

[sargeantcm]

I'm trying to relocate the full thing (that I saw) right now. I'll edit it into this post if I can find it.

It's not in my internet history because I blew out and reformatted my computer on Sunday. After a year or so, Winblows gets so bloated and the computer starts running like a POS and it pisses me off.

EDIT: Here's what I found. I think we were basically reading the same thing, however I may (or may not?) have dug a little deeper. I'm linking to my sources since I am essentially re-transmitting and providing an account without the express written consent of the NFL errr original author, so if anyone has a problem...

*****

Cusp of an Explosion
Errant Remark overheard a conversation among Issa’s people:

Here’s a telling tidbit I heard from someone who’s had indepth contact with Issa and his group: One of Issa’s top-tier guys said this about Buffalo: “Buffalo is where Manchester was 15 years ago. You’re right on the cusp of an explosion.”

I hope they’re right.

And Errant Remark is right that the News must have been smoking some crack to put the Statler Towers sale on page D7. That’s A1 news. Above-the-fold. Definitely more significant than JonBenet.

*****

The Buffalo News doesn’t jinx
August 18th, 2006
Bashar Issa closed on his $5 million purchase of the Statler Towers today, where he’s planning on sinking $80+ million into the place. And the news put that on page D7.

Why isn’t this A1 news? Unlike the nebulous, controversial Seneca casino, this deal is actually happening. Issa and his BSC Group, his Manchester, UK, based development company, actually bought the thing.

There was no controversy surrounding the deal. He’s not holding out for the city to give him a street, and based on his track record of restoring vintage properties and investing in rebuilding areas is impeccable.

Yet the News and the rest of Buffalo’s MSM outlets are virtually ignoring the deal. I think Buffalo Pundit’s post on the deal is indicative of why: no one can believe this is really happening. Hell, even Byron Brown hasn’t met with this guy yet.

I think the reason people are so skeptical of the deal is Buffalo’s been burned before. But this is one case where rolling out the red carpet for Issa is worthwhile; he’s doesn’t have to rely on government money to make this deal and check out the BSC Group website and their other projects. When it comes to investing in a rust belt area, there aren’t many companies that can match their track record. Manchester is basically a bigger version of Buffalo - a city ravaged by dying steel industries and fleeing population. In recent years it’s made an amazing comeback - it’s more cosmopolitan, and it’s become a chic place for young professionals and companies to locate. BSC’s projects tend to be beautiful - and successful.

UPDATE: Here’s a telling tidbit I heard from someone who’s had indepth contact with Issa and his group: One of Issa’s top-tier guys said this about Buffalo: “Buffalo is where Manchester was 15 years ago. You’re right on the cusp of an explosion.”

*****

Really good news for the Statler
Pinch me, I must be dreaming.

British developer Bashar Issa confirmed Thursday he will officially close the deal to acquire the Buffalo landmark this morning, opening the door to an $80 million-plus effort to convert the building into a residential, hotel and office complex.

“I am very excited, very enthused to own this fantastic building,” Issa said. “We’ve been working behind the scenes on plans for the project and now we can begin.”

While the purchase price has not be made public, Issa and BSC Group of Manchester, England, are expected to pay around $5 million for the 18-story building.

Issa, who is not seeking government funding to overhaul the 73-year-old building, plans to convert the bulk of the structure to condominiums. Preliminary plans developed by Silvestri Architects of Amherst call for the upper 10 floors to house more than 200 condominium units.

Issa also learned quickly of Buffalo’s Bendersonization when it comes to parking proximity:

Issa also plans to build an eight-story parking garage on top of an existing three-story rear section of the complex, along Franklin Street. Originally, he had planned to construct a tenant parking facility a few blocks away.

“I’ve learned very quickly that Americans like to have their cars right where they live and work. In England, people don’t mind a small distance to the car park. It’s a cultural difference, I guess,” he said.

The entire project should be done in 4 years’ time.

*****

Plus, I found this interesting tidbit:

Rustbelt Decline to Creative City Rebirth
No, I’m not talking about some pie-in-the-sky plan for Buffalo. I’m talking about a city that resembles Buffalo in a lot of ways and is on its way back.

Newcastle-on-Tyne in Northeast England.

Just take a look at this set of slides and tell me you couldn’t just replace the place-names with local ones. (.pdf).

I’m now curious how much we could learn from Newcastle and other former steel towns that have found their way back.

*****

Unrelated, but I found this today and thought it was funny. Pikers.

Albany Story: A Graphic Novel

Man there's a shitload of good stuff and just general Albany-hating out there. It's like I died and went to heaven.

[Jerome]

Did anyone else happen to catch Peter Hunt and George Hamberger on WBEN this morning talking about the AM&A's, and Statler projects as well as the 'Iconic Tower'
Hamberger especially seemed positive about the towers chances of coming to fruition. BTW he brokered both deals.