Buffalo, NY – The Mohawk site for a new downtown convention center now has the backing of a consultant hired to study the issue. But it appears that the $220 million project will not become a reality anytime soon.
Local leaders say the pricetag is too high in an era of fiscal belt tightening at the city, county and state levels. The new convention center proposal calls for a majority of the funding to come from the state.
Erie County Executive Joel Giambra declined to comment on the report from Ecology and Environment of Lancaster, telling the Buffalo News he has not yet seen it. But the News says he is leaning toward a $10 million dollar facelift of the current Convention Center in order to keep the region competitive.
The Ecology and Environment study concluded the Mohawk site along Washington Street north of the downtown library is preferable to locating a convention center near HSBC Arena. The report also recommends construction of a new hotel.