By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Last Friday, the leader of the Seneca Nation of Indians told reporters they will break ground in December for a Buffalo casino. But at this point, the Senecas have been unable to purchase the DL&W terminal from the NFTA.
Seneca President Barry Snyder says with a December 9th deadline approaching to build a Buffalo casino, it does not appear the DL&W site will be part of the ground breaking. He says the Senecas were originally planning to buy the terminal to use for the casino. But now he believes the Senecas will be constructing a brand new building for a casino on the nine acres of land purchased in the city's Cobblestone District.
"When you have to modify it (the terminal) to fit your situation, it is more expensive. I think we always had envisioned that we would doing something temporary then create a new building for a Seneca casino. But maybe we are going to start with a new building, period," Snyder said.
But State Senator Dale Volker says the Senecas had trouble securing the site because they would not be able to utilize the entire DL&W building.
"They have a problem with the NFTA site. They can't buy the building because they can't use the whole building. In order to get they building they would have to lay out something like $90 million because the NFTA needs their equipment in that building," Volker said.
Volker is also skeptical of the Senecas reaching the December 9th deadline.
"My personal opinion has been for a long time, they won't make the December 9th deadline. They say they will. But I know they have not settled on any one site," Volker said.
But Snyder says they are ready to concentrate on the nine acres of Buffalo land, and promises that by the first part of December they will move forward with the city casino.
"I guarantee we will be -- in downtown Buffalo."
The Seneca leader says at this point he has no idea when a Buffalo casino would be ready to open. But he promises to keep reporters in the loop, and says developments of a city casino won't be a secret.