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Mayor's Vision for Buffalo

A NEW VISION FOR A NEW BUFFALO

INTRODUCTION

AS THE 58TH MAYOR OF BUFFALO, I AM EXCITED WITH THE MANY INITIATIVES, DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE COMING TOGETHER TO REINVIGORATE AND REVITALIZE OUR GREAT CITY.

WITH A RICH HISTORY, A TRADITION OF INNOVATION AND A CULTURALLY AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE CITIZENRY, BUFFALO POSSESSES ALL OF THE APPEALING CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITIES OF THE GREAT URBAN CENTERS OF THE UNITED STATES.

FROM THE BIRTH OF OUR CITY IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY THROUGH THE REMARKABLE GROWTH PERIOD OF THE 20TH CENTURY AND NOW IN AN ERA OF CHANGE AND REBIRTH DURING THE 21ST CENTURY, BUFFALO IS PREPARED TO BUILD UPON THE MANY ASSETS THAT MAKES US UNIQUE AND ATTRACTIVE FOR INVESTMENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.

LIKE MANY OF OUR PEER CITIES IN THE NORTHEAST, OUR CITY HAS WEATHERED CHALLENGING ECONOMIC TIMES, YET WE HAVE REMAINED STEADFAST IN OUR DETERMINATION TO MOVE PROGRESSIVELY AND POSITIVELY TOWARD A BETTER FUTURE.

I AM DETERMINED TO EXAMINE AND ADOPT BEST PRACTICES FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND GOVERNMENTS THAT MAKE SENSE TO BUFFALO.

AS MAYOR, I AM COMMITTED TO HARNESSING THE PHYSICAL, CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL STRENGTHS OF OUR CITY AND TRANSFORMING THOSE MATCHLESS QUALITIES INTO SUSTAINABLE AND UNRIVALLED DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR CITIZENS AND VISITORS ALIKE.

FROM THE ONGOING REDEVELOPMENT OF OUR WATERFRONT TO OUR MANY CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND OUR WONDERFULLY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS; TO OUR THRIVING COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, OUR PEERLESS URBAN ARCHITECTURE AND AN ARTISTIC COMMUNITY THAT CONTINUES TO INSPIRE AND EXCITE; TO AN EXTENSIVE UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE SYSTEM, ALONG WITH THE GROUNDBREAKING SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH OF OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART LIFE SCIENCES INSTITUTIONS, BUFFALO IS A CITY THAT HAS NOT JUST SURVIVED, IT HAS PREVAILED AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW, DIVERSIFY AND EVOLVE.

MY VISION THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MUST BE CITYWIDE AND THE CITY WON’T BE SAVED BY LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS ONLY.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE EXCITING DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE NOW IN BUFFALO:

BASS PRO

BASS PRO SHOPS WILL OPEN A NEW MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SUPERSTORE IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO AND CREATE 400 NEW JOBS. THE NEW SUPERSTORE WILL SERVE AS THE CENTERPIECE AND ANCHOR TENANT OF A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT EFFORT TO TRANSFORM THE VACANT MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM - "THE AUD."

THE NEW PROJECT WILL INCLUDE THE NEW BASS PRO SHOP, ALONG WITH A NEW ERIE CANAL HERITAGE/GREAT LAKES MUSEUM, HOTEL AND RESTAURANT. THE BASS PRO SHOPS BUFFALO STORE WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 250,000 SQUARE FEET AND WILL ANCHOR THE PROJECT THAT ALSO INCLUDES A MUSEUM/INTERPRETIVE CENTER, HOTEL AND THEMED FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT.

BASS PRO SHOPS UNIQUE, AWARD-WINNING, MEGA SIZE OUTDOOR STORES ARE KNOWN FOR COMBINING RETAIL WITH ENTERTAINMENT, CONSERVATION AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION. A GIFT AND NATURE CENTER WILL ALSO SERVE UP A WIDE VARIETY OF OUTDOOR-RELATED ITEMS FROM LAMPS AND DISHES TO BIRD FEEDERS AND FURNITURE.

BUFFALO INNER-HARBOR  DEVELOPMENT

THE ERIE CANAL HARBOR PROJECT PLAN BY STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS, CALLS FOR RE-WATERING THE HISTORIC COMMERCIAL SLIP. ANOTHER ELEMENT OF THE REVISED PLAN INCLUDES ACKNOWLEDGING THE LOCATION OF A PORTION OF THE HISTORIC CENTRAL WHARF ALONG THE BUFFALO RIVER. 

THE PROJECT HAS TWO ESSENTIAL GOALS:
• TO PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT WITH A NEW ESPLANADE AND FESTIVAL PLAZA; AND
• TO RE-ESTABLISH BUFFALO AS THE QUEEN CITY OF THE GREAT LAKES THROUGH ITS HARBOR.

WITH THE COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT, BUFFALO WILL TURN TO ITS WATERFRONT HISTORY AND BUILD A HARBOR, WHICH ACCOMMODATES COMMERCIAL PASSENGER VESSELS, VISITING TALL SHIPS AND VESSELS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC TOURS, AND VISITING PLEASURE CRAFT. TO RE-ESTABLISH ITS PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION, WESTERN NEW YORK WILL EMBRACE ITS ERIE CANAL HISTORY IN A MANNER FOR ALL TO SEE. 
THE PROJECT WILL SUPPORT HERITAGE TOURISM WITHIN BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY BY EVOKING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ERIE CANAL HARBOR TO THE CITY OF BUFFALO AND THE REGION'S GROWTH IN THE NINETEENTH AND EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURIES.

THE ESTIMATED $47 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY AND CITY FUNDING.


BUFFALO OUTER HARBOR DEVELOPMENT

THE BUFFALO LAKEFRONT DEVELOPMENT TEAM WAS THE TEAM SELECTED BY THE NFTA IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OUTER HARBOR EVALUATION COMMITTEE, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES INCLUDING THE CITY OF BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY, TO DEVELOP 120 ACRES OF LAND ON BUFFALO’S OUTER HARBOR.

GENERALLY, THE NORTHERLY PORTION OF THE SITE WILL BE DEVELOPED INTO A NEW MIXED-USE WATERFRONT HOUSING COMMUNITY THAT WILL INCLUDE A NEW MARINA, RESIDENTIAL TOWNHOUSES AND CONDOMINIUMS FACING LAKE ERIE AND A SMALL RETAIL AREA TO SERVE RESIDENTS, BOATERS AND VISITORS. 

PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE SITE WILL BE ENSURED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OUTER HARBOR GREENBELT, WHICH WILL STABILIZE THE SHORELINE AND PROVIDE A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PATH ALONG THE LAKE.  THERE WILL BE OTHER PUBLIC AREAS BUILT INTO THE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING WALKING TRAILS AND PARK AREAS. 

THE SOUTHERLY PORTION OF THE SITE WILL BE DEVELOPED AS A WATERFRONT DESTINATION HAVING ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION USES THAT WILL BE DETERMINED AFTER FURTHER PUBLIC INPUT IS RECEIVED.

THE BUFFALO LAKEFRONT DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS COMPRISED OF NATIONALLY RENOWNED DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING OPUS EAST OF PHILADELPHIA AND VOA ASSOCIATES OF CHICAGO, AS WELL AS AMHERST BASED UNILAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.  BOTH OPUS AND VOA HAVE SIGNIFICANT WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE INCLUDING THE CLEVELAND WATERFRONT AND THE NAVY PIER IN CHICAGO.
THE BUFFALO LAKEFRONT DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE CITY, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SECURE FUNDING FOR OFF-SITE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS TO ACCESS THE OUTER HARBOR SITE.

BUFFALO NIAGARA MEDICAL CAMPUS

A PARTNERSHIP OF THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE, AND HAUPTMAN-WOODWARD MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE HEART OF THE MEDICAL CAMPUS AT THE INTERSECTION OF ELLICOTT AND VIRGINIA STREETS. THIS PROJECT REPRESENTS OVER $150 MILLION OF INVESTMENT IN THREE NEW BUILDINGS THAT WILL RESULT IN OVER 400,000 SQUARE FEET OF STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH SPACE BEING ADDED TO THE BUFFALO NIAGARA MEDICAL CAMPUS (BNMC).

THE BNMC WAS FOUNDED BY THE UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE, KALEIDA HEALTH, HAUPTMAN-WOODWARD MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND THE BUFFALO MEDICAL GROUP FOUNDATION WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BUFFALO, THE COUNTY OF ERIE, THE ALLENTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE FRUIT BELT NEIGHBORHOOD. IN 2003, BUFFALO HEARING & SPEECH CENTER AND THE OLMSTED CENTER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED JOINED THE BNMC BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN APRIL 2001, THE BNMC HAS WORKED – IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ITS MEMBER INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS THE CITY, THE COUNTY, AND THE COMMUNITY – TO CULTIVATE A WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL CAMPUS ON 100 ACRES IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO.

IN NOVEMBER 2002, THE BNMC ROLLED OUT A COLLABORATIVE AND INTERDISCIPLINARY MASTER PLAN & IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY.

 THERE ARE CURRENTLY 8,000 PEOPLE WHO COME TO WORK AT THE MEDICAL CAMPUS EVERY DAY. BNMC INSTITUTIONS HAVE A TOTAL OF $600 MILLION IN ANNUAL EXPENDITURES, AN ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT OF $300 MILLION TO THE REGION, AND OVER 750,000 PATIENT VISITS A YEAR.

CAMPUS INSTITUTIONS CURRENTLY OCCUPY NEARLY THREE MILLION SQUARE FEET OF SPACE DEDICATED TO CLINICAL, RESEARCH, AND, MEDICAL EDUCATION PURPOSES. THE NEXT 10 TO 15 YEARS WILL SEE THE ADDITION OF APPROXIMATELY 1.8 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF DEVELOPMENT.

BNMC FACTS & FIGURES
• APPROXIMATELY $600 MILLION IN ANNUAL EXPENDITURES
• AN ADDITIONAL $300 MILLION IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT
• 8,000+ EMPLOYEES
• 500+ MDS
• 200+ PHDS
• 750,000+ ANNUAL PATIENT VISITS

JOINT SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTION BOARD

CREATED BY STATE STATUTE, THE JOINT SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTION BOARD (JSCB) HAS EMBARKED ON A 10-YEAR, $1 BILLION RECONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION PROGRAM OF THE BUFFALO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

PHASE I HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND PHASE II IS UNDERWAY.

TO DATE, OVER $53 MILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED OUT TO MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSESS.

IT IS PROJECTED THAT THE MBE PERCENTAGE OF WORK IS 27% AND THE WBE PORTION IS JUST OVER 7%.

KEY TO THE PROJECT IS THE CAREER PATH PROGRAM, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY WORKERS SEEKING TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ON THIS SIGNIFICANT PROJECT.

OVERALL, THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MODERN, STATE-OF-THE-ART LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE CITY’S CHILDREN, UPGRADE THE ENTIRE PUBLIC SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRENGTHEN THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

HEALTHNOW PROJECT

• PRINCIPLE PARTNERS:
• DUKE HN, NEW YORK, LLC (SUBSIDIARY OF DUKE REALTY CORPORATION)
• HEALTHNOW NEW YORK, INC. (PARENT OF BLUE CROSS-BLUE SHIELD HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY) DUKE HN WILL OWN THE PROJECT AND LEASE IT TO HEALTHNOW
• PROPERTY OWNERSHIP IS UNDER THE NAME OF 257 W. GENESEE ST. INC. – A SHELL CORPORATION ESTABLISHED TO PRESERVE PRE-2005 EMPIRE ZONE BENEFITS.

THE PROJECT:

• CONSTRUCTION OF A 489,000 SQUARE FOOT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS COMPLEX FOR HEALTHNOW
• LOCATION: 249-257 WEST GENESEE STREET (BEHIND CITY HALL), PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES:
• ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION OF AN 8- ACRE SITE, THE FORMER GAS WORKS SITE OWNED BY NATIONAL FUEL; COST: $15,000,000
• CONSTRUCTION OF A PARKING RAMP (COST: APPROXIMATELY $20 MILLION), SURFACE PARKING AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES
• PRESERVATION OF THE FAÇADE OF THE FORMER GAS WORKS BUILDING
• TOTAL PROJECT COST: $110,300,000
• EMPLOYMENT: RETENTION OF 1,369 EXISTING EMPLOYEES

CURRENT STATUS:

• ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED
• CONSTRUCTION OF FOUNDATIONS FOR OFFICE BUILDING HAS COMMENCED.
• FOUNDATION PERMITS APPROVED.  OTHER BUILDING PERMITS STILL PENDING.
• COMPLETION SCHEDULED FOR FALL 2007

PUBLIC BENEFITS:

• RETENTION OF 1,400 EMPLOYEES AND A CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO AND RELOCATION OF THOSE EMPLOYEES TO DOWNTOWN.
• REMEDIATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTAMINATED SITE ADJACENT TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD
• PRESERVATION OF AN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDING FAÇADE
• GENERATION OF OVER $21,400,00 IN NEW REAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUES OVER THE 15 YEAR LIFE OF THE PAYMENT-IN-LIEU-OF-TAX PERIOD:
  • $16,400,000 TO THE CITY OF BUFFALO
  • $5,000,000 TO THE COUNTY OF ERIE
• AFTER 15 YEARS THE PROJECT WOULD PAY FULL TAXES, ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY $3 MILLION PER YEAR COMBINED (CITY/COUNTY)

DUKE REALTY:

• DUKE REALTY CORPORATION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMPANIES IN THE U.S.  IT IS THE LARGEST PUBLICLY TRADED OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OWNER.
• DUKE ALSO HAS A SPECIALTY IN PROVIDING REAL ESTATE FOR HEALTH CARE COMPANIES.
• DUKE WAS SELECTED VIA AN RFP ISSUED BY HEALTHNOW.
• CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS ARE LOCATED IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN.
• IT IS A FULL SERVICE REAL ESTATE COMPANY WHICH BUILDS, OWNS, LEASES AND MANAGES OVER 102 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE U.S.
• THIS PROJECT WILL POTENTIALLY SIGNAL THE VANGUARD OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS IN THIS AREA FOR DUKE.  DUKE’S ENTRY IN THE BUFFALO-AREA MARKET PROVIDES SOME NEW COMPETITION FOR THE LOCALLY-DOMINATED REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IN THIS AREA.

PEACE BRIDGE

THE PEACE BRIDGE IS A VITAL LINK TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND TOURISM. MORE THAN 6,000 TRUCKS PER DAY HAVE BEEN PROCESSED AT THE PEACE BRIDGE, AND THE VALUE OF TRADE CROSSING THE PEACE BRIDGE IS ABOUT $700 MILLION EACH WEEK. THOUSANDS OF TOURISTS CROSS THE BRIDGE DAILY TO REACH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL DESTINATIONS.
OUR CROSSING HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR HOW TO DEVELOP THE NORTHERN BORDER IN A WAY THAT PROMOTES SAFETY AND SECURITY YET ADVANCES COMMERCE AND TOURISM.

BUFFALO OLMSTED PARKS SYSTEM

THE CONSERVANCY’S PHASE 1 OF THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN IS YET ANOTHER INDICATION OF SUCH STRONG SUPPORT.

RAISING $12.6 MILLION DOLLARS FROM A BROAD RANGE OF CONTRIBUTORS IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR SUCH A WORTHY EFFORT.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE BUFFALO OLMSTED PARKS CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT IS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF THE CONSERVANCY’S VITAL ROLE IN MAKING BUFFALO A GREAT CITY TO LIVE, WORK AND INVEST IN.

CERTAINTEED/BUFFALO LAKESIDE COMMERCE PARK

BROWNFIELD RECLAMATION PROJECTS LIKE THE BUFFALO LAKESIDE COMMERCE PARK REPRESENT CURRENT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AND AROUND BUFFALO.

AROUND A DECADE AGO, THE CITY OF BUFFALO MADE A COMMITMENT TO GET BACK INTO THE SITE SELECTION GAME BY REDEVELOPING THE ABANDONED HANNA FURNACE PIG IRON PLANT AND THE UNION SHIP CANAL.

FIRST $3 MILLION OF CITY/BUFFALO URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORP. (BUDC) DOLLARS WENT INTO DEMOLITION, SITE INVESTIGATION, AND SITE PREPARATION.

THE NEXT $7 MILLION OF STATE AND COUNTY DOLLARS WENT INTO THE ROADS, UTILITIES, AND INFRASTRUCTURE; OVER 5,000 LINEAR FEET OF NEW CITY STREETS NEEDED TO MARKET THE LAND. 

LOCAL DEVELOPER, KROG CORP. NEEDED 25 ACRES OF LAND WITH RAILROAD ACCESS FOR ITS TENANT CERTAINTEED CORP

STATE DEC PARTNERED WITH BUFFALO URBAN DEVELOPMENT CORP. TO ESTABLISH 2 VOLUNTARY CLEANUP AGREEMENTS COVERING 72 ACRES OF THE SITE, AND ESTABLISHING THE PARAMETERS OF A SOILS MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ALL FUTURE CONSTRUCTION.

THE DEC PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF BUFFALO AND BUDC TO INCLUDE 2 OTHER ADJACENT PARCELS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROGRAM (ERP) FOR TESTING AND REMEDIATION.

THE DEC IS CONDUCTING A SUPERFUND CLEANUP ON THE FORMER SHENANGO STEEL PROPERTY ADJACENT TO CERTAINTEED AND OUR NEW ROAD.

DEC PARTNERED WITH KROG CORP. TO INCLUDE THE CERTAINTEED PROPERTY IN THEIR RECENTLY ESTABLISHED BROWNFIELD CLEANUP PROGRAM, WITH THIS SITE BEING THE FIRST ONE CERTIFIED IN ALL OF NEW YORK STATE. 

FIRST NIAGARA BANK REGIONAL MARKET CENTER

IN JANUARY 2006, FIRST NIAGARA BANK ANNOUNCED IT IS ESTABLISHING A REGIONAL MARKET CENTER THAT WILL RESULT IN BRINGING SEVERAL KEY SALES GROUPS AND APPROXIMATELY 200 EMPLOYEES TO DOWNTOWN BUFFALO BY EARLY SUMMER 2006.

SALES PERSONNEL FROM COMMERCIAL LENDING, COMMERCIAL INSURANCE, TRUST, SECURITIES SALES AND RELATED GROUPS WILL BE LOCATING TO THE LARKIN AT EXCHANGE BUILDING AT 726 EXCHANGE ST.

FIRST NIAGARA BANK IS AN $8 BILLION BANK WITH 119 BRANCHES AND 157 ATMS.  THE WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF FIRST NIAGARA FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. (NASDAQ: FNFG), PROVIDES FINANCIAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE.  ITS INSURANCE SUBSIDIARY FIRST NIAGARA RISK MANAGEMENT, INC. IS THE LARGEST INSURANCE AGENCY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND THE 14TH LARGEST BANK-OWNED AGENCY IN THE COUNTRY.  

NEW ERA CAP COMPANY

DURING THE PAST EIGHT DECADES NEW ERA HAS PRODUCED THE HIGHEST QUALITY HEADWEAR IN THE MARKET, MAKING IT THE ONLY LICENSED HEADWEAR THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY NAME. A PRIVATELY HELD COMPANY FOR 84 YEARS, THE COMPANY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION TO LOCATE ITS CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO.
LOCATED IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN ON DELAWARE AVENUE, THE HEADQUARTERS WILL BE LOCATED IN THE FORMER REGIONAL FEDERAL RESERVE BANK BUILDING.
NEW ERA PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT TO 400 WESTERN NEW YORK FAMILIES AND HAS A TOTAL OF 1,500 EMPLOYEES AROUND THE WORLD.

RE-OPENING MAIN STREET TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC

GOALS:

• STIMULATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: SUPPORT BUSINESS RETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO THROUGH INCREASED BUSINESS VISIBILITY, IMPROVED VEHICULAR ACCESS, ADDITIONAL SHORT-TERM PARKING AND IMPROVED DOWNTOWN IMAGE.
• IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE: SIMPLIFY DOWNTOWN CIRCULATION, ENHANCE AESTHETICS, AND ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
• INCREASE RIDERSHIP/MAINTAIN METRO RAIL OPERATIONS: INCREASED OCCUPANCY LEADS TO INCREASED RIDER SHIP.  MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE METRO RAIL FREQUENCY.  MAINTAIN KEY BUS AND RAIL TRANSFER POINTS.  DESIGN FOR MAINTENANCE EFFICIENCY.

COST:

• TOTAL COST IS APPROX. $53 MILLION.
• OF THE TOTAL COST APPROX. $20 MILLION IS REQUIRED TO REBUILD THE TRACKBED AND $12 MILLION TO REHAB TRANSIT STATIONS.
• THE TRACKBED MUST BE REBUILT WHETHER OR NOT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IS RETURNED TO MAIN STREET.
• PHASE I THEATER DISTRICT: $6 MILLION SECURED IN SAFTEA-LU FUNDS.
• GOODELL/HURON: ESTIMATED COST IN THE $10 TO $15 MILLION RANGE WITH INFLATION.
  
  

• DIVIDE THE PROJECT SO THAT EACH PHASE CAN BE STARTED AND FINISHED DURING ONE CONSTRUCTION SEASON.
• PROJECT LENGTH = APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE (+2%, 5,380 FEET RATHER THAN 5,280 FEET)
• PHASES: 1) THEATER DISTRICT; 2) DOWNTOWN CORE; 3) LOWER MAIN STREET.
• FINAL DESIGN FOR THEATRE DISTRICT CAN START IN FALL - WINTER OF 06.
• FTA ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNOFF NEEDED AT 30% COMPLETION.
• FINAL DESIGN CAN BE DONE WINTER OF 06-07 IF FTA MOVES ALONG.
• BID 1ST PHASE WINTER OF 07.
• START CONSTRUCTION SPRING 07.
• END BEFORE WINTER 07.
  

MICHIGAN AVENUE REDEVELOPMENT

INCLUDES RENOVATION OF THE NASH HOUSE AND COMPLETION OF A MUSEUM ASSOCIATED WITH THE NASH HOUSE AND MICHIGAN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, IMPORTANT LOCAL LANDMARKS CONNECTED TO THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

THESE FACILITIES ARE CULTURAL LANDMARKS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANT TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, WHERE EARLY WORK RESULTING IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NIAGARA MOVEMENT A PRECURSOR TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE OCCURRED.

H.H. RICHARDSON COMPLEX

$100 MILLION OF STATE MONIES HAS BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR THE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK DESIGNED BY THE RENOWNED ARCHITECT, H.H. RICHARDSON.

INCLUDED IN THE APPROPRIATION ARE FUNDS FOR: THE BURCHFIELD-PENNEY ART CENTER ($16-$20 MILLION); A NEW ARCHITECTURAL MUSEUM AND VISITORS CENTER IN THE RICHARDSON COMPLEX ($20 MILLION); AND MONIES TO HELP COMPLETE THE VISITORS AT THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT-DESIGNED DARWIN MARTIN
HOUSE ($7 MILLION).

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BOAT HOUSE

PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION OF THIS FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DESIGNED RECREATIONAL FACILITY ON THE NIAGARA RIVER UTILIZING EXISTING MASTER ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS.

SHEA’S CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

RENOVATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE HISTORIC SHEA’S THEATRE MARQUEE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE FACILITY, AND ALSO THE REHABILITATION AND RESTORATION OF SEATING WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE FACILITY. 

PIERCE ARROW MUSEUM

WOULD SUPPORT THE COMPLETION OF THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT DESIGNED FILLING STATION, TO CONSTRUCT A NEW TWO STORY ADDITION TO THE EXISTING MUSEUM, APPLY A NEW FAÇADE TO THE EXISTING MUSEUM AND LANDSCAPE THE SURROUNDING8 AREA.

DELAWARE ASBURY PROJECT /RIGHTEOUS BABE RECORDS

THE BERC HAS INVESTED $2.7 MILLION IN A JOINT VENTURE WITH RIGHTEOUS BABE RECORDS TO COMPLETELY REDEVELOP THE FORMER DELAWARE ASBURY METHODIST CHURCH INTO A MIXED USE ENTERTAINMENT / COMMERCIAL SPACE.

THIS REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL STABILIZE AND PRESERVE AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF BUFFALO’S ARCHITECTURAL LANDSCAPE, THE ASBURY DELAWARE CHURCH.

RIGHTEOUS BABE RECORDS HAS INVESTED IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLION IN CASH EQUITY INTO THIS PROJECT.

THIS WILL HELP TO RETAIN A HOME-GROWN MUSIC BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO.

THIS REDEVELOPMENT WILL TRANSFORM A BUILDING THAT NEVER GENERATED ANY TAX REVENUE INTO A BUILDING THAT WILL GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $4 MILLION IN PILOT PAYMENTS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS, NEW YORK STATE EMPIRE ZONE BENEFITS AND NEW MARKETS TAX CREDITS; THOUGHT TO BE THE FIRST TIME IN STATE HISTORY WHERE HISTORIC PRESERVATION TAX CREDITS AND NEW MARKETS TAX CREDITS  HAVE BEEN COMBINED FOR A SINGLE PROJECT.

THE ALTERNATIVE TO THIS JOINT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP COULD BE UP TO A $1 MILLION DEMOLITION COST TO THE CITY OF BUFFALO AND THE LOSS OF A NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN BUFFALO.

CONCLUSION

BUFFALO'S REPUTATION AS A BLUE COLLAR INDUSTRIAL TOWN IS BEING REPLACED BY THAT OF A CITY OFFERING DIVERSE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS CREATION, DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER FULFILLMENT. 
OUR HIGHLY EDUCATED, SKILLED AND AVAILABLE WORKFORCE RANKS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST IN EDUCATION LEVELS AND JOB ATTENDANCE AND RELIABILITY.
THE REGIONAL ECONOMY CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS A MIX OF INDUSTRIAL, LIGHT MANUFACTURING, HIGH TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICE-ORIENTED PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES.  INSTEAD OF RELYING ON A SINGLE INDUSTRY OR SECTOR FOR ITS ECONOMIC FUTURE, BUFFALO NIAGARA HAS TAKEN A DIVERSIFIED APPROACH THAT HAS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND EXPANSION IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
BUFFALO LIES DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NORTHEASTERN TRADE CORRIDOR AND IS THE HEART OF THE CANADIAN-AMERICAN CORRIDOR. OVER 80% OF ALL U.S.-CANADA TRADE OCCURS VIA BORDER CROSSINGS IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. WITH 5 BRIDGES TO CANADA, THE BUFFALO AREA IS ONE OF THE KEY EASTERN BORDER CROSSING LOCATIONS.

MY ADMINISTRATION IS COMMITTED TO PURSUING AND IMPLEMENTING NEW INITIATIVES AND POLICIES THAT WILL STRENGTHEN BUFFALO AND RESTORE THE CITY’S COMPETITIVENESS, VITALITY AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY.