Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Now that plans have changed for the future of the Buffalo Convention Center, two Erie County lawmakers have different reactions to the decision to put a new façade at the current site as opposed to a new site.
Erie County Legislator Joe Lorigo agrees with County Executive Mark Poloncarz about moving on from the costly concept of a new convention center.
"I think the idea of a new convention center has gone by the wayside as a result of COvid19," says Lorigo. But he has questions about the announcement of a new façade. "Adding in a new façade was not something I was expecting. He needs legislative approval for any expenditures. so I want to see what the actual plans are before committing to it actually happening."
Lorigo says wanting to spend $10 million on renovations is a lot of money. "In a time when virtual meetings and Zoom are what most people are used to and prefer because of the ease they've become, I think we need to see if the expenditures are worthwhile," notes Lorigo. "I don't know how important the convention center renovations are. I don't know if the new facade is going to attract bigger, better, and newer conventions that we're already getting."
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Legislator Howard Johnson says he agrees with the move toward a new facade as opposed to a new convention center.
"We know the convention business is not what it used to be, and this is good use of taxpayer funding with regards to bringing infrastructure improvement," says Johnson. "With COVID and everything that comes with it, there are going to be some changes."
But has stadium talk overshadowed new convention center talk? Johnson says no. "The stadium talk was going to have to happen regardless to what's going on in the county," says Johnson.
Lorigo tells WBEN both the convention center and stadium are important. "They're two things that will require a lot of taxpayer dollars, and they need to be conversations had at the legislature," says Lorigo.
The new facade is expected to be completed in December of next year.
