Bass Pro withdraws from Canal Side project
It's a no from Bass Pro. The outdoor retail chain is not coming to Buffalo's downtown Canal Side project. Our Ryan Burgess has the details.
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- After nine years of talk and negotiations, Bass Pro Shops will not be a part of Buffalo's Canal Side project.
"Effectively, their position is that they could not meet the timetable that the congressman set out in the two weeks and as a result, they're withdrawing from the project," said Jordan Levy, president of Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation.
He's referring to Congressman Brian Higgins' ultimatum to Bass Pro - either sign a lease or move on from the project within two weeks. Bass Pro chose the latter.
"Blaming anybody is inaccurate and not useful. The fact of the matter is, it's been nine years. Every effort has been made to bring Bass Pro to Buffalo. It's over," said Higgins (D- 27th congressional district).
Now, Canal Side developers are faced with the reality of needing a "Plan -B" while encountering negative reaction from a public that seemed to have mixed feelings about Bass Pro.
"All of us up here will have to listen to hundreds and hundreds of people tell us, yet again, another failed promise from western New York. Hopefully we'll overcome this by building something great," said Levy.
But what is that "something great?" The answer depends on who you ask. A Benderson Development official said, unquestionably, another retailer and stressed it should be an anchor tenant. However, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation acknowledged it may not be a business on scale with Bass Pro and could be a combination of smaller shops and restaurants.
The $35 million subsidy offered to Bass Pro will be made available to the next business, whatever that might be, regardless of how the public feels about it.
"Such an overwhelming, exciting, transformational project is running into such negativity. We continually, as the developer, are trying to sell this project, stress to them - folks, there's a very distinct minority. But they're a vocal minority. We have to try to drown that out," said Eric Raccoon of Benderson Development.
Bass Pro did release the letter they sent to Congressman Higgins, withdrawing from the project. The letter said they'll have no further comment on the project.