BUFFALO | Development Thread

[steel]

On another note. What if a city held a disaster and no one came?

After seeing some of the devastating images I am surprised that there is not more national coverage. I have not paid much attention to the news and we do not have cable. But, even so I would think that i would have seen some more coverage or at least some coverage of this. In Chicago there has been nothing that I have seen. I guess this is good for Buffalo if its snow image is not further exploited but on another note pick another city and the media would have been all over a story like this...Not for poor old Buff

[steel]

I will just keep posting to myself:

something to lift everyone's spirits. I found this list on the Revitalize Buffalo Blog. The list is a bit out dated in that some of these projects listed as planned are already under construction and there may be some new ones to add.

Grand Total $ 3,093,611,761

Thats Billion with a B

Compliments of City Hall, here is a list of development projects that are Revitalizing Buffalo. Some are already finished, some only planned, yet each lend proof that the city is continuing to improve the quality of life for area citizens via reconstruction, improvements and new developments.

Completed | 6

IS Lofts Downtown Housing | 362 Oak Street, 24 units, reconstruction | $5,000,000
First Niagara Bank buildout | 726 Exchange | $578,430
599 Delaware Avenue (FDA Building), renovation | R&D Facility | $2,500,000
UB Center of Excellence | $61,000,000
Roswell Park Research Facility | $61,000,000
Cornerstone Manor | 150 E. North at Michigan, 122 units, new construction | $10,688,133
Joint Schools Construction, Phase II (13 schools) | $327,000,000
Grand Total | $467,766,563.00

Substantially Completed | 2

Granite Works | 844-864 Main Street, mixed-use project, reconstruction | $8,000,000
Old Metroplex Renovation | 723 Main Street | $1,500,000
Grand Total | $9,500,000.00

Approved, funded and in final design and engineering | 3

Waterfront Village Housing Project; new construction | $12,500,000
Union Hall, CWA Local 1133, 821 Elk Street | $700,000
Southtown Connector-Fuhrmann Blvd. Reconstruction | $32,000,000
Grand Total | 45,200,000

Applied for Building permits/ under construction or will start soon | 34

Cobblestone | 26 Mississippi Street-Mixed-Use: 36 residential units, office retail | $5,000,000
New Era Headquarters | Delaware Ave | $10,000,000
285 Delaware Avenue | Uniland Development-New Office building | $12,000,000
Cobey Inc., new manufacturing facility | Buffalo Lakeside Commerce Park | $10,000,000
HealthNow Headquarters | $110,000,000
Artspace | 1219 Main Street, reconstruction, 60 apts. | $17,500,000
Pierce Building | 653 Main Street; reconstruction | $500,000
Hydro-Air Company, proposed new manufacturing facility | $7,500,000
Delaware & Linden Retail Plaza | Tim Horton’s; 2240-2300 Delaware | $5,000,000
506 Elmwood Avenue in-fill mixed-use project | $3,000,000
Guaranty Bldg | 30 Church Street | $12,000,000
Desiderios Food Warehouse | 530 Bailey Ave. | $2,100,000
Plaza Expansion | 2635 Delaware Ave (Plaza Group) | $750,000
Tops renovation | 2101 Elmwood Ave. | $650,000
Medical Bldg, Building C | 100 High Street | $980,000
Medical Office, WNY MRI | 700 Michigan Ave. | $1,200,000
Tenant Build Out | 20 East Huron Street | $800,000
499 Washington, Reconstruction, 82 units | $2,500,000
937 Broadway, Reconstruction, 43 units | $2,250,000
100 Seneca Street, renovation for NYSDOT | $2,489,000
St. John Phase I (Fruitbelt), 10 units new housing construction | $1,506,880
Bethel Phases I-II; 18 new housing construction (Ada & Elsie Streets) | $2,525,000
HoZo-New Opportunities; 19 new housing construction | Kang, Kemp & Davis Streets | $3,050,000
East Side Opportunities; 30 units new housing construction (Dodge Street) | $6,000,000
The Packard Building | Main & Riley | $8,932,000
Electric Tower | 535 Washington Street, office; renovation | $11,300,000
Phoenix House | 564 Delaware Avenue (Moscati) renovation | $1,040,000
Greystone Apartments | 24 Johnson Park | $5,000,000
Erie Canal Harbor Project and new Naval Museum | $50,000,000
Darwin Martin House and associated projects; renovation and new construction | $35,000,000
Joint Schools Construction, Phase I (9 schools) | $173,500,000
BMHA Lakeview 3A2; 6 housing units for rent; new construction | $1,159,304
Mount Mercy Academy Renovations | $400,000
Sisters’ Hospital | 2157 Main Street, renovations | $2,138,000
Grand Total | $517,770,184.00

Planned, project announced and likely to move forward | 27

50 Court Street | new office building | $40,000,000
Bass Pro Outdoor World Store | $ 60,000,000
Lenox Hotel Renovation; reconstruction | $5,000,000
Sodexho Laundry (Curtiss Wright) | $22,000,000
New Office Building | 227 Niagara Street | $550,000
Senior Apt with parking | 257 Virginia Street | $2,000,000
Apt Bldg conversion with Day Care | 92 Pearl Street | $9,200,000
Human Service Facility | 1924 Bailey Ave | $1,500,000
Paper Recycling Bldg | 12 Metcalf | $570,000
Loft Conversion | 686 Main Street | $1,500,000
Masonry Addition | 1 Bud Mil | $750,000
St. John Phase II (Fruitbelt), 10 new housing construction | $2,200,000
Sycamore Village; 48 units, new housing construction | Kang, Kemp & Davis Streets | $7,200,000
Shoreline Apartments, housing renovation | $10,700,000
Federal Courthouse | $120,000,000
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino and parking- est. | $70,000,000
BNMC-Medical Campus Infrastructure improvements & Allen Street extension | $11,400,000
UB Education Opportunity Center (EOC) | $25,000,000
St. John Baptist Hospice House | $2,600,000
Living Opportunities of DePaul Group Home, 75 units; new construction | Seneca & Elk | $805,014
AD Price, new construction of 48 rental housing units | Jefferson near William) | $25,900,000
Burchfield Penny Art Museum | $22,000,000
Shea’s Theater Renovations | $700,000
Cars Sharing Main Street | Federal & State | $14,000,000
Buffalo State College Technology Center | $40,000,000
Canisius College Interdisciplinary Science Center | $45,000,000
Grand Total | $540,575,014.00

Proposed, project announced but contingent on external factors | 19

Elmwood Avenue Hotel
Glenny Drive/Kensington Heights Retirement Community | $80,000,000
AIDS Community Services, Elmwood Avenue project | $7,000,000
504 Washington Street $1,000,000
St. John Townhomes, 28 units, new construction | $6,000,000
Statler Building Renovation, mixed-use: hotel, office, housing | $80,000,000
Seneca Paper, 210 Elicott Street, renovation/conversion, housing $6,800,000
RiverWright Ethanol Plant $80,000,000
AM&A’s Redevelopment, renovation, mixed-use
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino Hotel
Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino Office Tower
Erie Community College-Downtown | $90,000,000
Frank Lloyd Wright Boat House | $5,000,000
Frank Lloyd Wright Gas Station & Pierce-Arrow Transportation Museum | $3,000,000
Michigan St Church/Nash H/ Colored Musicians total | $1,000,000
Joint Schools Construction, Phase III (9 schools) | $375,000,000
H.H. Richardson Complex | $54,000,000
Richardson Architecture Museum | $24,000,000
Buffalo Lakefront Development (Outer Harbor) | $700,000,000
Grand Total | $1,512,800,000.00

Over all total = three billion, ninety three million, six hundred eleven thousand, seven hundred and sixty one dollars…My calculator doesn’t have any more spaces!

[westcoastperspective]

Wonder what _________ will think if he comes into town today as expected.

[steel]

where did you hear that. It is supposed to be top secret.

[westcoastperspective]

Edited.

Wonder how much it would cost to start undergrounding utility lines throughout the region.

[Halovet]

Originally Posted by westcoastperspective

Edited.

Wonder how much it would cost to start undergrounding utility lines throughout the region.

Feds would have to be major contributers, and with the current administration, Lotsa Luck. Hey, we can't even get an approved Fed Courthouse that should have begun construction 3 years ago. All those funds are being flushed down that big toilet called IRAQ, right along with my VA benifits

[westcoastperspective]

Genesee Street site may turn residential

Business First of Buffalo

A Genesee Street building that overlooks a major entrance to downtown Buffalo is being eyed as the city's latest residential project.

Businessmen Aaron Ackley, who has worked with a number of health-care agencies, and Paul Caruana have acquired the former Ellicott Paint Co. building at 112 Genesee St. from Buffalo restaurateur and former mayoral candidate Steve Calvaneso, paying $155,000, according to public documents. Calvaneso purchased the building last year, paying $95,000, also according to public documents.



Ackley said he is still working on final plans for the building, a four-story, 7,000-square-foot structure. The deal is his first downtown real-estate venture.

"This is the kind of building we were looking for, something of a diamond in the rough," Ackley said. "Downtown is an area that's growing."

Ackley said his initial plans are centering on some form of mixed use project with apartments or lofts on the upper floors and a retail or restaurant operation on the first floor.

What attracted him and Caruana to the building was its location just off the Kensington Expressway and on one of the main doorsteps to downtown Buffalo. The building sits in the middle of the Genesee Village neighborhood that has seen the development of a number of upscale residential projects including the IS Lofts and Oak Street Apartments.

"Looking at what else is happening in the neighborhood, and this was a no-brainer," Ackley said.

[shovel_ready]

^^^
awesome. love that building. looks like just about every old skinny building found in manhattan and brooklyn.

[Halovet]

Just a week after that devestating freak storm, and the good news is flowing again. Five years ago, everything would have been bogged down, and self pity would be epidemic. Buffalo's bouncing back, and the wait has been to long.

[believeinbflo]

hey y'all...
http://allthingsbuffalo.wnymedia.net/

photos of NewEra, 100 seneca, ellicott commons, and 285 delaware from wednesday.

also i've heard some bad things about issa. im trying to get a hold of the guy who said all this stuff about him and once i get more info i'll tell ya about it. all i gotta say is that im a little worried that issa isn't what he's made out to be. i think statler will happen but the 40 story tower on elmwood and mohawk? we'll see.

contacted BSC group about both projects, waiting for a response.

[westcoastperspective]

Originally Posted by believeinbflo

also i've heard some bad things about issa. im trying to get a hold of the guy who said all this stuff about him and once i get more info i'll tell ya about it. all i gotta say is that im a little worried that issa isn't what he's made out to be. i think statler will happen but the 40 story tower on elmwood and mohawk? we'll see.

contacted BSC group about both projects, waiting for a response.

I've asked some of the Manchester forumers, and this is what they say about Issa's projects there:

Issa Quay is going well. Sarah tower is making very very slow progress. It's a pigs ear to be honest. Sarah Village is at a complete stand still. It has been for weeks. As for Greengate. Well, where do I start? BSC, his construction company have dug a massive hole on the proposed site.(see Greengate thread) Apparently final designs 'could' be at an advanced stage, hence the massive hole? He's working with Salford City Counciland CABE on the proposal. Hopefully we should see a final design and work beginning in the not to distant future? I won't hold my breath though.

However, he does seem to have the right connections and financial backing to start these schemes off and to eventually finish them. We hope? Unfortunately his developments come across as being very poorly managed and run, and that's being very kind.

And then there was this comment from one of the Manchester forumers living in Ontario:

I live relatively close to Buffalo and can tell you that it is as we used to say-dog-rough. It's a shame really because it's had it's moments.
It's been up and down economically like a whore's knickers but has never managed to recapture it's former glory.

[Downtown Bolivar]

"Like a whore's knickers" eh? I like that. How about merchandising that one? "Buffalo--Up and down like a whore's knickers." Kinda gives new meaning to "Buffalo Rising!" Slightly worrying about Issa though. Buffalo doesn't need it's own version of the Aquafalls disaster in Niagara Falls.

[westcoastperspective]

Originally Posted by Downtown Bolivar

"Like a whore's knickers" eh? I like that. How about merchandising that one? "Buffalo--Up and down like a whore's knickers." Kinda gives new meaning to "Buffalo Rising!" Slightly worrying about Issa though. Buffalo doesn't need it's own version of the Aquafalls disaster in Niagara Falls.

Give him credit for being aggressive, but I don't believe there's a market for a fifty story tower in Buffalo- especially with steel and concrete costs as they are today. The units would have to be very expensive. Uniland @ Gates is a better location if there's only room for one luxury tower.

In Sacramento, three condo projects have been scrapped in the last month due to construction costs and a slowing housing market. Two of them were by national builder D.R. Horton.

Issa is building a team locally- he hired George Hamburger from Hunt Commercial to handle sales/leasing (the guy that brokered the Statler deal). If Issa thinks he can pull the tower off- go for it!

[Halovet]

Everyone needs to relax. Eather two things will happen. The project will go forward (most likely very slowly) or, it wont get done at all. Lord knows, Buffalo is no stranger to eather of these. I say we wait and see. I don't look for anything on this before the first of 07, if then. I NEVER want to see anyone from Buffalo ever again get their hopes up so high every time some whoever comes along talking 30-40 and now 50 story towers and dont build a gotdam thing like ADELPHIA, CRAWDADDY SITE, M&T expansion, The other two towers of MARINE MIDLAND, (1960s) and of course, that stupid ARCH.
The list goes on and on. Im just waiting to see Dulski Bldg plans and more lofts. Thats enough excitment for right now. I wont hold my breath on AM&As yet eather. When I start seeing shovels in the ground on these other things, then I'll get excited, but until renderings and work starts, I'll consider it all MORE RIGAS TYPE BULL SHIT.

[believeinbflo]

you got the right approach halovet. that list just of failed porjects sent shivers down my spine.

[westcoastperspective]

Kissling closed on the property at 430 Virginia this past week. They paid $340,000 for the building where they're planning 10 live-work units:

[buffaLOVE]

Just woundering if someone knows is the casino has began to be built, and if not do you know when they plan on beginning.

[sullymon54]

Kissling got a great deal with that building on virginia. Being in Allentown so renting it will be cake and an added bonus the 1st floor parking. A real win win.

[westcoastperspective]

Trico, Wile plants in bankruptcy

10/24/2006

A federal bankruptcy judge in Pennsylvania will decide the future of several Buffalo properties owned by late developer Stephen B. McGarvey, including the vacant Trico windshield wiper plant and the former M. Wile clothing plant.

Guy Fustine, an Erie, Pa.-based lawyer, confirmed Monday he has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization on behalf of Century Centre L.P. and Stephen B. McGarvey LLC. The bankruptcy petitions were filed Friday with the Western District Court of Pennsylvania in Erie.

Fustine said the decision to file for bankruptcy protection ends attempts by McGarvey's estate to sell the debt-laden properties through a private bidding process.

Earlier this year, the McGarvey estate enlisted Erie-based Altair Management to field sealed bids for the properties, an effort that attracted nearly two dozens requests for bid packages and ultimately six formal offers.

Despite the run-down condition of the Trico buildings, their location continues to make them prime redevelopment targets.

[westcoastperspective]

H-U-G-E press conference tomorrow.

Issa design to go public.