Buffalo Rising Online

I will tell you this, I appreciate the density that these kinds of projects bring to the city and the waterfront property.

maybe some other developers will take the hint...

Yeah there's no way all those other town houses will be built, as nice as they are inside it's just too much to pay for a condo without a water view. It is also interesting to note that many of the "buyers" already own condos on the waterfront, they are just trading up. Many of the units being sold at Admiral's Walk are to finance new units next door. This is also happening with downtown lofts, people move from one new place to the next. Lastly, more glass in the new tower to open up the lake views.

I'd rather live in a tower than a town home myself. Better Views from above those brown houses.

The new tower should include city views. The current tower under construction has views that only feature the water. After nightfall the best views are of the skyline all lit up. Also add 5 more floors, they will sell.

That last images does show a lot about the design. The city can expect to see what? A big blank brick wall. I agree with paragon. There should be a holistic design to the new tower. One that doesn't look like it is literally turning its back on downtown

Seriously...why would you block out the entire back wall? It seems obvious that people would prefer a panoramic view...Can anyone think of a reason the tower would be built this way? Odd...

^cheap 'design'

Those town housed dont look so bad just make the windows a little bit bigger. and great to hear about the third tower.

town houses* (spelling)

To echo some thoughts here... I think all glass buildings have become way too pervasive but damn they do look nice along water, like Toronto's waterfront. That brick tower looks like it belongs at the Amherst campus.

I agree. The city planning board must like the blank wall views of these buidlings from city hall. If you are going to replace the view of the water, what better than some blank walls to really maake you forget what used to be there?

Even if the architect is against an all glass tower, that certainly doesn't prohibit windows on the back side. It just is very odd to me. I was very surprised when I saw the back of the tower being covered with bricks...

This project overall is cheap with the windows. If he wants to sell those townhouses just make the windows bigger. My god, could they have made them any smaller?

The scale of the windows appear small, but the problem is actually the height of the ceilings. the windows are between 50 and 60 inches; but the ceilings are a very tall. You have three stories of ceilings that are 8', 9'6", and 9'. Lowering the ceilings on the new town houses may make the interior less open, but will probably improve the exterior aesthetics.

The scale of the windows appear small, but the problem is actually the height of the ceilings. the windows are between 50 and 60 inches; but the ceilings are a very tall. You have three stories of ceilings that are 8', 9'6", and 9'. Lowering the ceilings on the new town houses may make the interior less open, but will probably improve the exterior aesthetics.

Well, I guess that's why the tower is "Waterfront View", doesn't include the city view. Which is too bad, I'd rather have a cool view of the city, especially at night.

Hey Sonyactivision...RIGHT ON ! The Marine Drive appartments need some serious sprucing up. Now that there is much to offer at "Canal Side".

all that brick will allow that big wall to "blend with its surrounding historic context"

My biggest problem with all of the new downtown housing, is its too expensive. The apartments are all the price of a mortgage in a lot of decent neighborhoods around western new york. The condos are the price are a high end home. We need something for the recent college grad that wants to live near work, walk to work and walk to the night life and entertainment.

So the other day I was eating lunch in the Main Place Mall food court and had and idea. That building is never going to be a full office building, and its never going to be a real mall. I thought why not affordable apartments? $450-$900 studio 500sqf to 1100sqf, 1br, 2br, even a few 3 br for those who wan to split up the bills.

I envision gutting he building and cutting it up into apartments. The a hallway for entry would run length wise right through the middle of the retail space currently. The exterior apartments would have balconies and window to the outside. The interior aparments woudl have balconies and window to what used to be the pedestrian area of the mall.

That pedestrian area already has some sky lights but I would remove where the ceiling is solid and turn it into a full atrium. I've seen this concept in a lot of hotels. then you can make that area into and activity space. Plant lots of plants, put in a track for jogging and walking, a basketball court, a pool, and some gym equipment, benches maybe even a gazebo. I think this would be just an absolutely awsome selling point for this area, it would give young professional a virtual park like environment 12 months a year. I know being in my 20's this is one of the biggest gripes of my friends, is the winter months when they can only sit on thier couch.

You could still use the main street side for retail frontage keeping it a mixed use facility, and not cutting off that much frontage on Main St. which I hear is supposed to be a retail strip. The parking garage would provide ample parking for the residents of the apartments. With the indoor portion it would be a real draw for those that want to be active during the winter months.

I just think it would be an inovative use of a rather useless building. I think with the sheear size you could cram enough units in there to get a return on the investment. I also think its important to solve the void of affordable and adequate housing downtown, not just catering to the well off and empty nesters.

CSOBUF, that's not a bad idea, and in fact, I do remember seeing online a few years back on an illustration done of the Main Place Tower/Mall if turned into living spaces. The tower had a few openings for porches and the first level was used for a grocery store and other retail services. So your idea is not very far fetched, it's a great one and should be considere. Time to Build NEW Office towers and replace the old with living spaces. That would finally solve the empty space problems.

Does anyone have an opinion on what is going to happen to the existing real estate on water front with Paladino's tax credits -

I see prices on older units dropping dramatically

Paladino for MAYOR!!!!!!!!!!!

I freaking love this guy...he speaks the truth about everything wrong with the city and the city education system and he isnt afraid to do so even though he has millions of dollars of investments on the line. He has the intellegence to build awsome upscale condos on the waterfront and still make them affordable. Now we just need him to knock down those project looking buildings at the erie basin marina.

P.S. the townhomes are struggling. A good selling point for all you Sabre fans is that Derek Roy lives in one of them

These are the ugliest buildings I've ever seen. Even 1970's style architecture (conv ctr, city court, etc.) has more character than this. Who is Paladino's architect? Clearly he's cheap. This is our most premier waterfront real estate and he builds this overpriced non-sense. Typical Paladino.

Thinks do look dire when you ignore the rest of the metropolitan area. There's some money in Erie county and the city is justified in developments to lure them.