Buffalo Development News

[homestar]

As usual, the renderings were vague enough where the facade design could have been any material.

[JSmith]

Originally Posted by steel

Based on my observations I am thinking that the Elmwood/Bryant building is going to be clad with somethingother than brick. Prolly dryvit.

That will not pass the Elmwood Village Design Guidelines which are part of the city zoning code. Karl Frizlen, the architect of 448 Elmwood, was on the committee that drafted the design guidelines, so I highly doubt he specified dryvit for this building.

[bayviews]

Originally Posted by NYC007

There is a bus that goes down Amherst Street in Buffalo directly to an entrance of the Galleria. That bus makes a connection at the light rail stop at Amherst and Main Streets. So it's hardly difficult to take public transportation to the suburban malls.

Ah, but don't forget, it took Cynthia Wiggin's death & the national publicity that came out of that tragedy to get bus services into the Galleria. Even today the headways on Buffalo's suburban bus routes remain rather infrequent & incovenient.

I'm sure you'd agree being in a city like Baltimore with a fairly vibrant downtown & all those great attractions you have in the inner harbor that it just makes a lot more sense for Buffalo to attract some first-class retail & other attractions & activity centers that serve & appeal to urban residents downtown.

[desertpunk]

Originally Posted by homestar

Without a destination anchor there won't be any real shopping. It will be nice streets with a burger king and not much else, which is basically what the Main St pedestrian mall was during the 80's. It doesn't have to be Bass Pro, but they need something to kick start it. This is not an organic neighborhood. It is being artificially developed. So if you want to see any success down there while we're young, we need an anchor.

It used to be true that for any retail development you'd need a big anchor but that's not true anymore. We have a lifestyle center here with no big anchor and perpetual crowds clogging the fake streets and sidewalks. What they come for is the Apple Store, Borders, Williams Sonoma, and a bunch of other chain stores that cater to pretensious yuppies. There's a Trader Joe's that came in two years later across the street which I guess helps. But no big anchor store of any kind. Anchor stores are dinosaurs, malls don't even bring them in anymore. The current model is either stand alone retailers like Kohls or Target that can be built in many more locations than malls, or boutiques with parking at the front door, instead of a slog through a mall. Canal Side might need a good draw, but it doesn't have to be a big anchor. In fact, I defy anyone here to name one Bass Pro-alternative retailer building big destination anchors anywhere. 2007 was a long time ago...

[homestar]

Originally Posted by desertpunk

We have a lifestyle center here with no big anchor and perpetual crowds clogging the fake streets and sidewalks. What they come for is the Apple Store, Borders, Williams Sonoma, and a bunch of other chain stores that cater to pretensious yuppies. There's a Trader Joe's that came in two years later across the street which I guess helps. But no big anchor store of any kind.

But that is Albuquerque and this is Buffalo and corporations demand solid statistical trends. I know it's not fair, but as I said before, other businesses have repeatedly told the city they would have no interest in locating at the new Canalside without an anchor there first. So yes, I totally agree that people would go to Canalside to see an Apple Store or a really big Borders... but if Apple and Borders refuse to open a store there, what are we left with? Burger King. It's easy to say "Oh just put Store X there" but if Store X has no interest in it we can't force them.

[homestar]

is now Blue Monk. Opening Soon.








http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/07...blue-monk.html

[NYC007]

[JSmith]

"Bass Pro dead in Buffalo"
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/s...6/daily55.html

Personally, I think it is just as well for many reasons. I am just puzzled as to why the ECHDC was swearing up and down that everything was a sure thing as of just a few days ago. Surely this can't be a surprise to them?

[JSmith]

Now I wonder if there will be any gnashing of teeth over whether Memorial Auditorium could have been reused if we hadn't torn it down for an uninterested suitor (or is that phrase an oxymoron?).

Another article:
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article86184.ece

Brian Higgins says, "They're not coming, but they never were." Funny... I guess his "ultimatum" really was a way of saving face.

Theoretically, this could free up a lot of money to do things like clean up the Buffalo River or fix the Hamburg Drain (which is apparently what the public money was originally intended to be used for), but I suppose they will try to find a way to give it all to Wal-Mart or TJ Maxx or whatever to be the new anchor.

[desertpunk]

It's good to get that bit of drama out of the way even if it means reworking Canal Side and holding off on building another year. The retail environment sucks and it won't get better for quite some time so there's no big rush by firms to lose money. I can think of a million ways to configure this project and among them, Baltimore's Inner Harbor is an excellent example of an anchor-free development that scored big with vistors. Since state money is involved, why didn't they emphasize local to begin with? Why always with the home run swings that whiff every time? The key to making Canal Side a blowout success may be right under everyone's nose if they'd get their heads out their asses.

[Urbanica]

Bass Pro - Good riddance.

I am actually quite pleased that they are not coming. Initially I was very excited, and as the years and YEARS went on it just became a complete farce. 10 years. Buffalo needs to stop this silver bullet thinking. There are now 56 Bass Pros accross the country, and it is almost a glorified outdoor Target now. I would love to see how the 35 million is spent that supposedly will remain. 10 years. That is way too long. Done, Over and out, and good riddance.

[JSmith]

I think it's very unbecoming for Byron Brown to blame "a few obstructionists persuading members of the Common Council to stop progress". First of all, I don't think Bass Pro was ever seriously interested in locating here. If anything, we were being kept as a "standby" just in case. But it sure would be great to have a mayor that stuck up for the interests of his citizens rather than for those of some corporation in Missouri. The coalition that was pushing the community benefits agreement was made up of many of the organizations that are making the biggest positive changes in Buffalo. To simply dismiss them as obstructionists is completely tone-deaf of the mayor.

[bayviews]

Well folks, the Fat Lady has finally sung. It’s all over. Buffalo’s long, sad, fishless expedition with the Bass Pro “big box” chain based in Springfield Missouri, is finally now behind us. At long last, Buffalo can stand proud of not falling for yet another dumb, brain-dead scheme.

It’s hardly a secret that I’ve been a skeptic, indeed, the most prolific & consistent critic of the Bass Pro scheme here, during the past half decade I’ve posted on these boards. My position on the need to consider a variety of first-class alternatives for Canalside was a lonely one at first, but it has remained firm & unchanged throughout this sorry saga.

My doubts about Bass Pro, rising on the ashes of the John Riga fiasco (re: that tower he was going to build at Canalside) grew out of a sense that it was a repetion of the sad pattern of poor quality, locational blunders driven by cronyism, vested interests & mediocrity, that have knocked Buffalo out of the ranks of the leading cities & regions.

Rather than buying the Bass Pro hype & press releases, I dug up countless newspaper articles from the heartland & southland. Really, it’s not that hard to do these days. What they showed was that when it came to the dozens of smaller, often struggling, localities with limited development staffs which had signed onto the bottom line, Bass Pro simply was not delivering on the hype. Neither the project development timeline, nor the projected economic development spin-offs.

What really stood out was the complete absence of Bass Pros in any of the major cities with strong development staffs that are noted as being leading tourist destinations. It should’ve been a wake-up call when Buffalo was being touted as the only city in the Northeast in line for a Bass Pro.

One of the last straws for Bass Pro was the outstanding & comprehensively researched report compiled by the Public Accountability Initiative, based right in Buffalo. It’s a must read for those who’ve heard all the fish tales, or for many smaller localities who think that Bass Pro will make destinations, just google up FISHING FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

I must say, I’ve been very heartened by the positive community mobilization that helped put the brakes on the Bass Pro spectacle. Voice Buffalo & the movement for a living wage. Mark Goldman, the foremost historian of contemporary Buffalo, someone who’s personally invested in re-building Buffalo, building by building, filed a lawsuit with Scot Fischer that helped to end the saga.

Last but certainly not the least, numerous public officials, certainly Congressmen Brian Higgins, & some in the media, including Buffalo News columnist Donn Esmonde, that had been among the original backers of Canalside, came around to the realization that Buffalo’s would be better without Bass Pro.

With the saga of Bass Pro no longer hanging overhead, Buffalo is no longer hamstrung by a one-size fits all “big box” suited for Prattville, Manteca, Macon, Altoona, Olathe, Broken Arrow, Pearland, & dozens of other places you’d be hard-pressed to find on a map. Rather, now Buffalo can look to Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle & other great that have done quite well with their waterfronts.

[ECoastTransplant]

Originally Posted by bayviews

Well folks, the Fat Lady has finally sung. It’s all over. Buffalo’s long, sad, fishless expedition with the Bass Pro “big box” chain based in Springfield Missouri, is finally now behind us. At long last, Buffalo can stand proud of not falling for yet another dumb, brain-dead scheme.

It’s hardly a secret that I’ve been a skeptic, indeed, the most prolific & consistent critic of the Bass Pro scheme here, during the past half decade I’ve posted on these boards. My position on the need to consider a variety of first-class alternatives for Canalside was a lonely one at first, but it has remained firm & unchanged throughout this sorry saga.

My doubts about Bass Pro, rising on the ashes of the John Riga fiasco (re: that tower he was going to build at Canalside) grew out of a sense that it was a repetion of the sad pattern of poor quality, locational blunders driven by cronyism, vested interests & mediocrity, that have knocked Buffalo out of the ranks of the leading cities & regions.

Rather than buying the Bass Pro hype & press releases, I dug up countless newspaper articles from the heartland & southland. Really, it’s not that hard to do these days. What they showed was that when it came to the dozens of smaller, often struggling, localities with limited development staffs which had signed onto the bottom line, Bass Pro simply was not delivering on the hype. Neither the project development timeline, nor the projected economic development spin-offs.

What really stood out was the complete absence of Bass Pros in any of the major cities with strong development staffs that are noted as being leading tourist destinations. It should’ve been a wake-up call when Buffalo was being touted as the only city in the Northeast in line for a Bass Pro.

One of the last straws for Bass Pro was the outstanding & comprehensively researched report compiled by the Public Accountability Initiative, based right in Buffalo. It’s a must read for those who’ve heard all the fish tales, or for many smaller localities who think that Bass Pro will make destinations, just google up FISHING FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

I must say, I’ve been very heartened by the positive community mobilization that helped put the brakes on the Bass Pro spectacle. Voice Buffalo & the movement for a living wage. Mark Goldman, the foremost historian of contemporary Buffalo, someone who’s personally invested in re-building Buffalo, building by building, filed a lawsuit with Scot Fischer that helped to end the saga.

Last but certainly not the least, numerous public officials, certainly Congressmen Brian Higgins, & some in the media, including Buffalo News columnist Donn Esmonde, that had been among the original backers of Canalside, came around to the realization that Buffalo’s would be better without Bass Pro.

With the saga of Bass Pro no longer hanging overhead, Buffalo is no longer hamstrung by a one-size fits all “big box” suited for Prattville, Manteca, Macon, Altoona, Olathe, Broken Arrow, Pearland, & dozens of other places you’d be hard-pressed to find on a map. Rather, now Buffalo can look to Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle & other great that have done quite well with their waterfronts.

This sounds like an acceptance speech. Not sure exactly what you are accepting though.

[JSmith]

The worst part for me is that the ECHDC is holding the rudder steady with the same plan - look for another big box anchor that they can give public subsidies to.

I was in Chicago a few weeks ago. Milennium Park, which is almost a waterfront park, has a big amphitheatre, a really cool fountain / splash pad, the "Cloud Gate" sculpture, gardens, a bicycle rental and parking facility (I think I read that Steel had a hand in designing this), a visitor info center, an ice rink, etc. But I didn't see any Bass Pro, Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, or even a Dave & Buster's.

I just wish these guys could stop thinking like mall developers for a few minutes and consider some other possibilities.

[ECoastTransplant]

Originally Posted by JSmith

The worst part for me is that the ECHDC is holding the rudder steady with the same plan - look for another big box anchor that they can give public subsidies to.

I was in Chicago a few weeks ago. Milennium Park, which is almost a waterfront park, has a big amphitheatre, a really cool fountain / splash pad, the "Cloud Gate" sculpture, gardens, a bicycle rental and parking facility (I think I read that Steel had a hand in designing this), a visitor info center, an ice rink, etc. But I didn't see any Bass Pro, Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, or even a Dave & Buster's.

I just wish these guys could stop thinking like mall developers for a few minutes and consider some other possibilities.

There's a park/open space component to the inner harbor master plan. That in itself won't bring anyone down there in the winter months. If the end goal is to create a nice area for Mr. and Mrs. Suburbanite to bring a lawn chair and watch some boats float down the river for a couple hours in July, buy a hot dog, and then head home, we're well on our way.

[ECoastTransplant]

Status of projects announced and that were underway last year-

[homestar]

Originally Posted by JSmith

The worst part for me is that the ECHDC is holding the rudder steady with the same plan - look for another big box anchor that they can give public subsidies to.

IMO too many people are looking at this Bass Pro issue as if they are now going to completely revamp the concept of Canalside. I really doubt that would happen. They're simply going to tweek the plan and try to find another anchor (or multiple smaller anchors).

Originally Posted by JSmith

Milennium Park, which is almost a waterfront park, has a big amphitheatre, a really cool fountain / splash pad, the "Cloud Gate" sculpture, gardens, a bicycle rental and parking facility (I think I read that Steel had a hand in designing this), a visitor info center, an ice rink, etc. But I didn't see any Bass Pro, Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, or even a Dave & Buster's.

But millenium park is a park, not as a destination neighborhood. Chicago already has Navy Pier as a downtown tourist attraction, and they already have Michigan Ave as a destination retail district. Millenium Park is rather mellow when there are no events going on. As a tourist to the city - you go see the cool sculptures once but don't really hang out there too long unless something else is going on to keep you there. If Buffalo were to make Canalside into something like that, then it would be empty most of the year except when big events are planned... and that was never the intent for Canalside.

[mbyrnes]

Originally Posted by ECoastTransplant

Status of projects announced and that were underway last year-

Is it me, or does that map have significantly less developments than 08 or 07 versions? I knew things slowed down but it seems like it slowed down A LOT.

[ECoastTransplant]

Originally Posted by mbyrnes

Is it me, or does that map have significantly less developments than 08 or 07 versions? I knew things slowed down but it seems like it slowed down A LOT.

Yes- I took out the projects that finished in 2009. On the better news front, there have been a few new projects announced this year:

• 916-18 Main Street
• Cornucoppia
• S. Elmwood Ramp/Offices
• Corn Exchange Reno.
• 500 Seneca
• Two Big Larkin Renovations
• Croce/Statler (???)

A couple of the 2009 projects should start soon:

• Lake Hotel
• Educ. Opp. Center

Need the tax credits fix:

• Lafayette Hotel
• AM&As renovation

I know of three other projects that are in the works but the developers don't want to talk about them yet- one likely to be commercial office space (reno. of vacant building) and two residential projects (conversions) downtown.