With the ribbon cut at the new Highmark Stadium, attention is shifting to what comes next.
Orchard Park Town Supervisor Joe Liberti has a message for developers: "Orchard Park is open for business."
The town has overhauled its zoning laws to accommodate commercial development.
Has anything actually started?
"We do have one developer that is very interested in constructing a hotel in the area. Once we get that anchor, other developers are going to follow suit. Our zoning board, planning board and chamber are all on the same page," he said.
The vision is modeled after Green Bay's Titletown. It includes a dense mixed use project for retail, boutique shops, restaurants and hotels in a footprint around the stadium.
John Cimperman, of Barnstorm Sports, told WBEN earlier in the week that he doesn't think the Buffalo market is large enough to support an entertainment district around the stadium for ten or twelve events a year.
Liberti strongly disagrees.
"I'm expecting about 100 events a year, including weddings and corporate events.It's going to be an eye opener for developers. Whether you're from Orchard Park, or you're from Toronto, Cleveland, Pittsburgh or Rochester, it's going to be a destination for people."
As for a timeline, Liberti said he's looking at 3 to 5 years to get to where they want to be.
WBEN asked Liberti if there's a development race between Orchard Park and Hamburg. He says the two have been working together since the start.
"It's going to take 3 to 5 years to get to where we want to be"
"It's going to take 3 to 5 years to get to where we want to be"
