"This is another chance for the project team to hear from local members of the community, local residents, local business owners who are in and around the project site, and show them how the project has continued to evolve over the last several several months," said Ciminelli Project Spokesperson Matt Davison. "Also, we're taking feedback as we continue to look at ways to find the overall project and footprint."
Those who were in attendance like what they see.
"It seems like a nice revival project for Buffalo," said one man who wanted to remain anonymous. "It seems like it could bridge the gap from the East Side more toward the West Side by starting to build more affordable development. I think it's just another good project to put in, and it seems like if nothing is going on at that site, you might as well develop it and put some more business downtown - it's always good for the overall city."
The owner of Braymiller Market, Stuart Green, is excited to be there too.
"This is a great night for Braymiller Market, and we're very excited to be moving forward with the downtown location of what we already have out in Hamburg; it seems like the right time, at the right place and the right opportunity," said Green. "There has certainly been an identified need, and there has been a lot of other retail stores that have kind of looked at this opportunity and passed it up because it's not quite right for them. What we do with a retail and wholesale component, as well as prepared foods, a deli, outdoor plants, pumpkins and all that kind of stuff, we've been really well received, and we're really happy about it."
"The project has evolved over several years, so we're getting really close to final design," said Davison. "We have a couple of other steps to take: we'll go in front of the planning board, we'll go in front of the zoning board, and then eventually the Common Council. From there, we would move into site remediation, and we'll start to do some remediation at the surface lot, and then from there we'll move into the construction phase."
Green says there's still much to be done on his business end of things, so he's ok with waiting.
"We're super excited about it, and we can't wait for it to happen," he said. "Even though it might two years before it opens, that gives us plenty of time to be prepared."