Porter Avenue Truck Stop?
The City of Buffalo is putting a prominent Peace Bridge area property on the market. A five-acre site at Porter Avenue and Fourth Street is going to be cleared and offered up for development ideas. A former Ted’s Red Hots location and a brick cold storage building currently occupying the property will be demolished early next year. Development of the site, at the Peace Bridge’s “front door,” could help reshape the neighborhood. For better or worse.
The Buffalo News has the story in today’s paper. Timothy Wanamaker, the City of Buffalo’s strategic planning director did not go on record indicating whether the city will suggest commercial, residential or a mix of uses or let the development community bring all proposals forward. One commercial broker, a former city development official, offered up his idea:
James Militello, of Buffalo’s J.R. Militello Real Estate, predicted the city will get a “heavy response,” from local and out-of-area developers when it puts out a call for proposals.
“It’s the perfect stop after exiting the Peace Bridge and heading into the city, or getting on the I-190. A mix of fast food, a Wilson Farms-type store and possibly gas services would make a lot of sense,” Militello said.
He also suggested the plaza could be configured to include a mid-rise office building to house customs and brokerage services offices.
Note to City Hall: It is probably a good idea to chat with neighbors and discuss an appropriate land use prior to issuing the Request for Proposals. Nearby residents have been fighting the Peace Bridge Plaza expansion plans. They are engaged and suspicious.
"The Niagara Gateway Columbus Park historical waterfront community is not on the auction block," says Kathy Mecca, President of the Niagara Gateway Columbus Park Association. "We will not be sold off brick-by-brick, house-by-house or block-by-block to the highest bidder. The good people of this community believe in what Bill Banas and Harvey Garrett wrote- This is no longer just a neighborhood issue. This is about the city and its future. A decision needs to be made; we rebuild a city for people who want to stay or for people who want to leave."
"The leadership that is representing us thinks they have made a final determination regarding our future," Kathy adds. "What do the taxpayers and voters think? How about the local preservationists? D'Youville? Olmsted? Why have they been silent? Porter has historical designation. It is a part of our history for a reason."
While I do not believe the community is against high quality development of this prominent and under-utilized site, I cannot fathom they are going to accept a truck stop, convenience store, fast food and gas pumps. Porter is already scarred by these uses to the east.
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Comment Options
comptart_lws
It's like they think they can throw so many battles at us all at once, we'l just go away. Is that the kind of leadership we deserve after being held in limbo for so long? I realize it's new administration enthusiam trying to make up for past adminstration languish but, why oh why don't they listen to the people who are invested heavily with their homes, their businesses, their lives?
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hashma
Who says they won't listen. I think that even if they tried not to, it would be quite hard to do. This area of the city is slowly getting back to its feet with the growth of downtown to the south and D'Youville right there. They have been getting vocal about the Peace Bridge and will be just as much here- though I don't think they'd object to some mid-rise buildings, not too tall, not too short!!!
Also, the city said it would have to wait a season or so before asking for ideas since they need to know the official foot print of the bridge before starting any sort of construction.
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comptart_lws
OMG, hashma… for one thing, the City could choose to make a stand about the official footprint of the expanded PB Plaza yet, they seem to think there are 5 plans — huh????? In fact, there are 3 — the PBA way, the oblligatory "do nothing" and 3 variations on the same basic companion-span that requires Shared-Border-Management. The Mayor himself doesn't seem to understand those 2 basic facts. He seems to think the community is OK with simply tweeking the ONLY PLAN that is currently viable in the DEIS the City of Buffalo, the Town of Fort Erie and the Public Bridge Authority will be asked (by the Public Bridge Authority, by the way) to Ratify.
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carlmalone
Maybe they should just turn it into a tent city and put all the people that receive payment via eminent domain nearby in it and then Peoples Temple the place. Just my suggestion...
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carl
This wouldn’t be so bad if buffalo had an ordinance banning trucks from idling on city property, thus cutting pollution and noise from such a facility in half,
but we don't, so this site will end up looking like the corner of walden and union, and we all know what a wonderful place that is.
other cities have dont it.
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carl
sorry about my spelling...
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hashma
comptart_lws, good argument. I'll concede the city could do better in its community approach, but I hope the neighborhood continues to stand up for itself. Only then will there be a significant shift in City Hall policy.
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pgf1948
The customary antediluvian realtor response. The lack of a stated official position by Wanamaker is dereliction of duty. Shameful.
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PBL
This is not just an issue for the people living around the bridge. Everyone in the city should be concerned about how our tax dollars are being spent and how the leadership (or lack of) just wants to turn our historic waterfront community into a truck stop. We need more than just the neighborhood to stand up. How soon before we elect a new mayor?
Do you think another Wilson Farms and gas station in the neighborhood will bring more people wanting to live here?
I thought D'Youville was interested in that site to expand the college into a University?
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viking
This location could have been the best site for a new casino if the Canadian model would have been followed, or a duty free location instead of using scarce bridge space and congesting traffic as the current location does.
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Joshua
Why not bring Ted's back - mmmmm hot dogs and onion rings.....
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comptart_lws
Gee, how about a boutique hotel that puts PEOPLE — maybe some tourists!!!??? — on the sidewalks of a Nationally designated landmark (Porter Ave) in our Parks (1 of 4 in the area is on the National Register!) and enjoying a STUNNING waterfront view — there is only one place in the WORLD where the "Mighty Niagara River" begins and it's at the base of Lake Erie – at "The Front" of Buffalo, NY USA. This should be a NON-chain (unique architecture) Inn like "The Mansion on Delaware" but, a with variety of rates/packages so Canadian students in the D'Youville Masters program can afford a place to stay (one or 2 nights per week). Other floors would be more upscale. THIS is the kind of development that would spur further investment on Niagara Street and create jobs for the neighborhood! If anyone reading has the money to invest, I have the "model" all figured out. Send me a PM thru this site.
Mr. Wanamaker? Mr Mayor? are you speaking with this type of investor?
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icecreamsub
T
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icecreamsub
at least the Lot Lizards on Niagara Street will be happy with this proposal.
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comptart_lws
are lot-lizards RATS? ewwwwwwwww.
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PBL
I also heard that the Episcopal Church Home would relocate to this area after it is torn down by the PBA.
Is there any piece of vacant property (and not vacant property) that the Mayor hasn't had his teeth into?
I like the idea that comptart_lws suggests with a boutique hotel.
Maybe a new Mudpies museum.
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Hospitable
Compart lws.... wishful thinking... you either have one or the other.. not both. Canadian students do not stay at the Mansion on Delware avenue because they pay $60/night when they come to class... not the high nightly rates associated with the Mansion or any other boutique hotel for that matter.
Typical "mixed income" attitude of Buffalo... quite simply.. you either have the Mansion on Deleware or the Moonlight Hotel... not both 2 different sets of clientelle... good idea though.
I could see a hotel in this area.. mid priced.. corporate..(CHAIN).. pedestrianized though..WITH THE proximity to the park and all..
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comptart_lws
Hospitable: the Canadian students I am referring to are grad-level with jobs and (in some cases) are already staying at hotels one or 2 nights a week. I know this because they contact me about a short-term rental I own (also in the area). I am not suggesting that all of the Canadian commuters would be the target-market but, I can envision a way to accommodate them — as well as the upscale business traveler. I only used The Mansion on Delaware as an example of the architecture and that it is an independent, well-run operation. PS: I am not "typical Buffalo" anything, I assure you.
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