Seeking 'Shovel-Ready' Sites

Despite numerous vacant buildings and empty lots in downtown Buffalo, local developers and politicians insist that existing buildings must be knocked down to accomidate new and expanding businesses in the city.

1 minute read

August 8, 2003, 11:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"When a charter school wanted to move into the old AM&A's building in downtown Buffalo, a hue and cry went out from business executives and political leaders. We need to knock down that building to create a 'shovel-ready' development site for new or expanding business, they said.""The former department store was preserved at least in part so it could be knocked down to create that shovel-ready location. But no one is saying when that might occur.Mayor Anthony M. Masiello and County Executive Joel A. Giambra and their development staffs insist that in order to attract business, the city must have such sites.""Meanwhile, suburban and rural areas offer lots of green space. Much is at stake for Buffalo. Luring more business to the city, and thus generating more tax revenue, could help Buffalo out of its financial hole."

Thanks to Sam Gold

Monday, August 4, 2003 in The Buffalo News

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A crowd of people boarding Boston's green line in an underground subway station.

Boston has spent millions making the Green Line more accessible — and there’s no end in sight

While the city has invested millions into expanding and adding platforms to the Green Line to make it more accessible, new train cars set to arrive next year will be too tall for disabled passengers to board without raising the current platforms.

2 hours ago - Boston Globe

Railroad tracks in Idaho passing a home by a river.

Idaho may see an 18% drop in federal surface transit funding — the largest estimated cut in the US

Transit systems in rural communities are much more reliant on federal funding to provide their services.

3 hours ago - Grist

A Florida family with their belongings in a wagon walks past a destroyed storm after a hurricane.

How ‘post-disaster gentrification’ alters neighborhoods after natural calamities

After hurricanes, fires or other calamities, the original residents of a community are often replaced by younger, wealthier residents.

4 hours ago - Inside Climate News