BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN).......Despite heavy pushback from local leaders and residents, the Seneca Nation of Indians are continuing to build and develop a multi-purpose gas station complex on a key parcel that serves as gateway into the city's Old First Ward neighborhood.
Seneca Nation President JC Seneca confirmed that following an hour-long, closed-door meeting Friday afternoon with key Buffalo officials including Mayor Sean Ryan, Deputy Mayor Thomas Baines and Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski - whose district includes the triangular parcel along Ohio, Miami and Chicago streets where the complex is under construction.
"We did agree to continue to meet," Nowakowski said. "Everyone has a lot of homework to do."
Ryan, Nowakowski and others including Old First Ward resident Paul Marzello, former president and CEO of the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park have been pushing the Seneca Nation to drop the gas station plans and develop something more in line with recent projects like apartments and restaurants.
The land sits on sovereign land meaning the Seneca Nation is within its legal rights to develop the property as it sees fit and needs no Buffalo approvals save for curb cuts and ties into such infrastructure as water lines.
"To say the land is sovereign property is totally unacceptable," Marzello said.
JC Seneca counters that the project will be a boost to the Old First Ward.
The Seneca Nation is investing more than $10 million in the project that will anchored by a 3,400-square-foot convenience store and mini grocery store; 24 fuel pumps, 2 diesel fueling stations and a 2,500-square-foot dispensary.
Construction started with site prep work on Aug. 31 and the new complex should be open by next summer.
JC Seneca said the project will see 50 construction workers used at various stages and, when opened, at least 50 people hired.
"These will be people who live in the Old First Ward and the City of Buffalo," JC Seneca said. "These are new jobs and new investment dollars we are bringing to Buffalo."
As for the pushback, JC Seneca said that was expected.
"We get a lot of pushback for everything we do," JC Seneca said. "It goes with the nature of what we are involved with."
The Seneca Nation of Indians is one of the region's largest employers with more than 4,600 employees.
When Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino was developed - first in 2007 and fully six years later - there was significant community pushback.
Now, the casino brings in more than 3,500 patrons daily, JC Seneca said..
"Pushback is part of things we normally deal with, but we are always willing to sit at the table and work things out," JC Seneca said. "That's how you resolve things."
After a face-to-face meeting with Ryan, Baines & Nowakowski, $10 million project will move forward.
After a face-to-face meeting with Ryan, Baines & Nowakowski, $10 million project will move forward.
