If you missed the tweets from @wnymedia, @buffalogeek, and @buffalopundit, and have otherwise been under a rock for the afternoon, Bass Pro has pulled out of the Canal Side project once and for all.
Bass Pro #Buffalo all done. Catch the fail live online at @wnymedia. Presser in 10 mins.
Alan Bedenko
buffalopundit
A press conference had been called for 2pm where Jordan Levy was going to unveil a study concluding that Bass Pro would be just great for the Buffalo waterfront. That was abruptly canceled at around lunchtime due to “scheduling conflicts”. About an hour or so later, the media got a new advisory announcing a “major” 2:30pm announcement about Bass Pro. Sources told me almost immediately that this was bad news about Bass Pro.
The video speaks for itself, and our long regional nightmare of uncertain Bass Pro agreement status has finally come to an end.
ECHDC’s Jordan Levy and Tom Dee, plus Benderson Development’s Eric Reccoon were on-hand to address the situation. They reiterated that Bass Pro was never the sum total of the Canal Side project, and that they would now have to redouble their efforts to basically come up with a plan B. Levy and Reccoon stated that ten alternate anchor tenants had been identified, and that they would be setting out over the next several weeks in-person to pitch Canal Side to these retailers. They declined to identify the prospective tenants because part of the reason why Bass Pro pulled out of these negotiations is your fault, my fault, all of our fault. The “negative” and “toxic” public discussion about Bass Pro, paired with the fact that Bass Pro had become a “lightning rod” had contributed to the deal not happening.
Finally, it was noted by Bass Pro that they simply could not finalize a lease deal within the time constraints set forth by Congressman Brian Higgins due to “numerous critical issues” involving the fact that “several major issues fundamental to the successful completion of the project”. Media chatter that this deal is dead because of because of Higgins’ deadline is, therefore, factually inaccurate.
More later – tune in to hear Chris Smith with Brad Riter on WECK 1230-AM at 5pm.
UPDATE: Brian Higgins’ statement:
Congressman Higgins Responds to News on Waterfront Development
“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.”