Buffalo Rising Online

If they only took down the gas station, built an appropriately designed store right up to the corner, with parking to the east along Delevan, it might not be half bad. But it sounds like their current plan for demolition of half the block has 'disaster' written all over it, no matter what the design. If their Delaware and North outlet is the model, FORGET IT.

I love the title of this post, westcoastperspective, since I pride myself in propagating the term "obstructionist" for "preservationist" and do so to illustrate wasted effort and monies in circumstances that are all but futile. Thankfully a project has finally emerged that has my full ANTI blood boiling. This proposed Walgreens project is exactly what the Preservationists should be rallying against. The character of Gates Circle and the neighboring nationally famous Forest Lawn (where my dear grannie lies resting) are at risk of corruption by an ugly, boxy suburban glam drug store. This is a project that is wholly worthwhile of a major demonstration; let's hope that it doesn't get that far. If the project somehow does get approval let's hope that the planning board of this city mandates an architectually consistent structure built up to the sidewalk with hidden parking and having a character which compliments one of our grandest circles. Thanks for this important post westcoastperspective.

Big box developments have been defeated at Elmwood and Bryant and at Elmwood and Delevan. Lets hope we have not used up all our carma. Another Delaware and North scenario would be horrible

Walgreens at this location would be a disaster.

Drugstores on corners = bad planning!

THIS MUST BE STOPPED

Can we get a picture that shows the Floristry etc? That bottom picture doesn't really show a scene that's worthy of preservation.

I have a low-res panorama (taken this afternoon) that spans from Lotis to Curves at:

http://www.pbase.com/image/54680364

WCP,

Thanks for posting this. After I read the story in today's News, my blood began to boil. Gates Circle and the West Delavan/Delaware area contain small businesses (restaurants, small retailers and gas stations) and one medium sized pharmacy (Rite Aid). Walgreen's will likely try to build a store similar to the one at Delaware/North and Parkside/Hertel. Both stores have oversized parking lots that are underutilized. The store at Parkside/Hertel has employed a guard who chases off anyone who tries to park for any reason other than to shop at Walgreens.

You need look no further than the mess Amherst has created at the intersection of Kensington Hwy, Harlem Road and Wherle Drive with its damn the torpedos full speed ahead approach to development. CVS Pharmacy has been a long time tenant at that location (I think it was an old Loblaw's store). Walgreens came in several years ago and demolished a gas station (if memory serves) at one of the corners. Sensing that the area was somehow underserved and really in need of another pharmacy, Rite Aid proposed demolishing a great little block on Harlem Road immediately north of Jimmy's Restaurant. This block housed the thriving King and I Thai restaurant. While the good people of Snyder revolted and stopped the development of a Rite Aid, the block was eventually torn down.

Because of Amherst/Cheektowaga's failure to plan its growth in this area, tax payers will be footing the bill for them to install a series of traffic circles to deal with all of the congestion. The venerable Jimmy's will also be torn down to make room for these traffic circles. This area previously had its businesses closely grouped together so that you could walk to them (at least those north of this intersection) and the others that were more car friendly were located south of the intersection on Harlem Road. This area was manageable because most business related traffic was going north-south.

A Walgreen's is not an appropriate fit for the area. Lots of room not too far away on Main Street though...

Are you kidding me? I agree w/ gplatt. This is such a unique block of buildings that represents more of Buffalo's great architecture.

It always gets me when, in a city with plenty of developable land, someone wants to take out something good and attractive and viable -- and historic -- in order to make way for development. Like a commenter above said, if they took out the gas station (I have no idea if they're selling, of course) and built a store with limited parking, (ie limited waste of land) it might not be so bad.

But there's tons of underutilized space right around the corner, and if they need so much parking, people must be driving there anyway, so what difference does a few blocks' difference make?

Bring back The Locker Room AC.

Jessica's remarks illustrate the folly of creating and promoting "shovel ready sites" as an economic development strategy. If the location was that desirable or valuable, it would still have viable buildings on it. Developers want viable sites, which by definition, usually have viable buildings on them.

Thus it is that there is rarely any net gain when Buffalo gets a new building, good or bad. We nearly always have to sacrifice one to get one. Often for parking.

This is what happens when you spend those ever-shrinking Buffalo paychecks at national chain stores, people. It just encourages them.

Stay tuned, the fight is just beginning.

Companies like Walgreens generally won't build unless they can have a supersized parking lot. THEY DON'T WANT THE LOT TO EVER BE MORE THAN HALF FULL. Their theory is that if the lot looks even a little crowded, potential customers won't bother to stop. So add GIANT MOSTLY EMPTY PARKING LOT

...to the list of reasons as to why the propect of this project stinks, big-time.

There's got to be something ugly on Main St to take down, and it's near Canisius.

WALGREEN'S HAD THE OPTION TO PURCHASE 6 BUILDINGS ON THE CORNER OF GRANT/AMHERST ST. APPROX. 6 YEARS AGO. IT FELL THRU, SUPPOSEDLY THE COST OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS THEY PLANNED TO PURCHASE EXCEEDED THEIR BUDGET, SO THE OPTIONS WERE LEFT, TO EXPIRE. SOME WEEKS AGO FROM VARIOUS SOURCES, I HEARD THEY WERE ACTIVELY SEEKING POTENTIAL LOCATIONS TO BUILD IN BUFFALO. THE FIRST ANNOUNCED WAS THE CORNER OF DELAWARE AND KENMORE AVE.'S..THE OLD LOUIES' TEXAS RED HOTS CORNER.--IN KENMORE. SO EAGER TO ACQUIRE THAT LOCATION ,THEY WOULD CLOSE THE RECENTLY BUILT STORE IN KENMORE ,ON DELAWARE AVE THAT THEY FOUGHT SO HARD TO ACQUIRE AND BUILD (THEIR CURRENT LOCATION). IT APPEARS THAT WALGREENS REALLY DOESNT KNOW WHAT TI WANTS, BUT IS DOING A LOT OF SPECULATION AT THIS TIME. IF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE INSIDE INFO.. THEY CERTAINLY ARENT TELLING ANYONE.

INSTEAD OF DISCOURAGING THEIR INTEREST IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS THEY HAVE SHOWN INTEREST IN... THAT IS, ADVANTAGEOUS STRATEGICALLY TO THE CITY WHERE THERE IS A VOID, WE SHOULD BE WORKING WITH THEM TO ENCOURAGE THEIR ESTABLISHING A STORE THAT IS DESIGNED TO "FIT IN" ARCHITECTURELY WITH THEIR SORROUNDINGS.OUR DISCOURAGING ATTITUDES"NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD" IS EXACTLY WHY WE ARE SO FAR BEHIND OTHER CITIES (RUST BELT)THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR ECONOMIC DECAY. WE REALLY DO NEED TO EMBRACE THESE CORPORATE DEEP POCKETS..BUT INTELLIGENTLY SO THAT IT FITS INTO OUR NEEDS FOR THE CITY'S ECONOMIC GROWTH AND FUTURE.

I have a bunch of fingers crossed that this falls through also. There is no "void" here- a competitor is across the street. "Fit in?"- how does a 13,000 sq.ft. box fit in? If we had dozens of corporate deep-pocket owned boxes in the city, would that qualify us as 'prosperous'??? No thanks, we have plenty of pharmacies. If they are scratching to get into the city, steer them over to Jefferson, Grant, N. Elmwood, N. Delaware, Broadway, etc. where vacant lots are ready for them.

After a long time reading. this is my first post to the site. I live on Gates Circle and would hate to see these buildings go, especially for a Walgreens/parking lot. Thanks for letting us know about this please keep us posted on what we can do to stop this from happening.

It is great that Walgreen's would like to expand in Buffalo. They will likely make lots of money. In return, they need to construct a building that respects the scale and character of its surroundings. It should be built to the sidewalk and hide parking. The new build should be add value to the area. Gplatt is right: If they would build at the gas station site only and up to the curb, it would be OK.

Does Walgreen's have it in them to build such a store and does the city planning board have the gumption to demand it? I'm not so sure...get your hoses ready because it might be time to put out another fire.

There is a friggin RiteAid on the opposite corner. Who the hell needs a Walgreens at this location?

They're a cut-throat company to deal with...We tried to keep them off Parkside and Hertel...The end result? Two (2) Rite Aids closed in close proximity--and stayed vacant for some time. Now they're 'Family Dollar' stores--horrible additions to 'No-Bo.' More recently, the Parker Pharmacy also closed (Hertel & Parker Ave). Incredible--as they have a 24-hour location on Delaware and North that's turned into a horror show. The're the 'Wal-Mart' of drug store chains.

It might be a good time to start calling Marc Coppola, Antoine Tompson, Chris Jacobs and Kevin Gaughan to see where these state senate candidates and common council members (Tompson and Coppola) stand. Since they are running for office, they are might be more likely to side with the city residents than Walgreens. Also, if each of them comes out against this possible site before Walgreens gets in too deep, it might give them and/or the owners of the site a way to gracefully back out of the deal. BFLORome, I'd be interested to read what tactics were tried on Hertel.

Also, unless anyone can point to a couple of sites where Walgreens has opened a store recently that deviates from its big box format, I think people are engaging in some serious wishful thinking that it will limit its store to the small footprint of the Mobil gas station.

Here's an interesting discussion about an urban friendly Walgreens store on a prominent corner lot along with a couple pictures of that stores design. http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/archives/000313.php

I see no reason why Walgreens can't deviate from their typical suburban store design that they have in Buffalo currently. The last thing that intersection needs is a store thats totally out of place with the surroundings and causes a perfectly fine block of buildings to be demolished. I hate to think what the Walgreens planned for the NE corner of Kenmore & Delaware is going to look like.

Here are two interesting sites that have information on ways to stop big-box stores:

http://www.newrules.org/retail/index.php

http://www.sprawl-busters.com/

I was unaware of another Walgreens planned for Delaware Avenue...Another reason to just say no. The one near Kenmore Avenue and one near Gates Circle would put four of them within 8 miles of each other one Delaware Ave alone! Plus one at Hertel and Parkside... I have a few specific numbers on my blog and more comments...

if a walgreens goes up in that area...it just might get burned down

We conducted 'Town Hall'-like meetings with small business owners--and homeowners from the Hertel-Parkside area. We got the Common Council involved...Al Coppola was the Delaware District councilman at that time. We got the media involved. Hunt Real Estate (at that time) was working with the chain to secure the sites, etc. They could care less about the neighborhoods--they were just looking to get their cut. We were successful in getting them to agree NOT to be open 24-hours...deliver a portion of their oversized parking lot (which is 3/4ths empty most of the time!) as 'greenspace.' That's a joke, too. they planted a tree or two and used pine bark to cover most of the surface area...less grass to cut and maintain. We have to constantly stay on them to keep it up--and keep their grounds clean. In addition, if I recall...we were also successful in keeping them from selling alcohol (beer, etc). I know they were forced to deliver some specific design changes for their Delaware-North store.

To: Walgreens. Go directly to Main Street. Do not pass GO do not collect thousands of econ develpment money. Main Street has Canisius and light rail stations. Thank about it.

Joe D is someone who has some sence. You who have closed minds to all development in Buffalo have to wake up. The more development the better. The question is smart development that compliments the neighborhood. I think a walgreens would be a great addition to the corner if it is done right and if they take out that eyesore gas station and lotus. If the store is a nice complimentary brick and built to the side walk with limited parking, it is a step for Buffalo becoming more modernized and like othe major cities. The more people investing in our city the better with the right urban mixed use development the better. Even the casino can be done right if it is planned with other development projects.(This would add 100's of people that could afford to live in the growing amount of lofts in the cobblestone district) The more people shopping, developing, living, getting educated, excercising, dining, bar going, and enjoying down town the better. I would love a traffic problem in Buffalo. This is a sign of life and develoment. Buffalo must embrace development and make it work. There is too much close minded decisions by no national brands or stores. Politians should be glad to work with national retail by sitting down with them and making there stores fit in with our old city feel. This is what cities suppose to be a mix of all cultues, stores, and options. Don't limit me to one mom and pop store. Buffalo needs options and all kinds of development, The more people the more growth.

I actually like that the one at North and Delaware is open 24 hours. For people in my neighborhood (I live nearby on Summer) who aren't car-oriented or don't drive at all, it's really convenient -- especially for us students who keep odd hours now and again.

I agree, though, that architechturally a typical Walgreens would be a disaster on that spot. I suppose it is in my neighborhood too, but it predates my moving there so I'm used to it. I can see how too many hideous suburban-style builidings would quickly erode the character of Allentown and nearby streets.

Cookie monster what are you eating?

More development is not better nor does it make a city more modern. That kind of thinking smacks of desperation. That kind of thinking led to misguided urban renewal efforts in the 50s & 60s. I agree with you that smart development is necessary but Buffalo doesn't need development for development's sake. That could just as easily become a step backwards not forwards.

Traffic may be a sign of smart development and life it may also be a sign of bad planning. Witness the traffic on Niagara Falls Boulevard as a sign of poor planning while nearby Sheridan Drive is littered with empty big box stores or miniplazas and has decline to the extent that Amherst is exploring ways to get parcels on Sheridan designated as brownfields to get funding to redevelop them.

I don't think anyone believes the Mobil station at Delavan and Delaware is beautiful, but I don't know how you can call the building that Lotis occupied an eyesore. It has great architectual detail and the interior has been recently renovated. It certainly doesn't seem to be falling apart or in any other way deserving to be called an eyesore. It doesn't need to be knocked down for some generic drug store.

How is adding another drug store to that intersection going to be beneficial? With the plethora of drug store choices, no one is going to be deprived or forced to pay unusually high prices. Let Walgreens work with our politicians to come where there is a mutual benefit. Plenty of space nearby on Main Street that could easily capture the same crowd plus Canisius students and an underserved East Side. I agree that it our elected officials should work with anyone who wants to invest here, but not at the cost of giving such developers cart blanche.

Two drug stores on opposite corners isn't progress.

I don't want to see the urban architectiure and feel of that block sacrificed. I especailly don't want to see it sacrificed so one corporate predator can go after another. I live in this neighborhood and have no need for a 2nd drugstore. The end result will liikely be that one of the stores will close and leave an ugly parking lot with a box buiilding attached.

Looking at some aireal views of this block on Windows local live I noticed that a huge new parking lot has recently been created behind these buildings. If this row is torn down not only will their foot print become parking. It will expose this huge existing parking lot to view. The combined parking will rival anything in the suburbs and will be a horrible blight on one of Buffalo's elegant circles

Steel,

I saw the same thing. I believe that the parking is all interconnected and part of Millard Fillmore Hospital. I wonder if they would sell?

BR

Walgreenis at Gate Circle?

For the urban joy of what suburban developers can do to the cityscape just go a couple miles north to Consumers Square.

Watch the joyful shoppers alight from their buses and struggle across confusing traffic patterns and jump out of the way of speedy cars in the huge mostly empty parking lots in front of all the stores. Observe the buildings on the North side of the complex. At our prompting Benderson promised then Councilman Dale Zuchlewski, to avoid the R.O.W. that could have been a nice greenway path to the river then put the buildings right on top of it.

Keep these opportunistic developers busy wrecking Amherst and Wheatfield and leave the remaining unique areas of Buffalo alone!

I am reminded of the story of the fellow who complains that his head hurts when he bangs himself with a hammer. Stop hitting yourself on the head, the pain will go away. If we don't like what's happening to our world, we can decide to not shop, or use the products that make us and our planet a miserable place to live. We have the power of the purse. We can vote with our feet. No noise, no yelling, no marching around in circles in front of corporate HQ's

Don't like the price of gas? ride a bike, walk or take a bus. Don't like the big box stores? don't shop there. You get the idea.

Oh yeah, and another thing...., what's the place of leverage that will topple this project? If any one knows, tell us. The best way to make change is to figure out where to apply the leverage. We can move the world if we can place the lever at the correct fulcrum. Where is it in this situation?

how about contacting the businesses that they want to close down and let them know that there are people that support them? i'm sure it would be good for those businesses to know that there are people that don't want them to sell and it also might help to create some type of support/action network. especially the woman who owns the floristy considering that she doesn't want to sell. and i think polino's is a good gas/service station. i take my car there when it needs work and it makes me sad that some people are dismissive about it's potential destruction. and as for the comments about buffalo needing growth and walgreens would be good there, etc., etc..

are you kidding me? since when is the demolition of a block of locally owned, financially successful businesess so that one chain drugstore can be built kitty-corner to another chain drugstore positive growth? not to mention the historical significance of the buildings. hutch's is one of the most successful restaurants in the city for christ's sake. and the floristry too. if i wanted positive growth like that, i'd move out to niagara falls blvd...

it would be great to see more ideas from people on actions. or to hear about actions that they have taken.

how about a general boycott of walgreens until they agree to give up looking at this location? call them, ask for a manager and tell them you are boycotting and why. you have to tell them. or write them a letter. or put signs up in their paking lot. and how about boycott them for eternity anyways considering that they're a crappy business anyways and they put local pharmacies out of business.

of course a boycott is just one of many things that could/should be done.

i appreciate bill's comment about the possible future consequence of a closed down big box and a big empty parking lot.

thanks.

Sure hope you guys win. I grew up around the block from there and still have a family plot in the cemetary. Something like the Walgreens at Delaware and North would be awful.

I cannot believe that we're at this crossroads again. Why oh Why can't they let this city be a nice historic place where people actually give a crap rather than trying to turn it into a "Vancouver". Yes, I understand that we need larger commercial business' to economically survive, but didn't these people see the Rite Aid directly across the street? Ok, worse case scenario, they build...has anybody seen the gas station on Delaware and Allen near Colter Bay? I believe Carl Paladino owns that and he was extremely tasteful in how he reconstructed. He stayed with the design of the rest of the community and gave it a nice historic look. Is it possible that these people can do the same. Doubt it. Carl was born and raised here and cares. These people will most likely build it within 3 months and slap some Dry-Vit on the front and that's that. Let's fight this so we have our history, our architecture and still have a damn good restaurant to eat at!

Does Buffalo have an ordinance on Building in a historic area? If they don't they should. Anything that is proposed in a historical area absolutely has to be designed with the surrounding architecture. If Walgreens wants to be in that area, they need to comply. Period. People in the neighborhood and other businesses need to voice their concerns loudly and stick to their guns. If the people don't want a Walgreens there, they can make that happen too. I was born in Buffalo, lived in Tonawanda. Moved out to California in 1964. Even as a young kid, I missed the Old buildings and old houses, and still do 40 years later. You need to preserve the old neighborhoods and buildings. I signed your petition.

We are going thru this same thing in North Chili just outside of ROcheser. Walgreens wants to tear down our historic 1819 Stage Coach Inn to build a store (accross from Eckerds).

Keep giving them as much bad publicity as you can and keep sending Walgreens every article iin the paper which shows them in a bad light.