Three development proposals were submitted for the Webster Block at the foot of Main Street. Competing for the prime site are the Sabres organization and Delaware North, Ellicott Development Group, and a consortium of architecture firms according to Business First. The Webster Block is bound by Main, Perry, Scott and Washington streets, directly in front of HSBC’s Atrium office building and First Niagara Center.
Both the Sabres and Ellicott Development’s proposals include a large parking ramp, retail and restaurant space and a hotel component (140 rooms for Ellicott, 200 rooms for the Sabres). Ellicott Development is also proposing residential and office space in its twelve-story design. The Sabres are proposing to put two hockey rinks on top of the parking component of its project. One of the rinks would have spectator seating for a couple of hundred, the other with up to 1,500.
Jim Fink has the details:
Sources said the Sabres are proposing a multi-rink facility, with a themed sports bar/restaurant to be developed by Delaware North Cos. for the block. The rinks would be used as a practice facility for the team as well as the home base for some of the area’s collegiate hockey teams. It would also host amateur and youth tournaments.
The Paladino/Ellicott Development proposal calls for a multi-use project anchored by 140-room brand name hotel, 42 market rate apartments, 110,000-square-feet of Class A office space, some street level restaurant and retail store fronts and a 1,089-space parking garage.
The third proposal was more conceptual than either the Sabres or Paladino offering.
The three-proposal response is likely to have disappointed the folks at City Hall. Leading up to the June 15 deadline, City officials were reportedly fielding calls from out-of-town developers interested in the site. Three of biggest local developers- Uniland, Ciminelli, and Benderson- took a pass.
Update:
The Buffalo News has a rendering and additional details for the Ellicott Development team’s proposal- entry image above.