BUFFALO | Development Thread - Page 79

homestar · #**1561** Posted **Jul 3, 2008, 6:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by westcoastperspective

Stay tuned for some news on the former KFC at Elmwood/Bryant. Think tear-down and rebuild.

I'm shivering with anticip...

homestar · #**1562** Posted **Jul 3, 2008, 6:34 AM**

...pation!

mrussell83 · #**1563** Posted **Jul 3, 2008, 1:27 PM**

A little teaser of my plane ride around Buffalo from the weekend... More to come when I get back.

BUFFALOVE!! · #**1564** Posted **Jul 7, 2008, 9:45 PM**

^^ thats pretty cool. howd you get to do that.

btw central terminal is amazing

steel · #**1565** Posted **Jul 8, 2008, 1:44 AM**

The profession of architecture has reached a very sad state with this

Jas · #**1566** Posted **Jul 8, 2008, 8:32 PM**

Judge rules against Buffalo casino
Business First of Buffalo - by James Fink Business First

A federal judge ruled Tuesday afternoon that the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino is operating a downtown Buffalo gambling site in violation of federal law.

U.S. District Court Justice William Skretny, in a highly anticipated ruling, said approval by the National Indian Gaming Commission that was granted on July 2, 2007 was "arbitary, capricious, and not in accordance with the law."

The decision, which does validate the Senecas ownership of the property, may cast an ominous shadow over plans by the Seneca Gaming Corp. to build its permanent $333 million gaming center in downtown Buffalo.

The 127-page ruling was part of a lawsuit filed by the Citizens for a Better Buffalo filed against federal officials concerning Seneca Gaming Corp.'s operation of Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino along Michigan Avenue. The anti-gaming group claims the nine-acre parcel acquired by the Senecas, an arm of the Seneca Nation of Indians, is not gaming eligible.

Skretny's ruling appears to support that claim.

An appeal of the decision is expected and it remains unclear if the construction will continue. A temporary casino at the location opened a year ago this month.

Seneca Gaming officials canceled a news conference and said a statement will be issued later Tuesday.

westcoastperspective · #**1567** Posted **Jul 9, 2008, 4:36 AM**

I don't think this is the end of casino dreams for Cobblestone. It'll be interesting to see what the Senecas will do beyond appealing the decision.

With casinos popping up all over the place, really how much of an out-of-town draw would it be? Rochester perhaps. The Senecas in their federal filing estimated that a vast majority of Buffalo Creek patrons would be local residents. After seeing the toothless guy interviewed on WKBW (see their website for video), the casino is anything but world class and isn't exactly drawing high-rollers.

chevy064 · #**1568** Posted **Jul 9, 2008, 12:54 PM**

westcoast - this is BAD news. There is no way to sugar coat it. Wanna bet Bass Pro pulls out of the deal now. You just wait and see. Bass Pro wants to be part of something big and a world class venue casino that would rival those of Vegas had to be a factor in them signing on.

All I can say is I hope the Senecas retain the land and dig a great big hole there and leave it like that.

I always stuck up for Buffalo - but no more. It is simply pathetic how that city operates and I will stop hoping for some dramatic turnaround of that city because it will never happen. I will just accept they will drive the Bills away as well.

sullymon54 · #**1569** Posted **Jul 9, 2008, 2:08 PM**

chevy there is no evidence that an indian owned or any other type of casino would have or will suddenly awaken buffalo or large city that has built one. you obviously haven't seen how "prosperous" it has made niagara falls, detroit, or atlantic city all top notch cities in my book.

Also I agree with westcoast because the casino in Niagara falls makes sense to add to an attraction that is already established namely the falls themselves why build another one 20 miles away next to a low income neighborhood so that old folks and people in poverty can squander their limited incomes, great idea. Add to that the fact that there is no tax revenue, they'll build an enormous hotel and kill the rest in the city and the fact that the city residence have no say in how and what gets built there it really seems like a win win doesn't it.

chevy064 · #**1570** Posted **Jul 9, 2008, 2:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sullymon54

chevy there is no evidence that an indian owned or any other type of casino would have or will suddenly awaken buffalo or large city that has built one. you obviously haven't seen how "prosperous" it has made niagara falls, detroit, or atlantic city all top notch cities in my book.

Also I agree with westcoast because the casino in Niagara falls makes sense to add to an attraction that is already established namely the falls themselves why build another one 20 miles away next to a low income neighborhood so that old folks and people in poverty can squander their limited incomes, great idea. Add to that the fact that there is no tax revenue, they'll build an enormous hotel and kill the rest in the city and the fact that the city residence have no say in how and what gets built there it really seems like a win win doesn't it.

False - that hotel would not kill the city at all. They had a news piece on channel 4 news and other hotel owners like the Adams Mark and Hyatt were in full support of a casino hotel because it would HELP their business.

The Senecas propsoed hotel would be comped rooms for high rollers. It would not be for the average Joe's who just want to gamble and stay over night - they would stay at other downtown hotels.

Do you know how many cities would welcome a 1/3 of a BILLION dollar investment in their downtown??????? Yet somehow Buffalo manages to screw it up.

I have never in my life seen a more frustrating city. I am glad I do not live there if I am this frustrated and I am not even a resident. The Bills are my tie to the city and when they leave so does my allegiance, along with the hundreds/thousands I spend up there in a given year on games, food, hotel, shopping - and yes I would have made special trips to the casino as well - and would have hit the Chophouse or Pearl Street for dinner and Chippewa as well. Don't tell me the casino wouldn't have helped Buffalo - cuz that is bullcrap.

westcoastperspective · #**1571** Posted **Jul 9, 2008, 3:26 PM**

Studies showed that for each job created at the casino, 1.5 to 2 elsewhere would be eliminated. Unless that casino draws tens of thousands of out-of-towners, there is no plus here. What's the hotel occupancy in Niagara Falls, NY? Less than fifty percent. The locals going to the casino are not staying overnight except in the free Seneca rooms. You are emptying the pockets of the locals, getting a net loss of jobs, all for a $7 million local share. Don't be taken by the fancy casino rendering. Casinos are not economic development in a city such as Buffalo with little tourism. Even Golisamo was against the casino and his team plays next door!

lastcall4am · #**1572** Posted **Jul 9, 2008, 6:15 PM**

Back up for a second....Stop bashing the city of Buffalo for a federal court ruling. Mayor Brown and others weren't leading this oppposition. It was a small group of religous and moral elitists! Everyone take a deep breath now. The Seneca's will surely appeal this decision, because this ruling doesn't affect just the Buffalo Creek Casino, but can also be used as precedent for other casinos in the state (read: Niagara Falls). Do you honestly see all of these casinos closing????? What about Turning Stone and the propoesd casino in the Catskills....Are they going to get shut down by anti-gambling group consisting of a few dozen members. NO!!! Construction is still continuing today on the casino and the temporary blue shed is still open!

detmi7mile · #**1573** Posted **Jul 9, 2008, 6:42 PM**

Those are great aerial pics.

homestar · #**1574** Posted **Jul 10, 2008, 4:44 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy064

I always stuck up for Buffalo - but no more. It is simply pathetic how that city operates and I will stop hoping for some dramatic turnaround of that city because it will never happen.

One setback and you throw in the towel? Even with all the good news lately? Are you really such a fair-weather Buffalonian?

A true Buffalo supporter can see the forest thru the trees.

Halovet · #**1575** Posted **Jul 10, 2008, 10:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevy064

westcoast - this is BAD news. There is no way to sugar coat it. Wanna bet Bass Pro pulls out of the deal now. You just wait and see. Bass Pro wants to be part of something big and a world class venue casino that would rival those of Vegas had to be a factor in them signing on.

All I can say is I hope the Senecas retain the land and dig a great big hole there and leave it like that.

I always stuck up for Buffalo - but no more. It is simply pathetic how that city operates and I will stop hoping for some dramatic turnaround of that city because it will never happen. I will just accept they will drive the Bills away as well.

Once again, you are right chevy. This sucks big time I'm in Indiana, and a huge group of us here including my Boss, were waiting with anticipation for this casino to open. There are those (perhaps westcoast) that may disagree, but there are many of us, in our 50's and older, that like to check out the new casinos. I have been working evey day sense July 7, 1970, and if I want to play around with a few hundred of my hard erned bucks at the casino, provided I'm responsible, why should anyone be against it? FYI, I'm most interested in the fantastic food buffets more than gaming, but whatever. I can't tell you how disapointed I am for several reasons, some of which chevy has pointed out. I love Buffalo, always will, but God, it sucks as a city. Just seems "civic suicide" is the entire perspective. In the end, The Seneca's are going to win. Why do they do this? Unbelievable!

Halovet · #**1576** Posted **Jul 10, 2008, 10:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by steel

The profession of architecture has reached a very sad state with this

I don't know steel, perhaps if it didn't stand alone? I would have liked to see three more as fill in .

mrussell83 · #**1577** Posted **Jul 10, 2008, 1:56 PM**

Okay, enough bickering about the casino, lets wait and see what happens. Maybe this will make you guys happy:

I have about 300 more on my website, www.mrussell.us

mrussell83 · #**1578** Posted **Jul 10, 2008, 2:00 PM**

If any of you want high res prints let me know, these were taken with a Nikon D80 (10MP) with a VR lens.
Also, I'll be doing this again soon if your interested

photoLith · #**1579** Posted **Jul 10, 2008, 3:47 PM**

Wow, I had no idea that thats what Buffalo looks like. Its so gritty and industrial looking, I love it!

chevy064 · #**1580** Posted **Jul 11, 2008, 12:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by homestar

One setback and you throw in the towel? Even with all the good news lately? Are you really such a fair-weather Buffalonian?

A true Buffalo supporter can see the forest thru the trees.

ONE setback? If it was just ONE I could handle that - I am just sick of damn near every project falling through somehow. The city is bleeding population and yet nothing gets done in terms of substantial development that would attract people and new spin-off development.

No I am not throwing in the towel - but I am ready to strangle some people with it who keep positive development from happening.