Buffalo Common Council members had a busy day Tuesday, dealing with two controversial development projects and new public employee union contracts.
With the rapid increase in development projects across the city, there are more and more clashes over visuals, size and location. A committee refused to block the proposed high-rise on the Outer Harbor and sent it to the full Council for action, while also stalling a 10-story building proposed for Main and Ferry.
Neighbors have said it is too large and in the wrong place. Wanda Pinckey-Loftin said it will damage a quiet community on nearby side streets. "We like it the way it is because it is a family area where people can come and relax. We know who's in and out the area because we know by the parking spaces. We know who's there because: That's my space. Who's in my space? Okay. That's important."
"You have a hundred people coming in. Some of them may not drive, but I would say at least 30 percent of them are going to drive. Where are they going to park? Why should I have to give up my parking space for somebody who's living two blocks away," she said.
The proposed Willoughby Exchange would replace the Willoughby Insurance building on the corner, familiar to generations of travelers on Main Street.
Lynda Schneekloth from the Western New York Environmental Alliance said it is a bad plan in a bad place. "This is not the best use of Buffalo waterfront property, to put a garage right at the waterfront, 277 feet long and 30 feet high," she said. "The height of the building. This does not fit the character of that context and we need to have more discussions about that."
After the committee meeting, members convened a special session of the Council and approved new labor contracts with unions representing blue collar workers and city inspectors. For both unions, the new pacts replace long-expired agreements and will provide substantial retroactive payments in exchange for cutting benefits for future hires.
Local 264 President Sean Carney said members reluctantly approved the contract. "We looked at it with Tier 6. Our employees, new hires have to work until they are 63. We know there's a two-year window there. This is going to be 30-40 years away," he explained. "We don't know what health care will look at that point. We've been out of a contract for five years and, at the point, we brought it back to our membership who passed it."
