Seneca Nation to build outlet mall

ANGOLA, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Seneca Nation has big plans for a parcel of land in Chautauqua County. A 400,000-square-foot outlet mall, that could ultimately resemble the outlets in Niagara Falls, is being considered.

The $50 million project is being built by the Seneca Nation. Seneca Nation of Indians President Robert Odawi Porter said the outlet mall project has been two years in the making.

The mall will be located right off I-90 in Chautauqua County near Exit 58. The land was obtained by the Senecas about 10 years ago and has been sitting undeveloped since then.

Chautauqua County Executive Gregory Edwards is on board with the plan, considering the economic impact. Sales tax would be charged as normal, this mall would not be considered sovereign territory. Nearly 1,000 jobs would be created by the mall alone and there would be 300 more construction jobs created.

Porter said, “The bottom line is revenue for our nation, from our perspective and the analysis thus far, is we will do better economically in terms of securing retailers and generating profits, if this is not turned into sovereign restricted fee status.”

Edwards said, “This will have a dramatic positive impact on Erie County, Cattaraugus County, Allegany County and Chautauqua County. All of our economies will benefit from this process.”

The Seneca Nation of Indians still needs to secure funding for the project. Once that funding is secured, crews could break ground within the next couple of years. Porter won't say when the project would be completed.