In River View Version 2.0, the project's retail component now must be the first to succeed, before construction of any condominiums, which were the originally stated aim of the development. Retail build-out also must preface rental housing units, which were not in the previous plan. Of course, for any of these phases to begin, the city's required commitment, a TIF-enabled parking garage, must be completed.
Insofar as the anchor retail tenant is concerned, will realtor Mike Kopp be seeking local, or chain? Let's hope both Kopp and Mainland consider this link, because if their for-profit entity must utilize TIF money to even begin, doesn't the comminity have a very real stake in the type of retail being pursued?
Urban Redevelopment Projects Should Put Local Businesses First
Make Local Business the Anchor Tenant at Canal Side (Opinion), by Sarah Bishop of Buffalo First
We don't need $35 million in public money used to lure another big box store to Canal Side. However, we could always use a boost to our local economy, and great publicity for our local businesses and city. "Buffalo needs to start investing in itself. Putting anchor tenants at Canal Side that are Buffalo community members themselves helps the local economy," said Maria Fox, one of the nearly 100 signatories to date in support of local business as the "anchor" at Canal Side.
It'll be interesting to see how expensive rent for the retail spaces will be. Will they outprice what local, indie businesses can possibly afford? In my view, a chain store hurts what has been building downtown which is driven by local restaurants and niche, indie businesses.
ReplyDeleteBTW, thanks for the link, Andy.
ReplyDelete