NB - there was no contract signed, they submitted a bid which was essentially an estimate of what they thought they could do it for. They were able to legally opt out of the bid by paying a couple hundred thousand bucks to the ECHDC (it was discussed in a prior article on this topic). Anyway, Bass Pro or not (I don't care) the Aud has to come down. It had some good years but now its just an eyseore.
NB - there was no contract signed, they submitted a bid which was essentially an estimate of what they thought they could do it for. They were able to legally opt out of the bid by paying a couple hundred thousand bucks to the ECHDC (it was discussed in a prior article on this topic). Anyway, Bass Pro or not (I don't care) the Aud has to come down. It had some good years but now its just an eyseore.
The steel is worth more where it is. Deal with that, Bass Pro lovers. I'd want to see financing in hand and permits at the ready before turning the Aud into another decade's worth of free parking.
This shows just how stupid our area leaders are. A contract is just that....a contract. Why were they given an out? That is bad business. If you win the bid you must move forward. They should have taken a bond payment from the winning bidder, non refundable if they backed out.
hoss- buffalo has hosted some of the largest bass fishing tournaments in the country. lake erie is home to a large variety of game and edible fish like bass, northern pike, coho salmon and perch to name only a few. beer battered lake erie perch is the best in the country. grab a rod and reel and give it a try...
Let's band together and save this structure. Its never too late... Imagine glass where the concerete blocks are now, DC-esqu.
Hoss - you are being a snob, but that's okay, but your comment reveals an undercurrent to this Bass Pro debate that always lingers below the surface.
I think the connotation of much of the criticism of Bass Pro, when it is derided as a "tackle shop" or some such thing, is that we don't want NASCAR-watching, Sarah Palin-loving, rednecks in our downtown. We only want funky NE hipsters, who "appreciate" the architecture and the retro metropolitan joy of living in Buffalo.
But guess what - Buffalo is full of red-necks too, even if they don't frequent BRO or Spot coffee daily. They wear Zubaz, tailgate for six hours before a Monday Night Football game, and spend money too. Why not have a draw down at Canalside that appeals to more than the EV crowd? Would there have been this kind of uproar if REI had wanted to put a superstore down there? If not, then why not, if Bass Pro and REI sell 90% of the same stuff.
I for one am looking forward to buying a kayak at a place where I can try it on the water before purchase. Even I have to (horror) spend some time with people who fishing shows on VS while I do it.
Billo, that is even dumber than I thought. NO CONTRACT? When you submit an RFP (Request for proposal) contractors bid on the job. A set price is normally given with a winner awarded the contract and held to it. No wonder why this city is a mess.
Lake Erie used to be one of the best of the Great Lakes Fisheries. The Buffalo Blue Pike was a staple fish and there were fishing fleets bringing their catches in every week.
I welcome Bass Pro. You know its just a name. There are alot of different kinds of fish in the Great Lakes and more fishing will put more pressure on restoring our Great Lakes fisheries.
But this is less about Bass Pro and more about getting the Aud down, and rewatering the Commercial Slip, the Erie Canal and the Main/Hamburg. OF COURSE THE SMARTIES SHOULD REMOVE THE CHURCH STREET ACCESS RAMP TO THE SKYWAY!...Once the canals are rewatered then the development can start to fill in what is becoming a very valuable section of downtown.
Of course bringing the 2nd downtown waterfront tower to construction and converting part of the Hyatt and Liberty Buildings to residential would really help downtown.
But then again...real change in downtown requires the airport to be connected to downtown via the light rail, a new convention center, the casino and Bass Pro....but think the casino is out for now.
Contrary to what people think...Bass Pro is more relavent because I can see more people hunting and fishing to supplement incomes.
Hey, that'll just give them even more time to continue to design the Bass Pro shop, how long has this process been going on and there is still no certain plan or design. Come on pre-fab aluminum and fakey old time history. Come on one stars, but wouldn't it be nice if for once there was some creativity in the design community and somehow the extant building could be reused instead of paying someone to demo? I'm sure whatever goes up the owners will claim the building is green and sustainable design. Green and LEED designers never take into account the demo of the existing building. Sorry for the rant, that's what happens on a day off. Happy Thanksgiving!
I have to agree with sony - in this economic climate Bass Pro has the perfect out.
lets go beyond a contract ~ why was there no performance bond? is there anybody thinking downtown?
Why would they want an out. We are gonna subsidize them with tax payer funds at the rate of what, 30 Million dollars? Or was it 60?
I really don't get the Bass Pro thing. Maybe I'm wrong, but it really doesn't seem complementary to the rest of what our city has to offer. I mean, bass fishing? Seems more rural or southern, than salt of the earth, anachronistic, northeastern metropolis... I guess it's all about the branding. LL Bean probably sells the same crap but it brands itself as something a little bit more rugged and self sufficient. A bit classier even. That would even be a better fit for us. But bass fishing? I don't know, I'm probably being a snob.
So if steel spikes again, who gets the profits? Demco, or the citizens of Buffalo, NY?
BILLO- it sounds a little like you are either a metal scrapper, or a lawyer for an injury firm! BEEN HURT IN A DEAL, WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR STEEL!!! hold companies accountable for there contracts, and lets see this eyesore come down so we can finally build something, and stop all the whining, by all of you ,where is the agreement, or written contract, lets do a study idiots!!!!!!!!!
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