Downtown Construction Update (Buffalo, Byron, Phoenix: houses, layoffs, contractor)

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by donbuy

Of course you realize that all of those fees that retailers have to pay to the Harbor Corp are also paid by their suburban locations to the Galleria or McKinley Mall etc. Also, in actuality the Galleria is as close to the hood than is Canalside and probably more accessible to it.

Being a suburbanite myself, I would absolutely go to retail at Canalside - and I am sure I am not that unique. I am sure that there are thousands of others like myself that would shop there.

That is so true about Walden Galleria and people have to realize that malls are becoming "played out". Unless the mall is like the Mall of America or something like that, you see many stores coming out of malls and going into business districts or back to plazas.

[Canerican]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

That is so true about Walden Galleria and people have to realize that malls are becoming "played out". Unless the mall is like the Mall of America or something like that, you see many stores coming out of malls and going into business districts or back to plazas.

I mostly agree, but highly differentiated products like clothes love malls, since shoppers most likely want to go to more than one store, so a mall has that going for it. But places like Sears (the non-clothes, non-housewares parts) shouldn't be in a mall, neither should electronics stores, and businesses like that. At least that's my opinion.

[Canerican]

An interesting side note. I was actually speaking to two regional planners that work for SUNY, they said that the waterfront won't work in Buffalo because of the Skyway. The one talked to Byron Brown and I guess he got ticked off when she told him that (he recognized her when she was out eating and the mayor had seen her picture). It was interesting because I just had to drop some papers off in the geography department at UB and got to talk with two of the best regional planning minds about the waterfront for 15 minutes.

I like the idea, but with the traffic noise and those big posts everywhere, I agree that people won't like the waterfront, at least no more than the rest of Buffalo.

Seriously though, think about this: If the waterfront was such an asset, wouldn't it have been fully developed 30 years ago when Buffalo's population was far higher? This is a non-starter, it will be a bunch of half vacant buildings and a big taxpayer bill for you. Forget about building, let's do it logically, take down those posts and make the waterfront actually look nice, then you won't need to foot the bill to build the buildings, and we will actually have a very nice waterfront.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Canerican

An interesting side note. I was actually speaking to two regional planners that work for SUNY, they said that the waterfront won't work in Buffalo because of the Skyway. The one talked to Byron Brown and I guess he got ticked off when she told him that (he recognized her when she was out eating and the mayor had seen her picture). It was interesting because I just had to drop some papers off in the geography department at UB and got to talk with two of the best regional planning minds about the waterfront for 15 minutes.

I like the idea, but with the traffic noise and those big posts everywhere, I agree that people won't like the waterfront, at least no more than the rest of Buffalo.

Seriously though, think about this: If the waterfront was such an asset, wouldn't it have been fully developed 30 years ago when Buffalo's population was far higher? This is a non-starter, it will be a bunch of half vacant buildings and a big taxpayer bill for you. Forget about building, let's do it logically, take down those posts and make the waterfront actually look nice, then you won't need to foot the bill to build the buildings, and we will actually have a very nice waterfront.

I think the waterfront wasn't developed 30 years ago was probably due to more industry possibly being along the waterfront back then.

[Buffalonian4life]

Originally Posted by Canerican

An interesting side note. I was actually speaking to two regional planners that work for SUNY, they said that the waterfront won't work in Buffalo because of the Skyway. The one talked to Byron Brown and I guess he got ticked off when she told him that (he recognized her when she was out eating and the mayor had seen her picture). It was interesting because I just had to drop some papers off in the geography department at UB and got to talk with two of the best regional planning minds about the waterfront for 15 minutes.

I like the idea, but with the traffic noise and those big posts everywhere, I agree that people won't like the waterfront, at least no more than the rest of Buffalo.

Though it would be terrific if the skyway could be torn down, there are also ways of using it as an advantage. Plans call for new aesthetic upgrades for the underbelly of the massive skyway at CanalSide. Not only aesthetic, but more of a sound barrier. Check it out:



Between the various fountains, music, entertainment, etc, you will hardly notice the above noise at all. In fact, one of the cool parts about the skyway overhead is the lighting feature that could possibly give more character and life to CanalSide- Similar to the Peace Bridge. It also makes for a great roof from rain and snow, and a cool skyway vending and local marketplace district:

[Sumermarie]

^Nice. All these improvements makes me very happy.

[Buffalonian4life]

[donbuy]

nice

[VegasRocks]

After they use the public funds (taypayers money)
to teardown the Aud, build a parking ramp, build a couple of streets
and maybe build a shell of a building (hoping that bass pro leases it)
will their even be enough money left to do that, let alone do the rest ??????
Still not one stinking penny of private investment. Why hasn't bass pro
signed nothing yet ??????

[coppersink63]

Originally Posted by Canerican

An interesting side note. I was actually speaking to two regional planners that work for SUNY, they said that the waterfront won't work in Buffalo because of the Skyway. The one talked to Byron Brown and I guess he got ticked off when she told him that (he recognized her when she was out eating and the mayor had seen her picture). It was interesting because I just had to drop some papers off in the geography department at UB and got to talk with two of the best regional planning minds about the waterfront for 15 minutes.

I like the idea, but with the traffic noise and those big posts everywhere, I agree that people won't like the waterfront, at least no more than the rest of Buffalo.

Seriously though, think about this: If the waterfront was such an asset, wouldn't it have been fully developed 30 years ago when Buffalo's population was far higher? This is a non-starter, it will be a bunch of half vacant buildings and a big taxpayer bill for you. Forget about building, let's do it logically, take down those posts and make the waterfront actually look nice, then you won't need to foot the bill to build the buildings, and we will actually have a very nice waterfront.

The waterfront is one of the most heavily trafficed areas of down town. I dont know why you think that its not an "asset". One of the best places to eat down town "Shanghai Reds" is there along with the Time Warner business park that employes hundreds of people for the local ISP. Not to mention the amount of boats that come in and out of that harbor daily durring the warmer months.

I would like to see them tear down the skyway but I dont think the waterfront is the only place that you can build in downtown Buffalo. They recently ripped down the old auditorium and now have room to build right next to the subway. Having rail transportation stop right infront of your business would certainly be a huge perk.