A Window Of Opportunity
The following is an update for Emmett who was curious about what was happening on the Bashar Issa front. Emmett, we were forwarded this update this morning on progress being made on the Statler, and we are also pleased to see that he is interacting with the community in ways that not many people probably expected. We'll try to keep you posted on these types of updates as they come in.
Above and below are photos that Bashar Issa sent showing the progress on the elevation windows (below) of the Statler. He has placed the contract for the wooden windows exactly like the ones which were placed in the original building. Each window takes a number of days because of the labor time for the amount of detail and being wooden. It will take 3-6 months to complete the overall production of the window packages.
He has also placed an order to have new marble flooring installed in the lobby (above) -- ground and basement floor -- to include new Statler logos to be placed at the entrance with a few areas to have his own personal logo.
Also, on May 10 Bashar will be meeting with students from North Tonawanda High School's Academy of International Studies, Finance and Engineering and Architecture. He is going to give them a tour of the Statler, speak to them about his business experiences (similar to the Working for Downtown Presentation) and host them for lunch.
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Comment Options
sbrof
wow, it is nice to know that actual trade, skills and quality can happen in today's bottom line oriented world. Good Job and it will pay off because in the end you will have windows that will last another 80-100 years, not something that will fall apart in 10-15
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scooter
This renovation is going to take a long, long time. But it clearly has begun. Please be patient WNY.
Good job Issa.
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chris69
What no tirades about preservationist obstructionists?
What no tirades about how uncooperative and incompetent local government is because their tax payer subsidy isnt enough?
I think Buffalo and Buffalonians can learn alot about Bashar Issa. According to him....we are extremely supportive, proud, passionate people who appreciate their history, their character and their community, willing to embrace the old and supportive of the new, able to recognize quality and craftsmanship....funny how the qualities that Palladino, Benderson and others label as negative Bashar Issa seems to have no problems at all and infact find quite redeeming and supportive of large scale investments.
In return...there are no grand press releases....to sell the public into giving up their tax dollars
In return...there are no plans hidden from the public until all decisions are made behind closed doors: Burchfield Penny, HealthNow and Albright Knox.
In return...there are no grand press releases...that are yet to be forever delayed...and revealed as empty promises: hear that Mr. Giambra!
Bashar Issa makes a modest press release....invites the public response....and executes is plans!
Look and learn Buffalo because this is how business is really conducted!
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al-alo
too good to be true? I hope not with all my heart. I think this is a lot like the weather: Nothing is happenes until it does.
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Buffalopundit
Is the work being done locally or in the UK?
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LivingForge
Great to see the attention to detail. Contemporary profit margin gazers would just as soon put a new window in and woud have stuck a white vinyl copy of the insert in.
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HelenWheels
"and we are also pleased to see that he is interacting with the community in ways that not many people probably expected."
Interacted with the community? How? No contact with the surrounding community so far. No outreach. No responses to requests. North Tonawanda when there are lofts and homes surrounding the Statler. How?
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IMADIVA
As a resident with a view of the Statler from my home, I would have to say that my experience with Bashar differs dramatically from HelenWheels. Shortly after the Working for Downtown luncheon in January I had the opportunity to meet with him for an hour and a half in his extraordinarily busy day. He started his day at 7 AM and had appointments booked through 9 PM. He was only going to be in town for four days and each hour was accounted for. He is genuinely in love with his Statler and is sincere in his appreciation for Buffalo: its architecture, people, neighborhoods and yes, even the government officials that he had met. I quizzed him about his plans and mentioned that his 40 story building (and the process to construct it) could be a disruption for the nearby residental neighborhoods. He was reassuring and pledged to work with all of us. His local representative had major surgery a couple of months ago and Bashar flew in from the UK to be with him - because that's what good people do. He is only in Buffalo for a few days every month or so, so it is unreasonable to expect him to do "outreach" particlulary since the work on the Statler is in very capable hands and the 40 story building isn't scheduled to break groud in the near future. I commend Bashar for interacting with the students of International Study, Finance, Engineering etc...afterall he has degrees in finance and is a very successful international developer...not to mention that he only has a decade or so on the kids. We are lucky to have him interested and investing in Buffalo.
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chris69
Excuse me Helenwheels....Im sorry that Issa Bashar hasnt had time to ring you doorbell to solicit your opinions like Palladino and the other local developers do. hahahaha....the guy set up a website for people to send pictures to help with the restoration...and to contact him with comments and suggestions...and no doubt helen wants him to ring her doorbell. Incredible!
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Martin
sounds like work is moving ahead, i hope the lobby is renovated before the floors go down though...needs a LOT of work in there..
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DSB
What is the address to his webpage??
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flyguy
I can only hope that these investments will be successful for the developers who all at once seem bullish on downtown. Can our market sustain the Statler, 50 Court, the proposed Buffalo Tower, Dulski building? I damn hope so. If the Buffalo market cant come through then I hope aggressive marketing will bring new operations into the area to fill space. If all this fails it will be an aweful day in the city as all these well intentioned projects sit underutilized. I look forward to these exciting projects and can only hope that we can support them financially. This town has an underlying perception problem that might be hard to shake.
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SLEEPL8
HelenWheels-Most men in Issa'a position would be renovating this building on the lowest budget possible, and outsource all of the work. Most developers in his position would rarely set foot in this city much less take the time to observe the installation of windows and flooring. It is admirable that he is here and taking the time to speak to a group of young students. It is admirable that he is so articulate and takes so much pride in his investiment. Your comment is irrational and rediculous. Like Chris69 said, you can't expect him to make house calls.
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flyguy
I have come to learn over the years that there are many people in this world that have absolutely unreasonable expectations of others while not practicing what they preach themselves. To expect Issa to pay house calls and meet with every single person is ridiculous. The man is operating a large development interest with worldwide scope and is very busy. In addition to his professional life i'm sure he tries to have a personal life as well. UNfortunately I think many people are too selfish to recognize the fact that people have a life to live and it shouldnt revolve around paying house calls to every damn person within an eyeshot of the tower. That tower is meant to be and I think shall be a benifit to this city; it should offer a long needed psychological boost to the people here as well to show that it is in fact possible to bring BIG back to Buffalo. Just like all the political divisions in this town; the provincial mentality that cancers the region, it is selfishness like complaining that Issa hasnt paid a visit TO ME PERSONALLY that holds this region back. Whaaaa cry me a river. The guy is spending alot of money in a town that has bottomed out and isnt necessarily a hotbed of growth and opportunity. It is his creativity and optimism, his recognition of the regions assets that can and will allow the city to again rise to a position better than ever before. Lets stop whining. Put the shoe on the other foot for once.
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gaustad
3-6 months to install windows?? So that means this project might be completed 20 yrs from now. I cemmend the guy, but lets get going.
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Jet2Vegas
CHRIS69 PUT DOWN THE CRACK PIPE PLEASE!!! "This is how business is conducted? Where is that, Disney World? COme on, if we did business that way it would be 50 years before any progress was made...Oh yeah Buffalo hasnt had any in the last 50! WOOOPS
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Jet2Vegas
THIS DEAL HAS FLIP WRITTEN ALL OVER IT
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Martin
Talking with friends last night, we get a creepy feeling to agree with "JET2VEGAS". New floors and windows before any real internal work is done such as plumbing,wiring, drywalling and designing all the hotel rooms and condo's etc. on all the upper floors does not sound right. Floors usually go in last. Not to mention these floors are being planned before reno's on the 1st floor reception rooms and ballrooms which need MAJOR work. I hope I am deadly wrong, but time will tell.
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