By Eileen Buckley and Mark Scott
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-915904.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Bass Pro is not coming to Buffalo.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation announced Friday afternoon the sporting goods retailer will not locate at the site of the old Memorial Auditorium near Canal Side.
ECHDC chairman Jordan Levy made the announcement from the Harbor Development downtown offices Friday afternoon.
"Bass Pro and John Morris informed met today and ECHDC that Bass Pro is withdrawing from the Canal Side Project," said Levy
Levy was asked what killed the deal during a news conference. But he noted that Bass Pro came to Buffalo nine years ago.
"I can't tell you what killed it because we, you know, did not try to kill it. I think there are a lot of factors. I think as John Morris pointed out, we became a lightening rod," said Levy.
Local elected leaders had spent the past decade trying to complete an agreement with Bass Pro. A search of the WBFO news archives found a story dated July 26, 2001 that former Mayor Anthony Masiello was interested in bringing Bass Pro to the then-vacant Aud. Then in November 2004, former Governor George Pataki joined Masiello and Bass Pro representatives for a major news conference announcing that Bass Pro would locate here pending the signing of a formal agreement.
That agreement was never signed though negotiations continued on and off for six years. Eventually, the decision was made to tear down the Aud and construct a new building on that site for Bass Pro.
However, opposition to $35 million in public subsidies for Bass Pro became more vocal in recent weeks. On Tuesday, a citizens group filed a lawsuit challenging the incentives.
ECHDC officials said Friday the development of Canal Side will continue without Bass Pro. Their plans call for a mix of restaurants, small retailers and museums to be built adjacent to the restored Erie Canal commercial slip.
U.S Congressman Brian Higgins delievered an ultimatum to Bass Pro on July 20, 2010. In a letter to Bass Pro leaders, Higgins said he wants the company to sign a lease deal with the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation in two-weeks.
Higgins issued the following statement Friday regarding Bass Pro's withdraw:
"Western New Yorkers have waited fifty years for waterfront development to happen and we aren't waiting anymore. After nearly a decade of talk there comes a point when this community should expect our business partners to either sign on the dotted line or we as a community must again stand up for ourselves and demand we move forward.
"I will be asking Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation to develop a revised plan with emphasis on public infrastructure that will help us to reach our full waterfront potential. Thanks to our hard work over the last several years we have over $100 million in NYPA funding immediately available to implement that plan.
"The potential for a great Buffalo waterfront is emerging; we know it and we see it with the increased crowds at the Inner and Outer Harbor today. The last nine years of limbo is unreasonable and unfortunate but today, with nothing holding us back, we continue the momentum we already see along the water's edge."
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown also issued the following statement voicing his disappointment:
Public Statement Mayor Byron W. Brown June 30, 2010
Re: Bass Pro Decision
I was disappointed to hear today directly from Bass Pro President Jim Hagel that among other things the Common Council's inaction over my plan to sell city land to strengthen waterfront and neighborhood economic development was one reason why Bass Pro will not open a store on Buffalo's waterfront.
This decision means that over 3,000 construction and retail jobs for residents of our city and region are threatened with the loss of this anchor tenant.
This is inexcusable and an example of a few obstructionists persuading members of the Common Council to stop progress - both along the waterfront and in our neighborhood commercial districts.
There are still thousands of other jobs that now hang in the balance on our waterfront and I call on the Common Council to hold a meeting next week to vote on the community development agreement I presented to them early last week. I am pleased that Council majority leader Richard Fontana has agreed to organize the meeting.