BUFFALO | New Tallest Building | 615 FT / 187 M | 40 FLOORS

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

Companies aren’t about to up and relocate to another city just to save money on high lease rates. The reason why cities like Toronto and New York attract and keep business has a lot to do with the talent pools they have not to mention it’s good to be next door to your competition. If a company was to move from New York or Toronto it would have to relocate all its employees if possible. Not to mention those moving from Toronto would have the added hassle of immigration procedures. So unless they are suggesting companies are just going shut up shop in Toronto and re-hire an all American staff just so they can be in a landmark building in Buffalo, I can’t see it happening. Buffalo itself suffers from a serious Brain Drain problem http://http://www.regional-institute so the only way a company would be able to fill the positions would be to woo people to the city. The developer is going to need to target home grown companies because trying to make Buffalo look like an attractive lifestyle to someone living in a much larger, vibrant, and multi-cultural city such as New York or Toronto is going to be next to impossible.


I hope they do get this tower, I just don't agree that a nice building is reason enough to shuffle off to Buffalo.

You obviously don't remember the Rae Days. He didn't get the name "Buffalo Bob" for no good reason.

Never say never.

[WHISTLERINMUSKOKA]

Downtown Bolivar, I agree with everything you say but I think Buffalo has slid too far of the face of the corporate world. It needs to think long term. What can be done to encourage Buffalo’s youth to stay and help build a better city. Band-aid solutions like Casino’s and fancy mixed use towers aren’t going to make people want to move to or back to the region. I’m sure most people would rather spend a few hours a day in traffic and live in a city that is alive. Also, how many international flights does the Buffalo airport get? Both NYC and Toronto have airports with direct flights to all the world’s major markets. Toronto has 1 (great) major airport and two regional airports.

[chevy064]

Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

Downtown Bolivar, I agree with everything you say but I think Buffalo has slid too far of the face of the corporate world. It needs to think long term. What can be done to encourage Buffalo’s youth to stay and help build a better city. Band-aid solutions like Casino’s and fancy mixed use towers aren’t going to make people want to move to or back to the region. I’m sure most people would rather spend a few hours a day in traffic and live in a city that is alive. Also, how many international flights does the Buffalo airport get? Both NYC and Toronto have airports with direct flights to all the world’s major markets. Toronto has 1 (great) major airport and to regional airports.

Whistler....

Let me ask - was Toronto always the city that it is today? It was a lesser city at one time - and one project led to another and another - and it has grown into a world class city, surpassing Montreal as Canada's most vibrant center.

I am not saying Buffalo will ever reach Toronto's status - but as an example, Buffalo can be more than it is today. With all the infill projects goin on downtown, residential conversions, federal courthouse, Dulski building renovation, Health Now, Bass Pro, the waterfront proposal, casino, New Era headquarters....etc.......and now the Issa tower - things are looking up for the Buff!

Give Buffalo a chance. The new airport has been picking up new carriers and flights steadily since it opened. The more comapnies and buisiness that is in Buffalo will increase that number even more as demand increases.

[WHISTLERINMUSKOKA]

Originally Posted by chevy064

Whistler....

Let me ask - was Toronto always the city that it is today? It was a lesser city at one time - and one project led to another and another - and it has grown into a world class city, surpassing Montreal as Canada's most vibrant center.

-Actually it was one major shift caused by fears of seperation in Quebec.
-Bass Pro is not a good thing nor is a casino
-Buffalo can and should be more than it is today
-I hope this tower does happen

[Dale]

100,000 out of 600,000 already spoken for, and the developer is aiming for 40%. Sounds eminently doable.

[Fabb]

Another unusual design feature is metal lattice work that will cover three sides of the glass facade, working to deflect glare both outside and inside the building.

"It is rather like a bride's veil. You can see her face, but you also see the diaphanous screen. It's very intriguing," Warren said.

We're not talking about a skin à la NY Times, are we ?
Because, plenty of people would be pissed.

No me, though.

[buffaLOVE]

Does anyone know who are in the 100,000.

[WHISTLERINMUSKOKA]

Maybe the hotel?

[canucklehead2]

What happened to the proposal for a waterfront Convention Centre with a sail-like skyscraper? To me that would have done wonders for the city!

[Rue B]

Is this building, tentatively known as the Buffalo City Tower going to have a small antenna/spire on top of it? All of the news reports I've seen for this building have the height listed at 600' not 615' as the thread title suggests.

[Sgt. Sabre]

Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

Maybe the hotel?

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.

[buffaLOVE]

The condos could sell very fast(similar price of the gates circle and waterfront and get the best of both). These condos have the best view, location, and who would not want to live in the signature tower of a city( they get both the view of the lake and the land). If i was done with college i would take one in a second. I just hope that this happens soon and by the time i am out of school they are building more towers with condos so i can move in.(Also remember that UB is expanding and that could bring in many more Companys as UB is one of the best school in the nation) I do not go to school in Buffalo but i will be moveing back no matter how long it takes me to get a job. If you are not from buffalo you do not know how much the people from this city love the place, and when i hear about this great project i feel a great sence of pride and love for my "great" city. I just hope people can see what I see in the city, and Issa seems like someone who does. This could give me a change to be able to raise my family in buffalo, which i would do anything to have happen. I just wish Issa the best of luck and i hope that Buffalo get everthing it should get.

[STERNyc]

Originally Posted by Rue B

Is this building, tentatively known as the Buffalo City Tower going to have a small antenna/spire on top of it? All of the news reports I've seen for this building have the height listed at 600' not 615' as the thread title suggests.

As Sgt. Sabre already replied, 615 feet is the figure given in the pdf of the latest released elevation. It is my guess that the buildings heighest occupied ceiling is at 600 feet and the building tops out at 615 feet.

[canucklehead2]

Does anyone from Buffalo have the rendering of the Inner Harbour Waterfront Conference Centre Skyscraper? What ever happened to that plan? Anyone know what I am talking about?

[JManc]

this is fantastic news but with any good news dealng with upstate NY, i am keeping my fingers crossed.

[Halovet]

Originally Posted by chevy064

Why do you make that sound like it is not possible? Do you know the cost savings companies can land by locating in Buffalo? Class A office space ata fraction of the cost in a signature tower.

Not everyone will bite - but there is a market.

I read yesterday that 100,000 sq of the 600,000 sq. ft. of available office space is already spoken for.

You took the words right out of my mouth chevyo64. Hey, there is no bigger B-lo pessimist than me. I go all the way back to The Mayor Cowall Days in the 50s, and remember broken promisses from when most of you were not even born. I had said that I would take a wait and see approuch to this until I saw a rendering. Now that I have, IM SO EXCITED I COULD SCREAM! Somehow, something inside me tells me this is ment to be. I can just feel it. I haven't felt this way sense Marine Midland Tower's rendering in what? 1968?
Every developer wants 40% sales before building, thats nothing new, and this project will generate so much excitment, that will go fairly quickly. Issa wanted to find a market he could pretty much stand out in, and Buffalo is perfect. Now, I got to see how Dulski is going to look.

[Halovet]

Originally Posted by Dale

100,000 out of 600,000 already spoken for, and the developer is aiming for 40%. Sounds eminently doable.

A lot more than doable. Sounds like it's dam near done, when you consider the marketing to reach that 40% is going to go on for at least a year. Besides, Im sure The Gov, Hillary, and Chuck Shumer will be doing they're best to bring the business community on board especially in New York State. Nobody has even mentioned that yet. A few offices branch out from Albany and "the City", and there you go. Hey, somebody is filling those new towers in Yonkers and New Roshell. Relocation from Gothem is moving at a steady pace. You will find that NYS politicians have played a big part in these things if you do your home work. Im sure Issa is a bright guy. He didn't become a Billionaire by not doing his homework. In fact, Im willing to bet, he wanted to build a taller tower, then scalled it down after doing research . He already knows he's going to fill the tower. Wait and see.

[Halovet]

Originally Posted by canucklehead2

Does anyone from Buffalo have the rendering of the Inner Harbour Waterfront Conference Centre Skyscraper? What ever happened to that plan? Anyone know what I am talking about?

Yes, but I dont think anybody wants to talk about it anymore, not with all this great news. If it's the one I think, lets just say those crooks are in jail, and leave it at that.

[Wheelingman04]

That tower looks awesome in the renderings. I really hope it happens. No city in the country deserves it more than Buffalo. I hope this can start a residential and business boom downtown.

[Sgt. Sabre]

Originally Posted by BANKofMANHATTAN

Here's a little comp of some of these future projects together from the Niagara Street viewpoint looking southeast. Sorry for the overcastness.

Actually, I think the clouds add some good character to the picture. Maybe because it's nice to see a rendering without a bright blue sky for once!

Though did you notice the traffic light just above the green "I-190 Thruway/Next Right" sign, how the Federal Courthouse is in front of the leftmost signal head? hmmmm Nice to see that gas prices will be fairly stable over the next 4 years as well. I thought when you did renderings you had to be careful of these things...