Buffalo Rising Online

This will be a welcome addition downtown.

new look, gives a powerful feel to the area...and...

it filled an EMPTY lot.

The building reminds me of some of the new low-rise structures in Washington D.C. It adds character to the street, the city and, as the article pointed out, density. This will olnly encourage further development downtown!

Are we sure that it's really Retail coming to the first floor? We've heard that promise before and it always ends up meaning "Office Space" instead.

Not to repeat a clich/(c), but this building is a win-win. It represents very good planning: takes advantage of existing empty sites without sacrificing historic building stock, contributes daytime uses to a district more well-known for nighttime revelry, parking is placed underground, contains several small retail spaces, supports the transit system, and the design is high-quality. Good urbanism all the way!

And on top of it all, AM&A's did not have to get demolished to bring 300 M&T Bank employees downtown from the suburbs. Bravo, Uniland!

And now it's time for Channel 2 to truly be "on your side" and step up and do something about their fortresslike unfriendly complex.

I did see on this site and elsewhere that the barbed wire would go. I haven't looked recently to see if that's a done deal. Now imagine if you will a buildout to the street with their news studios behind panoramic windows, so passersby could watch the show in action (think Today Show and NBC at Rockefeller Plaza.)

Now imagine if they could open a boutique "NBC Store", again right along the street, with Ch 2 and NBC logoed merchandise for sale. I know I'd love to buy one of those spiffy red parkas like Mychajliw wears! This would be a great addition to the emerging Delaware Ave retail scene.

Sadly, WGRZ seems to be going downhill fast - their revamped website is hideous, screeching weather audio that doesn't have a shut off switch, and the loss of Sunday Sports Extra was a huge loss. Watching Kilgore, Boyar and Benigni rehash the sports of the week was a weekend highlight... it is now no more.

Given all this, I don't see Channel 2 becoming a part of the buzz and the action in this emerging exciting neighborhood. On Your Side? Hardly!

This is a very good addition to the street

This is where Buffalo's NEW Downtown will begin.

Great foot & car traffic; unobstructed display windows; on street parking; buildings built to the sidewalk,AeP,AeP,AePwhat,Aeos not to like? These couple of Delaware blocks, from New Era up to Ani's /The Chruch, are poised to be the beginning of real retail in the Downtown area.

As stated, this Uniland building will add to the daytime density (that was infused by New Era's workers) and will begin the demand for more creative amenities for Downtown-dwellers AND workers.

The developers and landlords now need to take a longer view and look toward the future. Partnering with interested parties to develop & grow much needed retail amenities will actually INCREASE the attractiveness and value of their properties. Wait til the sidewalk caf/(c)s of summer really begin to drive this area!!!!

More win/ win! Very nice.

two thumbs up, it is a new and nice building!

Cheers!

Yes, Delaware Ave. IS downtown Buffalo. This is now our downtown main street. Starting at Niagara Sq. with the new courthouse, Statler Tower, Buffalo City Tower, New Era, redevelopment of the Dulski into housing, Hampton Inn, Spot, Starbucks, Chez Ann, new M&T building, The Church, The Mansion..........wow, is this really Buffalo? Now we just need someone to 'brand' the avenue and start marketing it, hang up 'pole banners,' etc.

And yes, the LEAST channel 2 could do is light up the building at night. It's SO EXTREMELY dark walking past the building at night.

Has anyone heard when Uniland will announce their project and facade plans for the Dulski or their condo tower at Gates?

I think you are right Scott. Delaware is the new Main and that makes sense. It connects with the most important square in the city, City Hall, and is the site of many of the new developments downtown. From here, the skyline will change with Buffalo City Tower and in my opinion, the streetscape will only change further as more development is proposed. As for the streets future, improvements will need to be made, such as banners, new lighting, a possible a sign welcoming you to the Delaware or, even, Government district. Somehow I predict that this area will become Buffalo's new Financial District. It is close enough to Fountain Plaza and is prime for such a designation. Think, M&T is growing so quickly that it will need a new office tower some day, and if they chose Delaware, that would seal the street's fate. We can only let time time!

financial district isn't a good name if you want to attract people to it. typically when i hear financial district, i think, a bunch of bankers and accountants and people who work in offices during the day.. not a place to go unless you are going to work.

other than that, building looks great.. it's too bad channel 2 hasnt decided to upgrade.

The barbed wire is gone from the Franklin St. side of Channel 2 and is replaced with a black wrought-iron style (it is probably neither wrought nor iron) fence with tall spindles that curve towards the sidewalk to thwart fence-climbers.

I'm not going to gush prematurely, but maybe Uniland is setting the standard for downtown new-builds.

With M&T, Key, and Bank of America, as well as a number of brokers and the local offices of the Federal Reserve, I think the Fountain Plaza area, even though it already has a name, is more deserving of "Financial District." And 285 Delaware seems too far from Fountain Plaza to be part of the same micro "district." It's certainly part of "Downtown" though.

Uniland gets the 2006 'Most Improved Award' towards urban sensibility. This building does most things right- for reasons stated above. For a firm better known for suburban office and industrial space- this building rocks. They're quietly becoming one of the most active developers in the city. Though they're not involved with outer harbor development for the time being, they have the Dulski Bldg. pegged for renovations, development sites at Genesee/Oak (infamous sand hill location) and behind Shea's, and the Gates Circle project.

Speaking of Gates- a design is expected by the end of the month.

SHUT UP CHARGER

I am surpised no one has complained yet that this building does not fit in with the "urban fabric" of other downtown buidlings....

No one has complained because it is multi-story, built to the street, and has first floor retail planned. That's how easy it is to shut up the critics and that's how easy it it is to fit the urban fabric.. (note to all developers)

I wont shut up about the first floor untill I see RETAIL and not more office space with the mini-blinds as window displays. Is Uniland really set upon Retail, or are they just saying retail to make us happy for now? We've been promised first floor retail before: Remember The Belesario (L.L. Berger's) It was made public that the first floor would be for retail and the second floor office space. What happend ASAP. More than hald the first floor was turned into office space. Remember the debate on the Parking Ramp Expansion on W.Huron? We did'nt want to lose a building that had first floor office/retail space and potentional. Instead the developer promised us the new ramp expansion would offer first floor retail spaces and office space on the second level..How many years later and the ENTIRE Structure is still devoted to parking and no sign or empty space what so ever is slated for office/retail space. So am I bitter? YES! Why should'nt I be? We keep getting blank walls for first floor views. Also, Channel 2 does need to update that drab 1970's look. It is very dark at night, and noticed a few bums hanging out there at night when the weather isn't bad. I would love to see it at least lit up and even better. A large TV Screen/Ad (like the one at Chippewa & Delaware) where they can show the news LIVE and rotate ads, updates and so on to keep us informed. Or a long rotating screen across the front of the building. (Think Times Building in Times Square/NYC)

This building is a monstrosity! It doesn't look at all like it fits in with the area. It's too retro, too much glass, not enough brick, it's too high, blah, blah blah.

Don't look now, but a building is being CONSTRUCTED downtown! Long overdue, if you ask me. I've been to many other downtowns, and I cant remember EVER seeing an empty, grassy lot. Grass? Downtown? What is this, the waterfront?!

Every time I've been to Manhattan, there are construction cranes wherever you look. Good to know that Buffalo is headed down that path. Just a little bit at a time, people.

Too bad the first floor retail is nothing but cinder-block walls without a decent, welcoming facade'...and what's with that helicopter landing pad?

I am a little surprised that the drawing still shows that wall extending south from the building toward Channel 2. I recall a great deal of concern a few months ago about this feature because of who might be lurking behind that wall.

I'm just glad to see the developer change design on this before it was built. Remember the original design? It was built away from the street, looked alot like the new building on Elmwood @ Huron St. The original design had no space for retail and had a metal fence in mind for the front. So, this design is a much better improvement from what we could have ended up with.

Amy, do you have a picture of the orignial design? I can't seem to visualize it.

Sorry, I do not, but I do remember it cleary, because I was one of the people who were against it. It did'nt come to the street or provide first floor retail space. It actually looked just like the Elmwood Building that was recently built (Elmwood @ W.Huron)

These are photos, not drawings and the wall has been there for some time now as part of WGRZ. What helicopter pad? Cinder block walls - get a set of glasses.

Malooga, I agree with you - All I hear sounds like the teacher on Charlie Brown specials - waa-waa-waa.....

This will be a very nice addition to Deleware. I can't wait for the details like the louvers to be added. Also, for the record, there are plenty of lifeless blank walls at the street level on many historic "architectural treasures" around Buffalo.

I will pass on this one. It does not really interest me in any way. Next major project please.