I would expect that this will be on BRO soon enough but here it is.
We're half way there, now all we need to do is get the Ciminelli project approved and we're in business. Also, I consider this a significant change/victory in the fight against business as usual in city government. I know its a small victory but it's a victory none the less in a severely flawed system. Oh and if "ties are broken between Byron's administration and the city council" to get things done then oh well, still glad the right thing was done in this case.
Updated: 01/23/09 11:25 AM
Pitts’ plan for waterfront hotel is ‘dead’
Majority of Councilwill block proposal
By Brian Meyer
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
A controversial plan to build a hotel on prime waterfront property is “dead,” and city planners should go back to the drawing board, the Common Council’s ruling majority announced today.
Five of the city's nine Council members called on the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency to rescind its support for a plan to build a Wingate Inn on the downtown waterfront. A news conference was held in Waterfront Village, where two of the lawmakers were joined by some residents who live near the development site.
At least five Council votes would be needed to approve the site’s pending sale by the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency to developers.
“It’s clear now that the Common Council has the votes to stop the process,” said South Council Member Michael P. Kearns, chairman of the Waterfront Committee. “The project is a bad bargain for the city, and the Council is taking the leadership to say ‘stop.’ ”
But one of the project’s developers claims opposition to his hotel plan is being used by Kearns to propel his possible candidacy for mayor. James W. Pitts, a former Council president, also claims his $10 million proposal is caught in a “political maelstrom” caused by deteriorating relations between the mayor and the Council’s majority.
Pitts said the plan advanced by Specialty Restaurants Corp. and J.W. Pitts Properties has been a victim of unfair ridicule and even “libel.” He disputed claims that the project, planned on a site next to Shanghai Red’s restaurant, would be a “suburban style” hotel unsuitable for the waterfront. The schematic he presented to city officials was merely a prototype, Pitts insisted, adding that a New York City architect is already working on a redesign.
“How can you call a hotel horrific and it ain’t even open yet,” an infuriated Pitts asked The Buffalo News’ Editorial Board during a fiery hourlong discussion Monday.
“It’s going to be a well-designed and well-run place,” Pitts continued.
But a majority of lawmakers said even a significant redesign of the plan doesn’t address their key concern. Council members insist the project was selected by using a “fatally flawed” process that embraced outdated code restrictions.
They also complain that the city is proceeding to develop a valuable piece of waterfront land without making it part of a larger, more comprehensive plan. Kearns underscored the importance of looking at every shoreline initiative in the context of development that’s occurring at the Erie Canal Harbor and subjecting each project to new and more progressive codes.
“We’re trying to develop this parcel in a vacuum,” said Kearns. “We can’t have disjointed decisions being made — decisions that will affect our waterfront for generations.”
Council Majority Leader Richard A. Fontana and Council President David A. Franczyk said they don’t think the Wingate Inn project would do enough to attract tourists and other visitors to the shoreline. They said they don’t fault the developers, who complied with what they said might be considered antiquated city building restrictions.
In a 5-3 vote, the Urban Renewal Agency backed the plan over a competing proposal for a $37 million complex consisting of a 10-story hotel plus office and retail space. The larger proposal presented by Ciminelli Development Co. and businessman Mark E. Hamister was rejected because it failed to meet height and density restrictions.
Some waterfront residents who attended today's news conference criticized the city's planning process. Frank Lysiak, a member of the Waterfront Village Advisory Council, said citizen representatives of his group reviewed both development plans.
"It was unanimous that the Ciminelli project was the preferred project. We did pick it, and that one wasn't even looked at," Lysiak said.
Andrew Graham, a resident of Harbor Pointe on the waterfront, criticized a process that focuses on "top-down planning" where residents' concerns are unheeded.
"That doesn't work," said Graham.
Franczyk, Kearns and Delaware Council Member Michael J. LoCurto … all Urban Renewal Agency members … voted against the Wingate plan. Kearns said Niagara Council Member David A. Rivera joined the other four lawmakers … including Fontana … in signing a letter that calls on the city to go back to the drawing board and review its codes.
A sixth lawmaker, North Council Member Joseph Golombek Jr., said Thursday he also had serious reservations about the Wingate Inn project. But Golombek said he’s willing to wait until Pitts submits a redesigned plan before making a final decision.
Franczyk said he wants to appoint an advisory panel made up of preservationists, architects and other community leaders to help the city review future development on waterfront parcels.
bmeyer@buffnews.com
Prev
control facility ($15 mil) 
)
Linear Mode
