BUFFALO | Development Thread - Page 102

westcoastperspective · #**2021** Posted **Sep 29, 2009, 10:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lastcall4am

wow...seeing the number of units, hotel rooms, and square footage really puts this into persepective. this feels much bigger. 520 residential units, 480 hotel rooms, and roughly 500,000 sq. ft each of retail and office space.

if you haven't seen the current site, check it out on the link below.

http://www.earthcam.com/client/erie/

re-laying the cobblestone street grid should be starting within a few weeks.

The EIS has three development scenarios: low-moderate-high. That map shows the high intensity scheme. For example, the parcel next to the Marine Drive ramp lists 275 units- good luck marketing that many units in one phase. But they are building flexibility into the project so uses can be shifted amongst the parcels as demand plays out. I don't think they've made a decision on keeping or demoing the Donovan. Last I heard is they were reconsidering saving it.

BUFFALOVE!! · #**2022** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 2:04 AM**

The elevations look pretty good so far. However I would like to see the number of hotel spaces halved and the number of apartments increased by 50% or more. I've been very supportive of all the recent hotel additions to the city but sooner or later we have to slow down. However we haven't hit the wall with downtown apartments yet... keep them coming!!! If released in phases like wcp mentioned, i'm sure they'll be very successful and perhaps spur a movement downtown that will support other projects in other parts of the central business district... well those are my hopes and dreams at least.

steel · #**2023** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 4:24 PM**

What's going on with the Federal Court Building. Any glass panels going up yet??

sullymon54 · #**2024** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 8:50 PM**

This is the most recent photo I have, its from September 16th, that's the last time I was down there. At that time there was no glass on the building but the atrium and outer skin seemed to be mostly finished.

If you look closely you can see a small sample they put out on the street of what the glass will look like. It is the small bright blue object to the right of that truck with the boom arm extended in front of the building.

Sulley · #**2025** Posted **Sep 30, 2009, 10:02 PM**

Buffalo is really coming together nicely.

Bison716 · #**2026** Posted **Oct 1, 2009, 2:20 PM**

Let's hope the Seneca's get back on track, and get awarded the Casino soon before we have a waste of space there.

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffa...8/daily34.html

lastcall4am · #**2027** Posted **Oct 1, 2009, 6:09 PM**

about the casino...i had a casual conversation with a higher up at seneca gaming about the construction of the buffalo creek casino. he said that the credit crunch last year prevented them from borrowing the rest of the money for the casino. They initially put up about a third of their own money for the project to get it going and were going to finance the rest of the project. their goal was/is to get it built as soon as possible so that a legal challenege couldn't stop their efforts. Seneca gaming was well aware that no casino, once built has ever been shut down before. Anyways, they are still working to obtain financing and remain optimistic that as the economy picks up, they will be able to get what they need

lastcall4am · #**2028** Posted **Oct 1, 2009, 6:10 PM**

about the casino...i had a casual conversation with a higher up at seneca gaming about the construction of the buffalo creek casino. he said that the credit crunch last year prevented them from borrowing the rest of the money for the casino. They initially put up about a third of their own money for the project to get it going and were going to finance the rest of the project. their goal was/is to get it built as soon as possible so that a legal challenege couldn't stop their efforts. Seneca gaming was well aware that no casino, once built has ever been shut down before. Anyways, they are still working to obtain financing and remain optimistic that as the economy picks up, they will be able to get what they need

-this is basically a re-hash of what the buff news has said. the point is that the lawsuit is not holding them back-

Caug124 · #**2029** Posted **Oct 2, 2009, 2:55 PM**

Buffalo News Article - http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/814622.html

few details:

John Ferchill, president of the Ferchill Group, has been in talks with New Buffalo Statler Redevelopment, which submitted the high bid for the Statler at auction but has yet to close the deal, as well as economic development agencies.

In Detroit, Ferchill Group has been praised for a $200 million, two-year renovation of the Book Cadillac Hotel completed last year.

Ferchill was on a team that restored Buffalo's Guaranty Building, the famed Louis Sullivan skyscraper, in the 1980s.

Question: If the Seneca's are having trouble getting credit to build a Casino (automatic $$ maker). How will the Statler Team be able to pull off something like this?

Austinlee · #**2030** Posted **Oct 2, 2009, 4:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sullymon54

This is the most recent photo I have, its from September 16th, that's the last time I was down there. At that time there was no glass on the building but the atrium and outer skin seemed to be mostly finished.

If you look closely you can see a small sample they put out on the street of what the glass will look like. It is the small bright blue object to the right of that truck with the boom arm extended in front of the building.

Whoa, shit. That building is coming along! I haven't seen any U/C pics yet and it's already topped off.

lastcall4am · #**2031** Posted **Oct 2, 2009, 5:43 PM**

Question: If the Seneca's are having trouble getting credit to build a Casino (automatic $$ maker). How will the Statler Team be able to pull off something like this?[/QUOTE]

The Seneca's have an iherent problem in obtaining financing. There is a ton of risk for a bank to finance a casino. An indian tribe is the only that can operate a casino on that property. If the seneca's fail to pay back the loan, the bank is left with a casino building that they can't operate as a casino. They would never be able to get back the amount of money that they loaned to the tribe in a sale of the building. The seneca niagara casino carried an interest rate of over 30%! As soon as banks are willing to finance a high-risk project, construction will be able to carry on

Downtown Bolivar · #**2032** Posted **Oct 7, 2009, 12:58 AM**

Here's an update on Croce's project:

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/819397.html

Dr Nevergold · #**2033** Posted **Oct 7, 2009, 11:03 PM**

I was in downtown on Monday and Tuesday, I still haven't figured out what the new building is since I'm new to Buffalo development. Is it just an office or is there a particular use for the building?

Dr Nevergold · #**2034** Posted **Oct 7, 2009, 11:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by westcoastperspective

Additional good news- Redevelopment of the Arctic Freezer building along the 190 have started. Its going to be office space.

http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/07...y-thawing.html

Is that silly billboard going to go as well, it looks tacky.

Fortunate4Now · #**2035** Posted **Oct 7, 2009, 11:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon412

I was in downtown on Monday and Tuesday, I still haven't figured out what the new building is since I'm new to Buffalo development. Is it just an office or is there a particular use for the building?

which "new" building? the federal courthouse?
Description of Project: U.S. District Court with five courtrooms and six chambers, the Magistrates with four courtrooms and chambers, a Court of Appeals chamber, and a satellite library, along with necessary facilities for preparatory space for the U.S. Attorney and Federal Public Defender. Secure indoor parking for 54 vehicles.

Description and picture per:
http://projectbuffalo.com/?p=46

Dr Nevergold · #**2036** Posted **Oct 8, 2009, 1:28 AM**

Ah, nice work for a court building!

westcoastperspective · #**2037** Posted **Oct 8, 2009, 4:09 AM**

Recent development along Huron Street-

westcoastperspective · #**2038** Posted **Oct 12, 2009, 2:19 PM**

Wilson Farms is going to open in the Alling & Cory project, now called Lofts at 136. Might not seem like a big deal, but it is their first in the downtown area and brings another grocery option for downtown dwellers and workers. So it isn't Whole Foods, but its a good step in making downtown a neighborhood.

http://www.buffalorising.com/2009/10...on-street.html

Project website:

www.136lofts.com

BUFFALOVE!! · #**2039** Posted **Oct 14, 2009, 10:31 PM**

Canadian co. lands at Main Place
from business first
http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffa...l?surround=lfn

The city should be actively marketing itself to these types of companies

Dr Nevergold · #**2040** Posted **Oct 16, 2009, 4:14 AM**

Now that Buffalo is my new home, I shall have to understand the developments going on in the city.