Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Congressman Brian Higgins has sent a letter to the CEO and President of Bass Pro Shops urging them to make a final decision on the future of a store on Buffalo's Canalside project in two weeks.
"It's not about 14 days, it's about nine years," says Higgins. "Bass Pro has asked the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation to do many things, environmental review, master planning, put public financing in place. All of these have been done, and we're now awaiting a decision from Bass Pro who has had a draft lease propsal for two week. I think the only thing Bass Pro owes our community is a decision as to their intentions regarding Canalside."
Higgins adds, "Waterfront development is well underway and it is because we have moved into action after decades of talk and plans." He says progress is visible now, and feels Bass Pro should be a part of it and wants the company to make that commitment.
Bass Pro was first mentioned back in 2001 and the company picked the former Memorial Auditorium site in 2004. Higgins says he's kept an open mind to this proposal, but says if there's no commitment from Bass Pro in two weeks, he'll call on the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation to move on without the outdoor giant. Who could be next? "We can put out requests for proposals," believes Higgins. "Over 130 businesses have expressed interest in locating in Canalside, so we'll have plenty of development opportunities." But Higgins does not want subsidies for private development, but instead do what needs to be done to attract businesses like public spaces, and roads and bridges that create accessibility to the public.
NewsRadio 930 WBEN has a call out to Bass Pro for its comments.
Will Bass Pro sign a final agreement in two weeks?
07/20/2010 3:45PM
typical higgins BS
this is a total scam by higgins,,,,brian we can read right through you ,,,,get real,,,,MR NO SHOW
07/20/2010 3:55PM
So it comes to this
I'd hate to see this whole deal go away after the old Aud. got torn down to make room for this White Elephant store. But there comes a time when BassPro needs to ink a deal and gitter-dun or turn the page on them and build something else. I do feel that we have no chance of ever having a water front that looks anything at all like Cleveland or Pittsburgh. In fact if I had my own way, all the public money we can spare would be put into making Niagara Falls, New York the best possible version of itself. The City of Buffalo should take a permanent back seat to the biggest natural attraction of the country. Why are we always too slow to do what is right for the Land of the Thundering Waters?
07/20/2010 4:26PM
If Higgins was a Republican
He'd be righteous.
07/20/2010 9:25PM
Higgins
Mr grandstand again,He is a BS artice , and I am hoping they don't come .We are a very small market because of our state and county and city leader ship all small minds no plans unless they take years just like the bridge.
07/20/2010 11:41PM
Whatcha ya been smokin?
5 million visitors each year = a Sabres game attendence every day every week. Bass Pro knows they can't deliver on that.
07/21/2010 7:38AM
Hey right wing media
The Shirley Sharrod story seems to have exposed you people for exactly what and who you truly are. Stay classy.
07/21/2010 9:19AM
Finally
FINALLY someone has stepped up to the plate and done something that we have all been waiting for. My question for Mr. Higgins and ALL our local representatives is WHAT THE HECK took you so long? Invite some of the little shops and boutiques around townto set up in there, get open air markets, skating rinks, anything other than some store who has made apparent at least to the citizens of Buffalo that they are not interested. Well done Brian.
07/21/2010 10:27AM
HOW MUCH $$$$$$$$$$
If you have to pay millons to get business's to come here how much this time? does anybody else see the pattern here?
07/21/2010 10:42AM
I've Said It Before......
...and I'll say it again. Bass Pro will NEVER come to Buffalo. I knew that within a year of the original announcement when everything started hitting the fan.
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