Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - When it comes to long vacant Buffalo Grand Hotel, Mayor Sean Ryan says enough is enough and he has issued an ultimatum to Canadian developer Harry Stinson.
Ryan, confirmed Wednesday, he has given Stinson 90 days to secure financing for the 486-room downtown hotel, or he will begin legal action to seize the property and find a new developer.
And, Ryan said he expects a detailed update every 30 days.
"I believe in verification," Ryan said.
The fate of the 10-story, 48-year-old hotel has been a lingering downtown and hospitality industry issue since it was shuttered during the early pandemic days in March 2020.
Stinson bought the hotel in 2018 and promised a complete make over.
For his part, Stinson believes he can secure the financing he needs and bring the Buffalo Grand back to life.
Stinson was close to re-opening the hotel in late 2021, but a New Year's Eve fire severely damaged portions of the Buffalo Grand. It took Stinson more than four years to gain an insurance settlement.
The issue has been simmering and came to forefront last summer when then-acting Mayor Chris Scanlon said unless Stinson made noticeable progress, he was going to begin legal proceedings to take over the hotel.
Ryan said the future of the hotel is a key item on his overall agenda to revive an ailing Downtown Buffalo.
A renovated hotel could bolster efforts by Visit Buffalo to land more conventions and meetings, many of which bypass the city because of the limited number of downtown hotel rooms.
A Visit Buffalo study, just released this week, said the city needs at least 400 more hotel rooms - sooner rather than later.
Ryan said the state Democratic Party committee rejected a bid to hold its annual convention in Buffalo because of the limited supply of hotel rooms.
"If you want to bring in an upper level NCAA event, or anything else, the only way that is going to happen is with more hotel rooms," Ryan said.