Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Don't get him wrong, developer Douglas Jemal still loves the City of Buffalo and its people.
But some city and state leaders - not so much.
Jemal's growing level of frustration is the motivating reason for the Washington-based developer to put his opulent Nottingham Terrace mansion on the market with a $2.5 million asking price.
And the house went under contract in just three days, with deal brokered Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Karen Baker Levin.
The deal is the latest in a series of transactions where Jemal has either sold, or attempted to sell some of his Buffalo area real estate holdings.
Just a few years ago, that would have seemed unthinkable. Not anymore.
"Buffalo doesn't function as a city," said Jemal in an interview with WBEN.
Jemal's two biggest enemies are new Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Ryan has only met with Jemal once since last summer.
"He should view me as his savior, not his enemy," Jemal said.
While New York State has previously allocated $5 million towards Jemal's $150 million proposed makeover of the Statler, requests for additional state-backed public sector support have gone unanswered.
"I need government help with the Statler," Jemal said. "It doesn't pencil out."
When Jemal first entered the Buffalo market in 2016, he eschewed public sector financial assistance including the more than $100 million he invested in reviving the 38-story Seneca One Tower or the $20 million The Police apartments in Downtown Buffalo.
But the economic landscape has changed in the post-pandemic world.
Interest rates have soared, as have construction and development costs.
"All I'm getting these days is a lot of 'blah-blah-blah'," Jemal said.
Jemal feels Buffalo needs to take a more aggressive approach when it comes to downtown and the entire city.
"You need to develop into the downtown, not develop out of it," Jemal said. "The status quo is not working."
While Jemal has sold off such holdings as the Buffalo News building downtown and the Curtiss Malting Co. building on Niagara Street, and has a deal pending with Benderson Development to sell the Boulevard Mall, he still maintains a strong local real estate portfolio.
Jemal's holdings include the Seneca One Tower, the Police Apartments, HSBC Atrium, the Hyatt Regency Buffalo and, this spring, he will be completing a mixed-use, residential anchored complex at Elmwood Avenue and Bidwell Parkway.
Jemal notes his residential-anchored properties are more than 98% leased and have a waiting list.
"That tells me that people do want to come downtown, but we have to give them better services and options," Jemal said. "I wish some people would understand that."