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Senecas seek designers for casino
Intend to include local architect, use some of construction already done on site
Published:June 9, 2011, 11:52 PM
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Updated: June 9, 2011, 11:54 PM
A week after voicing confidence that ground will be broken next spring on a new downtown casino, Seneca Nation leaders are seeking proposals from architects and engineering firms.
Seneca Gaming Corp. has contacted a number of nationally recognized casino architects, but officials want the design team to include a local firm.
"That's very important to us," said Robert Chamberlain, Seneca Gaming's senior vice president of design and construction. "A local architect has a sense of the history of the City of Buffalo."
Officials said the final design for the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino will complement development in the inner harbor.
Chamberlain also disclosed Thursday that an effort will be made to use some of the steel framework, foundations and other infrastructure installed three years ago for the initial venture. Construction was halted at the site off Michigan Avenue because of a flagging market.
"We've invested money into the site already," he told The Buffalo News. "We would like to maximize that investment to the extent that it makes sense."
Seneca officials have said that the newly designed casino will likely be smaller than the $333 million casino-hotel development initially proposed, but larger than a temporary facility currently operating on the site.
The small slot machine-only casino has been housed in a corrugated metal building since July 2007. The facility has undergone two expansions in the past three years and currently has 457 slots.
Seneca Gaming's solicitation of proposals for design and engineering is further evidence of its commitment to play a key role in revitalizing the downtown waterfront, officials said.
Last week, Seneca Gaming announced plans to create a $1 million fund to help pay for beautification projects in neighborhoods around the casino.
While Seneca leaders have expressed optimism that the long-delayed permanent casino will be revived, opponents who have filed a federal lawsuit are continuing in their efforts to try to block the project.
Citizens for a Better Buffalo insist that the federal government illegally gave the Senecas permission to build the casino in downtown Buffalo. They also contend that the temporary casino is operating illegally.
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IT'S NOW BEEN 23 HOURS SINCE I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO POST MY COMMENT ON YOUR WEB SITE REGARDING THIS STORY AND I AM STILL NOT ABLE TO DO SO.
I HAVE SUBMITTED MY STORY (AS REQUESTED) TO THE BUFFALO NEWS IN ANOTHER FASHION, IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU TIME TO TELL ME WHAT, EXACTLY, IT IS THAT IS OBJECTIONABLE ABOUT IT.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM YOUR COMPANY IN THAT REGARD.
AGAIN............I AM WAITING FOR A REASONABLE RESPONSE REGARDING PRECISELY AND EXACTLY, WHAT IT IS ABOUT MY COMMENT THAT YOU DEEM TO BE "INAPPROPRIATE".
MY GUESS IS.....IT WILL HAVE TO DO WITH A POTENTIALLY LIBELOUS STATEMENT.
IF THIS IS TRUE , TELL ME SO AND I WILL CORRECT IT.
IF IT ISN'T,.................. WHAT IS THE HOLD UP??
I HAVE SUBMITTED MY STORY (AS REQUESTED) TO THE BUFFALO NEWS IN ANOTHER FASHION, IN ORDER TO GIVE YOU TIME TO TELL ME WHAT, EXACTLY, IT IS THAT IS OBJECTIONABLE ABOUT IT.
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE FROM YOUR COMPANY IN THAT REGARD.
AGAIN............I AM WAITING FOR A REASONABLE RESPONSE REGARDING PRECISELY AND EXACTLY, WHAT IT IS ABOUT MY COMMENT THAT YOU DEEM TO BE "INAPPROPRIATE".
MY GUESS IS.....IT WILL HAVE TO DO WITH A POTENTIALLY LIBELOUS STATEMENT.
IF THIS IS TRUE , TELL ME SO AND I WILL CORRECT IT.
IF IT ISN'T,.................. WHAT IS THE HOLD UP??
BEAR IN MIND, FOLKS, THIS PROJECT IS 40% DVELOPMENT EXPERTISE 60% POLITICS.
GOOD CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ORGINAZATIONS CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE.
IF YOA ARE AN ARCHITECT FROM BUFFALO AND YOU DON'T HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR LOCAL ARCHITECTURE......TURN IN YOUR LICENSE.
YOU DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
NOW,WHAT ELSE CAN SENECA GAMING OFFER OR COME UP WITH AS A REBUTTAL??
GOOD CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT ORGINAZATIONS CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE.
IF YOA ARE AN ARCHITECT FROM BUFFALO AND YOU DON'T HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR LOCAL ARCHITECTURE......TURN IN YOUR LICENSE.
YOU DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
NOW,WHAT ELSE CAN SENECA GAMING OFFER OR COME UP WITH AS A REBUTTAL??
MICHAEL WILLIAMS, BUFFALO, NY on Sat Jun 11, 2011 at 10:27 PM
PLEASE ASK YOUR CENSORS WHY I AM NOT ALLOWED TO POST A COMMENT ON THIS STORY AFTER MULTIPLE EDITS,PROOFS,STAYING ON POINT AND ENSURING THERE IS NO DEROGITORY LANGUAGE.
I WOULD LIKE EITHER A E MAIL RESPONSE OR A PHONE CALL.
IF I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ONE, PERHAPS THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND THE WASHINGTON POST WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MY STORY,THE BACKGROUND OF MY STORY AND WHY I WASN'T ALLOWED TO COMMENT IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
I WILL BE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL THE E MAIL ADDRESSES FOR ANYONE EVEN REMOTELY CONNECTED WITH THIS STORY, JUST SO YOU FOLKS WON'T FEEL LEFT OUT!!
I WOULD LIKE EITHER A E MAIL RESPONSE OR A PHONE CALL.
IF I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ONE, PERHAPS THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL AND THE WASHINGTON POST WOULD BE INTERESTED IN MY STORY,THE BACKGROUND OF MY STORY AND WHY I WASN'T ALLOWED TO COMMENT IN A PUBLIC FORUM.
I WILL BE SURE TO INCLUDE ALL THE E MAIL ADDRESSES FOR ANYONE EVEN REMOTELY CONNECTED WITH THIS STORY, JUST SO YOU FOLKS WON'T FEEL LEFT OUT!!
MICHAEL WILLIAMS, BUFFALO, NY on Sat Jun 11, 2011 at 07:42 PM
Tim Mc: best comment I've seen in a while.
I am almost completely against a casino in the city because it is a reach for a solution. See: casinos of Detroit. But at this point, just do it. The $1m for beautification was a nice gesture, and it's not like that part of the city is teeming with interest. I walked my dogs down there last summer... holy cow. With all the streetscape improvement and development in the Larkin District and the potential developments of the Jordan Levy amusement park, done right this could tie this area together nicely.
I am almost completely against a casino in the city because it is a reach for a solution. See: casinos of Detroit. But at this point, just do it. The $1m for beautification was a nice gesture, and it's not like that part of the city is teeming with interest. I walked my dogs down there last summer... holy cow. With all the streetscape improvement and development in the Larkin District and the potential developments of the Jordan Levy amusement park, done right this could tie this area together nicely.
LOU BORDONARO, BUFFALO, NY on Sat Jun 11, 2011 at 05:06 AM
Citizens for a Better Buffalo should look at all the garbage or better yet "THE JUNK YARD EXHIBIT" on the front lawn of the Albright-Knox Gallery. No wonder were called a rust belt city. We should change the signs in front from Don't Litter, to Please Litter! Maybe they got their idea from that Greco-Roman mix with Modern Workers sitting on a steel beam from Salvatore's old hotel on Transit Rd. by the Thruway Exit. Their is no accounting for taste.
PHILIP JAMES JAROSZ, BUFFALO, NY on Sat Jun 11, 2011 at 01:16 AM
Lets make it look like an old grain mill and everybody will be happy. Then get rid of the Buffalo Transit System on Main Street, return it to horse drawn carriages so we can smell fresh feces in the warm summer breeze. The past was ok then, but I want to live in the future now!
PHILIP JAMES JAROSZ, BUFFALO, NY on Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 10:18 PM
I'm going to start CITIZENS FOR THE BEST BUFFALO to combat every lawsuit that they throw at these development projects. Anytime that they picket, sue, slander or whatever, we'll be right there to do the same to them... who's coming with me?
JOSH BAUER, BUFFALO, NY on Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 03:26 PM
Once again, citizens for a better Buffalo has no idea what they are talking about, and they don't speak for the citizens of Buffalo, they speak only for themselves.
Buffalo is already in a much better position to be successful with a casino in its midst, because it has taken steps to build attractions in the area NEAR the casino. The Central Wharf is growing, and a lot more will be added in the next few years. The casino is NOT going to be the only attraction in the area, it will merely be another one.
Niagara Falls, years later, still hasn't understood this, and is still playing patty-cake with the developer that obviously has NO intention of building anything around the casino. This is why there has been no improvement in Niagara Falls. They expected the casino to spawn development. They were backwards.
Buffalo, casino or not, is already building up that area. HSBC arena, the waterfront attractions, etc. are all part of an area that is growing and attracting more people each year.
Therefore, this is a positive thing for Buffalo. A casino CAN help spawn development if there is already development and a plan in place.
Citizens for a Better Buffalo needs to get off their high horse, stop wasting money, and actually do something useful---such as fighting the oppressive taxes that Albany inflicts upon us.
Buffalo is already in a much better position to be successful with a casino in its midst, because it has taken steps to build attractions in the area NEAR the casino. The Central Wharf is growing, and a lot more will be added in the next few years. The casino is NOT going to be the only attraction in the area, it will merely be another one.
Niagara Falls, years later, still hasn't understood this, and is still playing patty-cake with the developer that obviously has NO intention of building anything around the casino. This is why there has been no improvement in Niagara Falls. They expected the casino to spawn development. They were backwards.
Buffalo, casino or not, is already building up that area. HSBC arena, the waterfront attractions, etc. are all part of an area that is growing and attracting more people each year.
Therefore, this is a positive thing for Buffalo. A casino CAN help spawn development if there is already development and a plan in place.
Citizens for a Better Buffalo needs to get off their high horse, stop wasting money, and actually do something useful---such as fighting the oppressive taxes that Albany inflicts upon us.
JAMIE ROZEK, BUFFALO, NY on Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 03:16 PM
Here is an opportunity to correct a mistake made in the past and actually move forward with some sort of downtown development. Lets get it right this time and move out of the way if you don't like it or better yet go save a grain mill. We all know what to expect, the pickets, lawsuits, studies on the effects of gambling, horror stories of homes lost, bankruptcy increases and broken families. Okay so how about millions in developments lost, more foot traffic on the waterfront, increases to the city coffers and the starting point of revitalization. If gambling is illegal then why don't I see the pickets in front of the VFW post or church hall during bingo? Come on people lets move forward and get it right this time.
THOMAS DURLAK, CHEEKTOWAGA, NY on Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 01:01 PM
Donn Esmonde anti-casino column in 3.....2.....1
TIMOTHY MCGUIRE, GETZVILLE, NY on Fri Jun 10, 2011 at 09:19 AM
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MICHAEL WILLIAMS, BUFFALO, NY on Sun Jun 12, 2011 at 06:54 PM