The old Curtiss Building on Franklin Street doesn't look a lot different these days on the outside, but its developer Mark Croce promises it's going to be a truly luxurious hotel.
Statler City owner Croce started work on the Curtiss several years ago and then paused it for Statler work. Now, the $18 million project is back at full speed to an opening late this year or early next. He says it will be luxurious enough to match anything in a Manhattan hotel.
Even with a lot of new hotels opening Downtown, Croce says there's room for his project in an area with a brighter business picture.
"Economy is better. People are moving back into the city. People are having more confidence about the city," Croce said.
"The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the IBM jobs that are coming, Solar City jobs, all the the construction jobs, I mean there are a lot of positive things happening in Buffalo and the momentum is feeding on itself."
He says there's action on the Statler, as he puts together financing for another phase of work on the towering landmark.
"We're working along. We had a meeting with Freed Maxick today to talk about some tax incentives and some other issues that are related to the property. So, it's progressing."
Croce says he's spent a lot of money on the Statler's shaky exterior and will do a lot more once millions of dollars from Albany funnelled through City Hall finally makes it to his project for major exterior repairs.