Billsman
January 11th, 2006, 12:28:43 PM
Schumer wants end to delay on harbor
http://www.buffalo.com/link.aspx?catCode=city_region&linkCode=city_region&page=http%3a%2f%2fwww.buffalonews.com%2feditorial% 2f20060111%2f1037819.asp
Calls for new agency to develop 120 acres
By DOUGLAS TURNER
News Washington Bureau Chief
1/11/2006
WASHINGTON - The U.S. senator who years ago called for a new vision for Buffalo's decaying outer harbor demanded Tuesday that the governor turn over state land to a new agency and make way for a new development plan.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a letter to Gov. George E. Pataki that the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority should turn over its remaining 120 acres of outer harbor land to the control of the new development corporation headed by Anthony H. Gioia.
Gioia is chairman of Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.
Without mentioning Uniland Development Corp. by name, Schumer said the NFTA's developer is taking too long to get renewal under way and that its plan is flawed.
"I don't like the proposal they put together," Schumer said.
While he has no official role in the decision, Schumer can exert a major influence on the waterfront development, particularly if November's election produces a Democratic governor.
Schumer said in an interview that he wants the plan to be on a grander scale, something resembling the glamour, public access and real estate tax-generating potential on the scale of Battery Park City at the foot of Manhattan.
Gioia said Schumer's idea is welcome. Gioia, a Pataki appointee, said he is "flattered by" Schumer's "vote of confidence" in the new agency.
However, Pataki's response was cool. Saleem M. Cheeks, a spokesman for the Republican governor, said the state intends to keep working through the authority with Uniland and its partners, known as the Buffalo Lakefront Development Team. "We're confident that the revitalization effort in the area will create opportunities and spur new development for the people of Western New York," he said.
Schumer said selection of Uniland and its partners "was the personal choice" of Luiz F. Kahl, the late NFTA chairman.
Under Kahl's leadership, the NFTA a year ago made the Uniland group its exclusive "developer of choice." The developer projected upwards of $350 million in private investments, but the group failed to make any deposits of earnest money on the project or even post a performance bond.
Tom Widzinski, a spokesman for Uniland, said the Buffalo Lakefront Development Team "supports the statement Gov. Pataki provided to you, and we don't plan on any further comments."
Like many firms in the development field, Uniland is active in politics. In recent years, Uniland and its principals have been made substantial contributions to the campaigns of Reps. Brian M. Higgins, D-Buffalo, and Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence, Schumer and Higgins' Republican opponent in 2004, then-Erie Country Comptroller Nancy A. Naples.
Higgins said that he supports Schumer's call "because it's going to stir this thing up again," but that the state's "own lack of responsibility should not be lost on people."
"The developer has already said it can't move until the state makes a commitment to build access to the outer harbor," Higgins said. "By that, I mean the Southtowns Connector.
"Working with the [congressional] delegation, we were able to produce $23 million for the connector last year, but the state hasn't put up one dime."
Schumer said, "We are at a critical juncture. We can choose to continue the lethargic pace of developing the waterfront or we can inject some new leadership, new energy and a new vigor into this project."
The new corporation, Schumer said, "has the tools it needs to move forward but should have the additional authority to bring the outer harbor into the fold of its mission and ensure the NFTA returns to its core mission of expanding accessibility through better transportation opportunities."
Calls for the NFTA to surrender control of the mile-long stretch of property, considered by many experts as some of the most valuable undeveloped waterfront property remaining in the country, are at least 15 years old.
Lawrence M. Meckler, NFTA executive director, said that the authority has attracted a "first-class developer" but that the authority "is willing to discuss anything that will help keep up the momentum."
http://www.buffalo.com/link.aspx?catCode=city_region&linkCode=city_region&page=http%3a%2f%2fwww.buffalonews.com%2feditorial% 2f20060111%2f1037819.asp
Calls for new agency to develop 120 acres
By DOUGLAS TURNER
News Washington Bureau Chief
1/11/2006
WASHINGTON - The U.S. senator who years ago called for a new vision for Buffalo's decaying outer harbor demanded Tuesday that the governor turn over state land to a new agency and make way for a new development plan.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a letter to Gov. George E. Pataki that the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority should turn over its remaining 120 acres of outer harbor land to the control of the new development corporation headed by Anthony H. Gioia.
Gioia is chairman of Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.
Without mentioning Uniland Development Corp. by name, Schumer said the NFTA's developer is taking too long to get renewal under way and that its plan is flawed.
"I don't like the proposal they put together," Schumer said.
While he has no official role in the decision, Schumer can exert a major influence on the waterfront development, particularly if November's election produces a Democratic governor.
Schumer said in an interview that he wants the plan to be on a grander scale, something resembling the glamour, public access and real estate tax-generating potential on the scale of Battery Park City at the foot of Manhattan.
Gioia said Schumer's idea is welcome. Gioia, a Pataki appointee, said he is "flattered by" Schumer's "vote of confidence" in the new agency.
However, Pataki's response was cool. Saleem M. Cheeks, a spokesman for the Republican governor, said the state intends to keep working through the authority with Uniland and its partners, known as the Buffalo Lakefront Development Team. "We're confident that the revitalization effort in the area will create opportunities and spur new development for the people of Western New York," he said.
Schumer said selection of Uniland and its partners "was the personal choice" of Luiz F. Kahl, the late NFTA chairman.
Under Kahl's leadership, the NFTA a year ago made the Uniland group its exclusive "developer of choice." The developer projected upwards of $350 million in private investments, but the group failed to make any deposits of earnest money on the project or even post a performance bond.
Tom Widzinski, a spokesman for Uniland, said the Buffalo Lakefront Development Team "supports the statement Gov. Pataki provided to you, and we don't plan on any further comments."
Like many firms in the development field, Uniland is active in politics. In recent years, Uniland and its principals have been made substantial contributions to the campaigns of Reps. Brian M. Higgins, D-Buffalo, and Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence, Schumer and Higgins' Republican opponent in 2004, then-Erie Country Comptroller Nancy A. Naples.
Higgins said that he supports Schumer's call "because it's going to stir this thing up again," but that the state's "own lack of responsibility should not be lost on people."
"The developer has already said it can't move until the state makes a commitment to build access to the outer harbor," Higgins said. "By that, I mean the Southtowns Connector.
"Working with the [congressional] delegation, we were able to produce $23 million for the connector last year, but the state hasn't put up one dime."
Schumer said, "We are at a critical juncture. We can choose to continue the lethargic pace of developing the waterfront or we can inject some new leadership, new energy and a new vigor into this project."
The new corporation, Schumer said, "has the tools it needs to move forward but should have the additional authority to bring the outer harbor into the fold of its mission and ensure the NFTA returns to its core mission of expanding accessibility through better transportation opportunities."
Calls for the NFTA to surrender control of the mile-long stretch of property, considered by many experts as some of the most valuable undeveloped waterfront property remaining in the country, are at least 15 years old.
Lawrence M. Meckler, NFTA executive director, said that the authority has attracted a "first-class developer" but that the authority "is willing to discuss anything that will help keep up the momentum."