The Common Council wants guarantees that the $294.8 million Canal Side project will produce

specific community benefits before the city transfers more land for the development.

Tuesday's unanimous vote calling for such assurances occurred shortly after advocacy groups

held a news conference outside City Hall to push for a Community Benefits Agreement.

Supporters justified their stand by noting that more than half of the project is being

financed with public funds.

Among other things, the agreement would ensure that small local businesses will not be

forgotten as developers court Bass Pro Shops and other big-box retailers. One clause would set

aside three-quarters of all retail space that is not part of the proposed Bass Pro store for

locally owned, independent businesses.

The pact also would set local and minority hiring goals for temporary and permanent jobs,

require builders to use environmentally friendly "green" technology and include affordable

housing.

One of the most controversial provisions would require businesses with more than 20

employees to pay a living wage, a rate that is higher than the state's minimum wage.

"The main focus of [the agreement] is to really ensure that quality jobs are created from

this development," said Andrew Reynolds, an organizer with the Coalition for Economic Justice.

Officials from the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. have raised concerns about the

living-wage provision. Corporation President Thomas P. Dee called the living-wage mandate a

"nonstarter," insisting retailers would not agree to pay the higher rates.

But advocates denied that the initiative would hinder development, noting that other cities

have embraced such agreements as they launched large public projects.

"We think there's really broad community support for this, and we think it's too important

an opportunity to take lightly," said Sam Magavern, co-director of the Partnership for the

Public Good.

Larry Quinn told The Buffalo News last week that he thinks there are laudable objectives

included in the proposed benefits pact. But he said he believes that goals could be achieved

without the establishment of a Community Benefits Agreement.

"There's already a perception that it's difficult enough to do development in Buffalo,"

said Quinn, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. board member.

But Quinn added that some of the goals could be incorporated in environmental impact

statements and other documents tied to Canal Side.

In other action Tuesday, the Council:

Approved a lease with the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo to rent a vacant school as a

temporary home for a police station that was closed last month due to mold problems. The city

will pay $4,500 a month to rent the former All Saints School at 127 Chadduck Ave. near

Riverside Park. The Northwest District police station will likely remain in its temporary

quarters through late spring as remedial work is done at the closed station at 669 Hertel Ave.

Approved a one-year extension of a lease with the Buffalo Bisons at the city-owned

Coca-Cola Field.

Listen to Andrew Reynolds, an organizer for the Coalition for Economic Justice, discuss the goals of a Community Benefits Agreement and address some of the concerns: