It's something which might not have happened in the economically weak Buffalo of a few years ago. Two significant players on the local economic scene have collided over the same property.
The dispute between Ellicott Development and the Seneca Nation revolves around two streets almost no one has ever heard of, East and West Market. Ellicott wants the city to close the streets and then sell the land to the developer.
The Seneca Nation steps in because West Market is the key access to a building used for the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.
Ellicott CEO William Paladino says the company is adding tenants and buildings around the Fairmont Creamery and needs the parking.
"We do have a contract to buy the Buffalo Sewer building also. But, yeah there will be our short-term need. Between Liaison and Pegula Sports and Entertainment, they've been new tenants here and new employers here and they are growing rapidly," Paladino explained.
"We want to be able to accommodate their current and their future needs. Both definitely have an immediate need for parking."
Nation officials say they didn't know about the Paladino plans despite lots of news coverage and want to stop plans for the city to do the deal. Paladino says he's trying to set up a meeting with the Senecas to work out some kind of arrangement to satisfy both sides.
