The Riverbend project is located less than 4 miles from downtown Buffalo, very much in an urban location surrounded by dense 100-year old neighborhoods. That juxtaposition will be what makes it an economic boon, I think. The neighborhoods around it will get re-invested and it will provide more justification for the continuing re-development of downtown for housing for these relatively well-paid workers and offices for related companies. Giant office parks in suburbia don't tend to contribute to their surroundings very much, but this has the potential to since it's right in the middle of the city.
I would love to see a light rail extension to Riverbend, Larkin, etc., but even without that, the bus service on South Park Avenue is excellent (every 15 minutes all day) and there are bike lanes the whole way, so transportation options are pretty good already.
The battery factory WOULD be even cooler, but honestly, just this is awesome. We didn't have to fight with other states for this, the incentives for it were relatively small and don't expire, and we didn't expect it. And - this is just one of several active engines for new jobs happening in the region right now, so we're not absolutely dependent on it. A good situation to be in.
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In other news, Mark Croce took another step forward on the Curtiss Building hotel project today. Hopefully he will start construction soon:
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-regi...rsion-20140618