Who gets credit for Buffalo’s development projects?
Mayor Byron W. Brown cites $1.7 billion in economic activity in Buffalo. But how much was his administration responsible for the boom? With the project amount, description and the city’s role, here’s how it breaks down:
City heavily involved:
• Buffalo Sabres’ HarborCenter, $172 million. A hotel, two ice rinks, and a hockey center is being financed by Sabres owner Terry Pegula, with phased completions in 2014 and 2015. The city put land out for bid and negotiated the sale, including living wage provisions and hiring goals for minority and women workers.
• The Carlo, $75 million. A hotel and office complex near Erie Basin Marina, by Ellicott Development, is projected to open in late 2015. The project is moving along, and the city, which is selling the land, is working issues related to the title, according to developer Carl Paladino. The city selected Ellicott to develop the parcel. No other bids for the Erie Basin Marina land were sought.
• The Tishman Building, $41 million. A new hotel and office space on Lafayette Square by the Hamister Group, now under construction, is expected to open next year. The city loaned the project $1.1 million in federal funds, and provided an easement to allow access to hotel’s front door.
• Former Riverside Academy, $20 million. Low-income apartments by DePaul Key Housing, scheduled to open in March. The city sold the school to DePaul, and awarded $1.5 million in federal block grant funds.
• Statler City, $13 million. Redevelopment of a historic Statler hotel by developer Mark D. Croce focused on the renovation of the first three floors, completed earlier this year, and exterior work that is expected to start in late fall. City awarded $5.3 million to stabilize the exterior, helped prevent demolition when building was in bankruptcy.
• White’s Livery Apartments, $3.5 million. Affordable apartments by Savarino Companies in White Brother Livery Stables are scheduled to open in December. The city spent $574,000 to stabilize the building, and allocated $1.1 million to developer.
City moderately involved:
• Gates Vascular Institute, $291 million. Kaleida Health’s cardiac and stroke center opened in 2012. The city sold Goodrich Street for $1.1 million.
• Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, $130 million. City negotiated $600,000 land sale, including Seneca funds for infrastructure improvements.
• Conventus, $100 million. Office building on the medical campus is under construction by Ciminelli Real Estate, and scheduled to open in spring 2015. Brown supported tax breaks.
• Richardson Olmsted Complex, $55 million. Former state asylum will be redeveloped into hotel and event space, with scheduled opening in 2016. The city worked on deed issues.
• Catholic Health Administrative and Regional Training Center, $46 million. New headquarters for health care provider is expected to be completed nest summer. City allocated $3.8 million in state funding.
• Hotel@Lafayette, $44 million. Signature Development redeveloped historic hotel. City loaned the project $800,000, made lighting and sidewalk improvements, and granted tax breaks.
• Central Park Plaza, $35 million. LP Ciminelli plans to redevelop the large site. Demolition on the site is complete. The city prodded the state to get parcel’s former out-of-town owner to sell.
• 500 Seneca St., $35 million. Mixed-use development planned by Savarino Companies. The city sold small lots behind the building. Plans approved by the Planning Board in December.
• The Planing Mill, $8 million. Apartments and commercial space at 141 Elm St. by TM Montante, in development. City provided $500,000 loan.
• Housing Opportunities Made Equal, $2.9 million. New offices and apartments at 1542 Main St. opened last year. City awarded the project federal funds.
• Ricotta & Visco, $1.6 million. New law offices at 496 Main St. Brown administration said city resolved “complicated” permit issues.
City nominally involved:
• UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, $375 million. The medical school will relocate from the South Campus to Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, with the opening planned for 2016. The seven-story medical school will be built at the corner of Main and High streets and will have many more students and faculty than the school has on the UB South Campus. Brown lobbied in Albany with UB officials for the project.
• John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, $243 million. A new 12-floor free-standing children’s hospital will be built on the medical campus. Ground-breaking for the new facility across from Kaleida Health’s Buffalo General Medical Center is expected in the spring, with completion in 2016. The city negotiated easements.
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Clinical Sciences Center, $40 million. Building will provide breast cancer screening services, chemotherapy infusion, and other programs, expected to open in fall 2015. City is facilitating reconfigurations of land parcels and offered assistance with new market tax credits.
• One Canalside, $30 million. The former Donovan State Office Building across Scott Street is being redeveloped into a hotel and the headquarters for the Phillips Lytle law firm. It is scheduled to open in phases at the end of this year and in the spring. Will be site of a 96-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel. City advocated for tax breaks at ECIDA.
• The Graystone, $5.3 million. Redevelopment of a century-old building on Johnson Park into 42 apartments by Ellicott Development, scheduled to open next month. City supported project at ECIDA.
– Jill Terreri
Mayor Byron W. Brown cites $1.7 billion in economic activity in Buffalo. But how much was his administration responsible for the boom? With the project amount, description and the city’s role, here’s how it breaks down:
City heavily involved:
• Buffalo Sabres’ HarborCenter, $172 million. A hotel, two ice rinks, and a hockey center is being financed by Sabres owner Terry Pegula, with phased completions in 2014 and 2015. The city put land out for bid and negotiated the sale, including living wage provisions and hiring goals for minority and women workers.
• The Carlo, $75 million. A hotel and office complex near Erie Basin Marina, by Ellicott Development, is projected to open in late 2015. The project is moving along, and the city, which is selling the land, is working issues related to the title, according to developer Carl Paladino. The city selected Ellicott to develop the parcel. No other bids for the Erie Basin Marina land were sought.
• The Tishman Building, $41 million. A new hotel and office space on Lafayette Square by the Hamister Group, now under construction, is expected to open next year. The city loaned the project $1.1 million in federal funds, and provided an easement to allow access to hotel’s front door.
• Former Riverside Academy, $20 million. Low-income apartments by DePaul Key Housing, scheduled to open in March. The city sold the school to DePaul, and awarded $1.5 million in federal block grant funds.
• Statler City, $13 million. Redevelopment of a historic Statler hotel by developer Mark D. Croce focused on the renovation of the first three floors, completed earlier this year, and exterior work that is expected to start in late fall. City awarded $5.3 million to stabilize the exterior, helped prevent demolition when building was in bankruptcy.
• White’s Livery Apartments, $3.5 million. Affordable apartments by Savarino Companies in White Brother Livery Stables are scheduled to open in December. The city spent $574,000 to stabilize the building, and allocated $1.1 million to developer.
City moderately involved:
• Gates Vascular Institute, $291 million. Kaleida Health’s cardiac and stroke center opened in 2012. The city sold Goodrich Street for $1.1 million.
• Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino, $130 million. City negotiated $600,000 land sale, including Seneca funds for infrastructure improvements.
• Conventus, $100 million. Office building on the medical campus is under construction by Ciminelli Real Estate, and scheduled to open in spring 2015. Brown supported tax breaks.
• Richardson Olmsted Complex, $55 million. Former state asylum will be redeveloped into hotel and event space, with scheduled opening in 2016. The city worked on deed issues.
• Catholic Health Administrative and Regional Training Center, $46 million. New headquarters for health care provider is expected to be completed nest summer. City allocated $3.8 million in state funding.
• Hotel@Lafayette, $44 million. Signature Development redeveloped historic hotel. City loaned the project $800,000, made lighting and sidewalk improvements, and granted tax breaks.
• Central Park Plaza, $35 million. LP Ciminelli plans to redevelop the large site. Demolition on the site is complete. The city prodded the state to get parcel’s former out-of-town owner to sell.
• 500 Seneca St., $35 million. Mixed-use development planned by Savarino Companies. The city sold small lots behind the building. Plans approved by the Planning Board in December.
• The Planing Mill, $8 million. Apartments and commercial space at 141 Elm St. by TM Montante, in development. City provided $500,000 loan.
• Housing Opportunities Made Equal, $2.9 million. New offices and apartments at 1542 Main St. opened last year. City awarded the project federal funds.
• Ricotta & Visco, $1.6 million. New law offices at 496 Main St. Brown administration said city resolved “complicated” permit issues.
City nominally involved:
• UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, $375 million. The medical school will relocate from the South Campus to Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, with the opening planned for 2016. The seven-story medical school will be built at the corner of Main and High streets and will have many more students and faculty than the school has on the UB South Campus. Brown lobbied in Albany with UB officials for the project.
• John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, $243 million. A new 12-floor free-standing children’s hospital will be built on the medical campus. Ground-breaking for the new facility across from Kaleida Health’s Buffalo General Medical Center is expected in the spring, with completion in 2016. The city negotiated easements.
• Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Clinical Sciences Center, $40 million. Building will provide breast cancer screening services, chemotherapy infusion, and other programs, expected to open in fall 2015. City is facilitating reconfigurations of land parcels and offered assistance with new market tax credits.
• One Canalside, $30 million. The former Donovan State Office Building across Scott Street is being redeveloped into a hotel and the headquarters for the Phillips Lytle law firm. It is scheduled to open in phases at the end of this year and in the spring. Will be site of a 96-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel. City advocated for tax breaks at ECIDA.
• The Graystone, $5.3 million. Redevelopment of a century-old building on Johnson Park into 42 apartments by Ellicott Development, scheduled to open next month. City supported project at ECIDA.
– Jill Terreri