It is nice to see this project moving ahead. Keep it up!

Is the location across Mohawk on the proposed tower site? Or is the tower site across Delaware? If he builds this "fourth finger" for the statler will he still have the capital/demand/ambition to build the tower?? I am getting the feeling that the tower may not be a very serious plan. A week or two ago some of bloggers had stated that the statler is beginning to look like a flipper. I have to say I disagree if in fact he is going ahead with the additional structure and the parking garage. Go ahead everyone...start bitching about the parking ramp...

The same Bflo. News article stated that Issa has had preliminary discussions with a local firm about taking 250,000 sq.ft. of space in City Tower. It appears as though the focus is on the Statler, but City Tower is moving forward as well- at least marketing. The ramp site is likely the surface lot that Mark Croce bought last year across Mohawk Street between Delaware and Franklin. The City Tower site is at Mohawk and S. Elmwood.

I just hope the terra cotta design is perserved so that our urban fabric can be well maintained -

Question, how is Issa going ot open four hotel floors to the public while he is renovating the rest of the building at the same time - I appreciate the fast pace, but seems unrealistic.

Gaustad, I've been through hotel renovations that go floor by floor, as long as there are freight elevators it can be done, typically the noise level isn't an issue if there is a buffer between floors.

I like the idea of Deco rooms, could be a nice fit for the downtown hotel market. Plus, starting with a small number of rooms (200) would not saturate the market. Travelers are seeking mid to high end rooms in Buffalo. The hotels with the highest occupancy rates (ie demand) are the Hampton and the Mansion, the two best maintained and up to date hotels in downtown.

It would be cool if someone from Buffalo Rising was allowed into the Statler to take a few pictures of the swimming pool and the old hotel rooms. I'd love to see how they look after not being used in all these years.

Well you are in luck. I am part of the Group getting the Statler going. We will be sharing images that show the progress. I am one of the project managers on the Hotel project and do have images of the spaces. We are extremely excited to get the project going. Bashar has incredible vision for this huge undertaking. We will be posting images along the path.

I always thought it would be nice to have a rooftop garden on the triangular wing of the building extending toward Pearl St. That would be something truely unique in Buffalo. It could either be used as an outdoor space for the office/condo tenants to use, or be used by a restaurant for outdoor seating.

I wonder when the purple awning will come down. Never cared much for it.

Did anyone happen to catch the CBS Sunday Morning Program last weekend? They covered a story about Ian Schrager's hotels and his innovative designs. He's responsible for the Gramercy Park Hotel, and was one of the owners of Studio 54 back in the age of disco. Anyway, maybe the Statler Hotel could take a page from that book and do the unthinkable...imitate it. When I hear "outfit rooms in an art deco theme" I get excited and think about the CBS Sunday Morning Piece. For a summary, here's the web address: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/20/sunday/main2829491.shtml

P.S. I love your idea, Hudy2005, about the rooftop garden. I hope the powers that be are paying attention. RoBear? :)

Uh, perhaps because I'm in touch with my X chromosomes? Sorry if my writing style isn't masculine enough for you. I'll try to butch it up in the future. OK fearless?

And since you asked what my point it, I guess I'll answer your quesion...even if you asked it in a particularly boarish manner. This post was about plans for a hotel. Those plans have changed in the past and could be changed again in the future. My comment was about good hotel design, and if you can't make a connection then I'm surprised you can operate a computer.

And besides, fearless, you've assumed too much. Just because you see short, spikey hair and a leather jacket, you assume that it's a guy's avatar? I know plenty of women who fit that description. You don't get out much, do you? You're using a monkey's avatar (Or is that a New Age Alien?) and I'd say that it's quite appropriate for you.

Why can't we just keep on the subject matter. Everyone has their own opinion and should be allowed to express it. fearless made a point and added something extra. It also is very obvious that fearless is a young person, so that should be taken into consideration. Any adult would have shrugged off the comment.

Then W-Villager took it to the extreme. I have a few friends in the West Village Neighborhood and asked if they were aware of this person posting under this name. They were not and I was relieved that they had no idea who this person was. Unfortunately, W-Villager makes the whole neighborhood look bad, especially considering all the good work they do there.

So, let's try to keep on topic here and stop the insults and childish comebacks. This is not a site for cutting remarks, this is a site for new ideas and coming together to build a better Buffalo.

hennesey, Well said. Let's keep this on topic, shall we? What's this obsession a few of you seem to have with figuring out the identity of the people commenting on this blog? It's a little creepy.

...not that lacking a membership card to MRodgers' neighborhood group should render the opinions of other West Village residents automatically invalid and/or irrelevant.

I can certainly understand why the West Village Renaissance Group would want to disassociate itself from a resident who is an admitted viewer of CBS Sunday Morning. For the record, my name is W-Villager, indicating nothing more than I live in the West Village. I did not call myself WVRG-er. If I lived in Allentown, I might have selected the name "Allentowner." You're correct that it's your right to issue a disclaimer as "damage control" in response to your percieved threat to your organization's reputation. However, you do not have the right to bully someone into feeling the need to explain how he or she selected a username. You don't give enough credit to the average BRO reader if you think that anyone would have misconstrued my comment about the CBS Sunday Morning show as the opinion of the WVRG. Even if someone had done so, would it really have been so damaging? Perhaps you've overestimated your group and arrived at the conclusion that "The West Village" is synonymous with "West Village Renaissance Group." It might surprise you, and some other BRO readers, to learn that plenty of things happen in the West Village that don't include the WVRG. Many of the accomplishments that have been achieved are not attributed to the good work of your organization...and it is good work. Some residents have made their own personal investments, financial and otherwise, in the neighborhood despite (and not because of) your group and what SOME people see as your interference (not assistance). In fact I find it outrageous that you willfully and knowingly accept praise for the accomplishments of others. And as far as that last part of your didactic comment, you know what they say; one man's diatribe is another man's freindly banter. And isn't that what a blog is about after all? You may be used to acting as thought police within your own neighborhood group, but I'm shocked that even you would have the audacity to presume having the right to tell another BRO subscriber what comments are (or are not) appropriate. If you review the comments from the beginning, I think you will find that I posted a naively innocent comment about hotel design. And then the rest of the comments turned into me defending myself from you and your minions. Further review would indicate that your own input, MRodgers, was gratuitous and did nothing but simply add fuel to the fire. You expsose yourself as a hypocrite, in my opinion, with your last comment because you start out with a touchy feely sentiment such as, "Opinions are always cherished throughout any neighborhood." Then you end by telling me that "any further comment is unnecessary." So I guess you don't cherish my opinions as much as you purport. And then you presume having the right to determine who gets the last word, and it had better be yours. Some people say that everyone is entitled to their opinion. You seem to say that everyone is entitled to YOUR opinion.

For the record, although my comments may not be relevant to the original topic at hand, they are extremely relevant to the comments that followed. It's a shame that I would be made to feel the need to explain and defend myself when I thought I posted a freindly and thoughtful comment about hotel design. And, MRodgers, I should mention that I wouldn't have included you in my defense had you not felt the urge to get in a jab at me where you saw the opportunity. Believe me, I wish I was able to take Hennesey's advice and "shrug off the (insulting) comment(s)." I'll try to do better in the future. Are you now going to issue your disclaimer every time I make a comment about any story? I hope not because, as you see, when I'm attacked I'll respond. Hmm, then again, I guess I've said everything I wanted to say so go ahead and rip me to shreds. Gee, It used to be fun to post comments on this blog.

Sounds like a personal attack to me. Don't worry WVRG, every neighborhood has a curmudgeon.

hennesey and MRodgers - posting on a blog is supposed to be annonomyous, so people like you do not try and intimidate or insult individuals. Let opinions be broadcast. No one is purporting to be in you rlittle group. Please try not to be so self-righteous. It's ugly.

Regarding the post - Hope to see a good mixed use development for the Statler. Condos in the upper floors, hotel, offices, rooftop patio. This reminds me so much of the William Penn hotel in Pittsburgh. Not the same architect, but similar design. Gorgeous hotel there...

And those who post using their real names are those who are forthright and truthful, not afraid to hide behind a nickname.