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Business First of Buffalo - 2:54 PM EDT Thursdayby James FinkBusiness First
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Calling it a design that mixes old with new, dramatic with natural, the Seneca Gaming Corp. Thursday afternoon formally unveiled the architectural rendering of its Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.
The $125 million project, slated for a nine-acre parcel of sovereign Seneca Nation of Indian territory, could be under construction by late summer once all the demolition and environmental work is completed.
Thursday's unveiling ceremony was loaded with subplots including an offer from Barry Snyder Sr., Seneca Nation president and Seneca Gaming chairman, to float a loan to the City of Buffalo for necessary infrastructure improvements for the surrounding streets along South Park and Michigan Avenues. The loans would be repaid from Buffalo's share of revenues generated from the casino.
For the offer to be accepted, the Buffalo Common Council and Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority would need to approve the deal.
"It is just an idea we are floating," Snyder said.
Snyder also offered to take Buffalo officials with him to Albany to convince Gov. George Pataki to free up state funds for the infrastructure work.
Snyder is still trying to work out an arrangement with Buffalo officials that will see a two-block portion of little-used Fulton Street abandoned. Those blocks are crucial to the casino's design. Talks on the issue between Mayor Byron Brown and the Seneca Nation have been described as cordial.
Snyder said he is extremely proud of the casino's glass and steel design that also features a small park at the corner of Perry Street and Michigan Avenue and a running creek that also cuts through the lobby of the casino.
The complex was designed by Sosh Architects of New Jersey.
"This is not a stand alone casino," Snyder said.
The 100,000-square-foot gaming venue is slated to open by December 2007 and is expected to employ more than 1,000 people while creating a $38 million annual payroll.
Snyder said the Buffalo casino will be heavily marketed outside the region including to areas like Cleveland and New York City.
"We want and need those people for the casino to be a success," Snyder said.
The casino is the third of three allowed by a 2002 compact negotiated between Pataki and the Seneca Nation. Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel opened four years ago and Seneca Allegany Casino opened two years ago.
Also Thursday, Erie County Attorney Laurence Rubin said the county will not go through with a lawsuit to stop demolition of the the HO Oats Elevators located on the site of the planned casino. A motion for a temporary restraining order filed last week in State Supreme Court to block the Senecas from tearing down the old grain elevator was rejected.
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