Developers on Thursday unveiled plans to renovate the closed GLF grain elevator at 333 Ganson Street into a brewery, entertainment, and recreation complex. The new center would be called "Buffalo RiverWorks."
One of the developers is Doug Swift from Genesee Gateway. Swift tells WBFO News development of the silos will include a year-round venue for concerts and other events.
"We are taking two existing one-story warehouse buildings, originally used as train terminal warehouses as part of the GLF grain plant, and we're adding to that space and renovating existing spaces to create one 45,000 square foot indoor entertainment, special event and banquet facility," Swift says.
Plans call for ice rinks, recreational boating and docking, and an artificially created sand beach. An atrium will also be built. The cost of the project is around $15 million.
"It's going to be a multi-purpose venue. There's going to be a tremendous amount of athletic events, special events, concerts, stage performances, trade shows, weddings, banquets. There are multiple venues on the site," Swift says.
The first phase of the project could be ready for the 2014 Labatt Blue Pond Hockey tournament in February and the preliminary phases would open next Memorial Day. Swift says the majority of the project could be complete by this time next year.