The Seneca Nation of Indians may be planning a large mixed-use project in downtown Buffalo, on non-tribal land adjacent to a casino, that could include some combination of residential, office and entertainment, along with a parking structure, the chief executive of Ellicott Development Co. said Tuesday.
Speaking to the Buffalo Planning Board on a related matter, William Paladino said he did not have details on any such project, nor did he know for sure if anything would come to pass from the Senecas on the property – half of which is owned by Ellicott and half by the Nation.
But, he said, the Senecas have priority rights to develop the land, which is sandwiched between Perry and Scott streets, along Michigan Avenue, west of Ellicott's Fairmont Creamery Building at 199 Scott St. It also includes the former Market Street.
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Under an agreement with the city and Ellicott Development, the Nation has 12 to 18 months to propose a new project on the combined site, which currently contains a single-story former Graybar Electric Co. warehouse that the Nation now uses for storage and training.
"They have the ability and the right to build something larger than what they have there now," Paladino said. "They have the right to do what they wish within the agreement."
If they don't, however, Ellicott has the right to buy back the Seneca land, and do its own mixed-use project.
Ellicott owns the east side of Market, while the Senecas own the west. "We don’t quite know what their plans are," Paladino said. "Once we know what the Seneca Nation's plans are, we'll be able to go forward."
"The Nation is just reviewing its options for the site," Seneca spokesman Phil Pantano said Tuesday night. "I’ve heard all sorts of things about the size and scope ... If there is a development plan that makes sense, something would come forth."
In the meantime, Ellicott sought and received permission Tuesday to use East and West Market streets and the former city-owned sewer building property at 190 Perry St. to construct a temporary 139-space parking lot to accommodate the needs of Fairmont tenants, particularly Liazon and Pegula Sports & Entertainment.
Liazon already has 330 employees, and continues to grow, while PS&E has 120. And while the developer currently has a parking lot at the corner of Market and Scott, it is now 120 spaces short of what it needs.
Ellicott had already purchased the two short streets from the city, along with the sewer building located between them, in anticipation of another project. Â The sewer building has since been demolished and the overall site has been cleared, Paladino said.
But the company learned of the Senecas' plans when it went to the city for those acquisitions, and agreed to work with the Nation, Paladino said.
For now, the land designated for the parking lot is surrounded by barriers to keep people out, and the only access is from Scott. Paladino said Ellicott will put up planter boxes along Scott and Perry "to give it a better look for the time being until final plans are being determined."
Additionally, the development firm is negotiating with a potential new tenant for the Fairmont that could necessitate construction of a 20,000-square-foot or 30,000-square-foot, multi-story addition to the building. Paladino said he would know for sure within 60 days, and might then bring a proposal for city approval.
"That's why what the Seneca Nation does is of extreme importance to us," he said.
