Quote:
Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA
Maybe the hotel?
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The 100k is out of the 600k in offices (roughly lower 1/3 of the tower, the fattest part hence 50% floor space), total building is 1.2 or 1.3 million I believe. I am slightly curious to know about the hotel, however, and if the hotel (approx. 25%) counts towards the 40% or if that's just offices. Otherwise, they've already claimed 20% in the initial press conference (?), then the hotel would seem to instantly vault it over the top irrespective of condos. I personally see the condos as the biggest sticking point, sure the loft conversions are being eaten up faster than they can be made available, but is there a market for $500k condos? Maybe there is, but I'm not sure.
As for height, I've seen 593, 600, and 615 feet. The official BSC press release *.pdf (with diagram) says 615, so I'd tend to want to believe that is the correct number, seeing as it has come directly from the source.
I think it's a great idea to market the tower outside the region, Lord only knows the local government isn't doing jack squat (though at least the beds tax money has been re-released, that's good too). I can see appeal for some NYC businesses with respect towards expansion to the Toronto market whilst remaining in the US; thusly for any Toronto entities with a desire for a stepping stone to break into the US market. Don't forget, 'brain drain' notwithstanding, the Buffalo-Niagara region generally still earns high marks in the department of having a skilled and loyal workforce; in most mentions I've heard anyways. Plus several more places are suffering brain drains than they'd like to let on.
Add to that our airports (yes, plural - Niagara Falls Int'l is a massive asset just to have), while underutilized at the moment are ripe for service expansion (which is already happening anyways). Just because they're not hubs now doesn't mean they can't be in the future, though geographically speaking I think Buffalo makes a better rail hub than an airline hub, it's too close to Toronto and it's out of the way for intra-US flights.
It's gotta start somewhere sometime, might just as well be here and now.
Finally, I'm getting sick of hearing about the casino as if it's a project the city wants. Read up and you'll find it was foisted upon the region in a backdoor Albany agreement with no local input (the only way things get done in NYS). Things would be different if it was actually brought to a vote in the first place.