Debate grows over Buffalo hotel designs

Debate is growing over designs for a new waterfront hotel in Buffalo.

An overwhelming number of people News 4 spoke to Monday say they like a hotel, proposed by Ciminelli Development Company.

But the hotel that will likely sit on a 1.5 acre parcel is the Erie Basin Wingate Inn.

The four-story, 100 room hotel will neighbor Shanghai Red's restaurant and overlook the marina.

Already approved by the Buffalo Planning Board, the project is two steps away from being a done deal. This week it could go before the Buffalo Renewal Agency.

After that, the Buffalo Common Council must approve the land transfer agreement.

South District Council Member Mickey Kearns said, "This isn't a project that is good."

Kearns calls the Wingate Inn proposal average, "Politicians come and go. Planners come and go. We're stuck with these projects if this is not going to enhance our waterfront. We need to start over. We want excellence, not doable."

In an effort to stop Wingate Inn's developer and former Common Council President

James Pitts from building there, Kearns wants to start the planning process over, again.
He favors Ciminelli's plan, "I think it's a beautiful design. I think it's something we should at least consider."

Kearns says Ciminelli would be partnering up with a higher-end better known hotel chain, The Hilton. The building would also house corporate offices.

James Pitts said, "Ciminelli is not even a consideration. I'm not interested in talking about the Ciminelli project. My project was the designated hotel."

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Former Buffalo Common Council President Jim Pitts has the official go-ahead for a waterfront hotel, but the project has critics who say City Hall picked the wrong design.

What do you think? Which hotel would you rather see near the Erie Basin Marina?

Ann Marie Cannizzaro of Buffalo said, "This one here is absolutely beautiful. It's more modern. This looks more like a jail. It adds no character, no depth, no nothing."

Many people News 4 spoke to Monday say they're attracted to a ten-story proposed hotel design by Ciminelli Development Company.

But a four-story, 100 room Wingate Inn Hotel by developer James Pitts, is the next likely addition to the waterfront shoreline.

Carol Brych of Buffalo said, "I'm looking forward to Buffalo doing something different, so I hope that maybe this might end up coming out to be more different that what this picture actually looks like."

Mickey Kearns said, "We need to say 'no' to this project, at least in it's current form and start the process over."

Kearns prefers Ciminelli's plan because it would be a mixed-use building for hotel and corporate office space. He says a major reason Ciminelli's proposal didn't get the planning board's approval was that the structure failed to meet the city's height and parking guidelines, "The one applicant who exceeded the four stories was told it was going to be okay to submit that because we want the best and highest possible use for this parcel."

Wingate developer James Pitts said, "Ciminelli is not even a consideration. I'm not interested in talking about the Ciminelli project. My project was the designated hotel."

While the approval process to build the Wingate is almost complete, Kearns isn't giving up his fight!

Kearns said, "If this is not going to enhance our waterfront, we need to start over. We want excellence not just doable."