BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)....To Ralph Lorigo, whether the Buffalo land where the Seneca Nation of Indians is building its now-controversial gas station complex is sovereign territory or not, he believes any court case or legal action will side with the Seneca Nation.
Real estate and development is Lorigo's legal sweet spot.
The West Seneca-based attorney said, after reviewing a mountain of documents connected to the Old First Ward property, he believes the Senecas are developing the complex on what is legally and properly designated sovereign territory.
"This is sovereign land," Lorigo said. "It's been proven."
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan and his corporation counsel staff disagree.
Ryan thinks the 3.5-acre parcel - nestled between Miami, Chicago and Ohio streets - is not properly designated sovereign territory and he wants construction halted.
"It's just a run of the mill dispute," Ryan said. "Our plan is to take it one step at a time."
JC Seneca, Seneca Nation president, said the nation is investing more than $10 million on the project that will serve as a companion to an existing Seneca One Stop on Michigan Avenue - just across from Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.
Once the new One Stop opens next summer, the Michigan Avenue site will be a self-serve, cashless gas station and the existing convenience store will be repurposed to another Seneca-=based operation.
As for the sovereign territory debate, Lorigo said the land has been properly designated by the federal Department of Interior for more than three years.
Any city lawsuit has little chance of seeing Buffalo win, Lorigo predicted.
There is ample case studies that have backed sovereign territories.
""Sovereign nations has consistently won," Lorigo said.
The land is considered under the municipal "restricted fee" status, meaning whatever governmental owns the property, it can develop it as it wishes without any public sector approvals.
One such recent case involved a new Erie County Water Authority complex in West Seneca or a deal the Senecas and Grand Island crafted for 200 acres gifted to the nation last year by Acquest Development.
"The Senecas have every right to continue with this project," Lorigo said.
Lorigo believes the Seneca Nation of Indians are building their gas station complex on sovereign territory
Lorigo believes the Seneca Nation of Indians are building their gas station complex on sovereign territory
