The City of Buffalo has secured a new owner for the former Central Park Plaza in the Masten District.
LP Ciminelli and Strickler Development purchased the site for $800,oo0. Mayor Byron Brown made the announcement from the former site off Amherst Street late Friday morning.
"This is a great day for the Central Park neighborhood. This is a great day for people that live in this community. This is a great day for the City of Buffalo," said Mayor Brown.
Ciminelli's senior vice president John Ciminelli said the first order of business is to secure the 27-arce site and begin environmental clean up before any redevelopment can begin.
"Our first order for this site is to secure it, clean it up and demolish the building. That is going to take some time," said Ciminelli.
Ciminelli did not reveal what plans they are considering for the site.
The former Central Park Plaza owner was a New York City-based real estate company. With the help of the New State Attorney General, the absentee landlord was forced to sell the property in a court settlement.
The mayor thanked the developers for stepping forward to help redevelop the blighted property. The site is part of a brownfield restoration clean up program.
"Thank you for purchasing the plaza, and putting in the hands of a responsible local owner," said Mayor Brown.
Resident Beverly Davis has been fighting for clean up and redevelopment of the site. Davis was asked by reporters what she hopes to see for the plaza's future.
"I don't really have any ideas," said Davis. "Maybe some light industrial, something with the medical corridor. Maybe a restaurant or two."
"I know some things I don't want," said Davis. "I don't see it as it is now. I don't see a plaza. I just want to see a change, a big change and this is it."