That is an odd answer to the Greystone question. besides Termini there is probably only one other local developer that has tackled a similar project, that being the guys who did Graniteworks. In one breath he says Web proves no building needs to be torn down in Buffalo but in the next he suggests a pretty much doom and gloom scenario for Greystone
wait...what happened to his "H@ loft" idea that seemed he seemed so certain of at the time. wierd.
well lets look at it this way, he buys a bldg from paladino and its worse than thought previous to the project then the other is a paladino bldg? wise choice there. paladino and graystone in housing court on 8/23.
I'm not a Paladino supporter. The guy refuses to work with brokers most of the time. He's got a chip on his shoulder, an axe to grind. But I know he was enthusiastic about the Greystone when he undertook it. It was a death at the site, as I remember, which turned Paladino away from the project.
That building's been in tough shape for a long time. I own a place on Johnson Park. I'd love to see the Greystone redone. It's disappointing to hear Rocco's take. I wish him all the best. Hope someone like Obletz takes the Greystone on. I wouldn't be surprised to be reading a building obit in a few years instead, though.
There's one example of Section 8 housing where even all the build out investment didn't save the building. It has to be completely redone now, if it is even salvagable.
It's interesting that Rocco is getting great occupancy in his developments. For the most part he seems to stick close to $1,000/month. I've heard that some pricier developments (some of them well known) are quietly experiencing higher vacancy than anticipated. Anyone who lives in or has familiarity with any pricier downtown developments care to comment?
This is a great project. I'm glad to see this building redeveloped, i hope to see more to follow.
Let's see more of those great arched windows!
How about a memorial to Jonathan Fundalinski, who lost his life here? Even just a small plaque in the lobby?
Isn't someone going to ask...Who in Buffalo is going to pay $1300 for rent?
I don't know Paladino personally, but he did rehab a building near one of mine. I was impressed that some of the exterior detail, 45 feet above the ground (where it could have been 'faked'), was actually reproduced to match the existing features of the building. No, not a huge thing, but not something I'd expect from a 'menace' (as I think I've heard him called on this site).
As to 'Bini's' question, I've heard similar rumblings that some of the higher priced projects have a difficult time getting a second year from a tenant. I can say with certainty that the higher profile/higher cost projects have made it much easier to rent a nice apartment in a neighboring building at 600-700 dollars. Prospective tenants often say "wow... they want a lot up the street...".
Steel, the 'total nonsense' comment, I believe, is aimed at the pass Rocco T. seems to get on this site. On a good day, this site seems to address the spirit of Buffalo trying to make a come back. On a bad day, it has the appearance of an ad for one of Rocco's projects. Not addressing the issue of the 'cached' pages, on this site, has only made me more skeptical. Hmmm.... that will probably get this post pulled from the site, it has in the past, we'll see...
vgs, people ask that all the time, despite the fact that apartments in that price range are renting very well at Rocco's other developments, and at those of First Amherst and others. For some reason a lot of people have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that these developers are smart, business-savvy people, who aren't going to risk their own and other people's money on projects that will sit half-empty.
ben
I think he gets good pub because he gets things done. What has been done with this building is astonishing. That short unexplained negative comment is boring and useless
Astonishing? ... It's brick and mortar, if the guys/girls at BNMC cure cancer, I'd go with astonishing.
There might be a family in WNY missing a member that would argue about how he 'get's things done', but that might be too negative for BR. Or just too realistic?
Regarding Rocco's free pass...
A little birdy told me that "West Coast Perspective" is actually Rocco Termini. That might explain why someone ostensibly on the "West Coast" is so connected with inside development information here in Buffalo. And why he gets preferential publicity here on BRO.
True?
> Isn't someone going to ask...Who in Buffalo is going to pay $1300 for rent?
The bank wouldn't finance the project if it couldn't be demonstrated that there is a demand for downtown loft housing housing, and that people are willing to pay such rents.
Waiting for someone to post "They should be renovating the Wonder Bread building on the East Side instead" in three ... two ... one ...
Lots of people pay $1300 a month or even more to rent in Buffalo. This is very reasonable. Some of the apartments on Linwood, W. Ferry and Summer Street are in this range.
bflover, anyone that has ever taken a housing tour during Buffalo Old Home Week has met Chris aka WCP and can verify that he is not RT. Chris runs the tour. Your little birdy sounds like a coocoo.
befranklin
we are not talking about curing cancer so what does that have to do with anything. It is astonishing that a great old building like this one that was so close to demolition has now be brought back as a productive part of Buffalo. It is also astonishing that you find a problem with that. If bricks and mortar are not interesting to you I would suggest you not even read a post like this.
As for the person who died on the construction site. That was tragic. I don't know enough about that event to comment on it but I do know that construction is a dangerous profession and people have been killed and injured throughout history doing it.
I guess if it was up to you this site would be a parking lot and we would not have the building or the cancer cure.
Interesting that you don't think word choice is relevant when posting to a site like this. Your continued defense of anything 'Rocco related' would seem to only validate the 'free pass' theory. I'm sure the family of the deceased will be comforted to learn that 'construction is a dangerous profession'. Perhaps more or less dangerous depending on the management of the project. Again, 'astonishing' sounds like cheering. Congratulations may be in order, but if it's more than that, I think visitors of the site should be made aware, that's all. Things aren't always as they appear here... would you question that? I'd be glad for it to be 'on topic' (so as to not be deleted by the watchful 'BR' eye).
allthingsbuffalo: I didn't see a followup to your Greystone query. I swear too that Greystone was purchased by someone (Termini or Savarino or Islako) from Palladino less than a year ago. I searched for "greystone" on BRO and only found one hit---this recent posting.
STEEL, queenseyes: What do you know about Greystone?
Benfrankilin Y
Your accusations are tiring. I don't know Termini and never met termini. I am not a mouth piece for him and I do find the regeneration of this building to be astonishing. Curing cancer is far more than astonishing. I suppose if Termini found the cure you would have a problem with that too. I can also vouch for WCP. No one at BRO tells him (or me for that matter) what to write or what to write about. He does his thing purely out of a love for Buffalo and the development world.
Also I don't think the deceased man's family is looking to me for comfort. As I said I don't know the circumstances of his death so I can't comment on them in any meaningful way. I can say that this building is now once again a beautiful part of the city.
Ben it really sounds like you and rocco have a past, did he take a wee wee in your wheaties one day?
Sorry Steel to deflate your balloon, but my comments are less directed at you than at the site itself. I think the site performs a good service, but am afraid that it loses credibility when editorial content begins to look like paid advertising.
I think Rocco has done great work in WNY. His loft developments are of the highest quality and best looking (in my opinion). First Amherst might have been the first to the loft scene with the Elk Terminal, but they also put terrible indoor/outdoor carpeting in them (I was very surprised to see them in the last wave of units as well).
Seems to be a problem in WNY where developers rehab a building but then furnish it with tasteless garbage.
As for what benfranklin is saying, I've had many of my comments pulled from the site, as the big "br eye" doesn't want to acknowledge that they were caught in posting hidden negative stories about "beloved" Buffalo. If they were smart, they would have come clean about it and released a formal apology. For anybody who is interested in seeing how succesful the negative stories were in inflating their web traffic, go here: http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details?q=buffalorising.com&url=buffalorising.com/ The two jumps were two of the negative stories they posted to digg.
I agree with 42nate.............A memorial plaque to the boy who lost his life would be a lovely gesture.
Just do as I do - until BRO comes clean about it's negativity posted on Digg in order to artificially inflate it's hit numbers I make it a special point to NOT PATRONIZE ANY of their advertisers.
Steel, site spammer?.. how 'bout..."Johnny has a big nose.", your post is juvenile. Legitimate questions raised here and elsewhere, have gone unanswered, or worse, pulled from this site, and it hurts the overall agenda of the site (boost Buffalo and it's own bottom line by helping advertisers). If the other sites in other cities were still functioning... these questions would be moot. However, it gives the appearence that BR is working at the margin, financially, and ethically. By trying to skirt the issue, they've only made matters worse.
Steel, I am hardly a site spammer. I'm simply asking that buffalo rising comes clean with the truth. And it's sad. Newell's initial intentions for buffalo rising were great. I've been a long time reader and supporter of buffalo rising. But George is the one who brought the corruption to the company.
Readers of BR seem to be of two types. Those of you that are so concerned with preserving buildings, have turned a blind eye towards the issue of 'cache page' posting, etc. You seem to consider it insignificant. But to those that it bothers, it would be the equivalent of knocking down a hallowed building in Allentown in the middle of the night. The preservationists among you would demand, at the very least, an explanation. That's all we are asking for from BR, regarding the posting issue.
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