BUFFALO, N.Y. — A summer day at Canalside shows just how far the area has come in the last 15 years.
But just across the road is where the progress stalls.
Six years ago, a promise was made to add new buildings to Canalside known as Heritage Point, containing apartments and commercial spaces with the hopes of further revitalizing the waterfront.
But today — three years after they broke ground — steel beams and construction cones are all there is to show for the $35 million project that is supposedly less than a year from its completion.
“It's a shame,” said Bill Robidoux, who was at Canalside Tuesday. “Somebody's got to light a fire under somebody's butt.”
Fillmore District’s common council member Mitch Nowakowski said the construction is at a standstill because the development company — Sinatra and Co. — claims to be about $10 million short and is now asking for additional taxpayer assistance to finish the project.
“$10 million is a large amount of funding to miscalculate,” he said. “It's just not feasible, and that's really causing the angst among people wanting answers.”
Additionally, several contractors recently filed liens related to the project, alleging $2.8 million in unpaid bills.
That’s why Nowakowski sent a letter to the developers today asking them to appear before the council on Sept. 10 and provide a timeline and answers on how they plan to close the funding gap.
He said the project’s completion and the removal of the eyesore construction site are key to making the area a livable destination for residents.
“I hope that in September that the developer comes with concrete plans,” he said. “The key to really rebuilding Canalside and downtown is having density and people living here 365 days a year.”
2 On Your Side reached out to Sinatra and Co. for comment, but they refused to provide an independent statement.