BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo State College is asking the Common Council to approve its request to purchase and develop property that currently serves as a city auto impound lot at 166 & 170 Dart Street, Buffalo.
The property is located in Buffalo's West Side.
A not-for-profit affiliate of the Buffalo State College Foundation, BSCR Corporation, is asking that it be allowed to purchase the property and be named the designated developer for the property.
The price of the sale will be determined by a real estate appraisal subject to review by the City of Buffalo.
Buffalo State College President Katherine Conway-Turner issued the following statement:
"Buffalo State would like to thank the City of Buffalo for supporting and selecting the college’s affiliate, BSCR Corporation, to serve as the designated developer (pending Common Council approval) for the city’s Impound Lot property. As a land-locked institution, this a rare opportunity to extend the campus footprint, while also contributing to the exciting revitalization of Buffalo’s West Side. In the coming months, we will announce our process for exploring and evaluating the many possibilities to redevelop the Impound Lot. As ideas emerge for the use of this unique land, we will work with internal and external constituents toward a final development plan that will be welcoming to the community, provide new and unique opportunities for our students, and support our mission as an anchor institution and SUNY’S Urban-Engaged Campus."
According to documents scheduled to be acted on by the Buffalo Common Council on Tuesday February 19th, Buffalo State College (BSCR) said it plans to pursue an minority workforce goal of 25%, a woman workforce goal of 5%, a minority/women owned business enterprise utilization goal of 30%, a Service-Disabled Veterans-Owned Business utilization goal of 6% - to the extent that it is economically and technically feasible to do so.
A time limit of eighteen (18) months is being sought for a Land Disposition Agreement.
Buffalo Common Councilmember Joe Golombek. Jr. explained that would allow Buffalo State to study the land before having to make a huge financial commitment to purchase it.
After being named the designated developer, BSCR Corporation will provide conceptual drawings and an estimate of project costs while handling environmental investigations and tests.
BSCR is promising to pay the City of Buffalo $1,000/month as a designation fee.
At this point, it is unclear how the college plans to use the property if the Buffalo Common Council approves the proposal.
The Common Council is expected to take up the matter on Tuesday February 19th.
However, students on campus told 7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly they would like to see anything from new dorms to more classrooms to a second student union.
