Facilities Construction & Maintenance

Introduction

In April 2019, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Buffalo State President Katherine Conway-Turner officially announced that the college affiliate, BSCR Corporation, had been chosen as the designated developer for 166-170 Dart Street, the current site of the City of Buffalo Impound Lot.  The site is located on the western campus border, adjacent to Buffalo State Building 50 and parking lot G-20.

The BSCR Corporation has entered into a designated developer agreement (DDA) with the City, through which it has agreed to develop the concept design for a project on the site.  A second agreement, a land disposition agreement (LDA) will be executed later in the process between the City and the successful developer.  The LDA is a contract for sale of land for private development. Once it is executed design of the project will begin, informed by community input.

The possibilities for development of the land are open; there is no pre-determined use for the site.  As a land-locked institution, Buffalo State has a rare opportunity to extend its campus footprint, while contributing to the revitalization of Buffalo's West Side.

In fall 2019, BSCR Corporation and Buffalo State requested proposals for development of the site and received three qualified proposals in response.  After a pause in public activity related to the COVID-19 public health emergency, those proposals were presented to the public at a virtual exhibition on September 14, 2020.

There were a number of questions submitted during the virtual exhibition that we were not able to address due to time constraints.  Responses to those questions are here:

1. Questions about the Development Process

•  “Overall, I'm surprised by the lack of connections to Buffalo State College, its values, distinctions, programs, goals, academics, and historical significance. All of the proposals seem to desire taking attention AWAY from Buffalo State and its students. This focus seems confusing at best, insulting at worse.”

Response

In its communications with prospective RFP respondents,, Buffalo State encouraged open, innovative and creative thinking about plans for the Dart Street Site.  The possibilities for development of the land were open; the college had no pre-determined uses in mind.

Prospective respondents were provided with extensive information about Buffalo State – including its mission, vision, institutional values, strategic plan, facilities master plan and academic priorities – to inform their proposals.  

The college also shared its vision that the successful project would:

- Support Buffalo State’s Strategic Plan and Facilities Master Plan by seamlessly connecting to the existing campus footprint while augmenting and improving the college experience for its students

- Welcome the community and support revitalization efforts on Buffalo’s West Side.  This is consistent with Buffalo State’s commitment to civic and community engagement and its position not only as an anchor institution for the City of Buffalo, but also as SUNY’s only urban-engaged campus.

- Consider waterfront access, green space and other sustainable solutions.  The project should not negatively affect water quality or the ecological health of Scajaquada Creek or the surrounding area.

- Enhance the appearance of the campus, neighborhood and city, especially for those traveling along the western end of the NYS Route 198.

- Leverage creative and viable funding solutions to bring this development to fruition while considering future operating costs and impacts to the campus.
 

•  “Why was this phrase repeated throughout presentations: "Without collaboration with Buffalo State College?” This is a real question, not a judgment. We are super accessible. It seems the presenters didn't even look at our website...so confused...”

Response

This language was used to protect the integrity of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process by stressing that the concepts being presented at the public exhibition -- including those that envision construction on both Buffalo State property and the city-owned Dart Street parcels -- were the respondents’ ideas only, with none endorsed by Buffalo State at this stage in the process.  (Once a developer is chosen for the project and the design process begins, there will be collaboration among Buffalo State, the developer of 166-170 Dart Street, and the City of Buffalo.)

2. Questions about Project Vision

•  “The development of this Dart Street location will not only serve as a gateway to Buff State, but also to Buffalo's West Side neighborhood. I appreciate filling the need for athletic facilities in the city (especially indoor facilities). But how does each proposal meet the vital need to create a gateway that fits with the West Side that residents here know and love--tree lined streets, single family housing, and international diversity?”
   
•  “Being that the new site is across from one of the biggest anchor institutions in the U.S., in one sentence, how will your proposals contribute towards (pick one) economic development, community building, and/or education?”
   
•  “The City of Buffalo is now paying thousands of dollars a month to rent space for an impound lot. How do City of Buffalo residents benefit from this proposal? These proposals seem to benefit Buffalo State athletics and the suburban sports programs/affluent white people who can afford to rent facilities. Why should Buffalo residents support this?”
   
•  “Will the new gym and Coyer Field be made redundant by the new proposed athletic facilities?”
   
•  “Team Colby, proposing a new baseball field?  Buffalo State does not have a baseball team and Buffalo State has consistently said that this project should have zero budget impact? Why would a baseball field be appropriate for this community?”
   
•   “Most of these projects offer exclusive-access athletic fields dedicated to Buffalo State. How will local community members access these fields?  The Grant Street neighborhood is a lower income neighborhood.  How will they access these sites that will require high fees for access?”
   
•  “These projects do not include access to green space/parkland for the community.  How do these proposals serve the local community?”

Response

Buffalo State envisions for the Dart Street parcels a project that supports Buffalo State’s strategic plan and facilities master plan; seamlessly connects to the existing campus footprint; augments and improves the college experience for our students; welcomes the community; and supports revitalization efforts on Buffalo’s West Side.  The project vision also considers waterfront access, green space and other sustainable solutions; enhances the appearance of the campus, neighborhood and city; leverages creative and viable funding solutions to bring this development to fruition; and considers operating costs and impacts to the campus. The campus shared this vision with the RFP respondents, and advised them that the project must be accessible to the broader in the community. 

For those interested in further discussion about elements of the project: The successful respondent, as required by the terms of the RFP, will seek community input during the beginning phases of design and in conjunction with any city approval processes.  Thank you for your interest!

3. Questions about Project Design

•   “I believe the Colby Team mentioned solar. Could they expand?”
•   “My son (7 years old) also wants to know: So many people will be coming to these new  places, how will people walk around without getting run over? :)”
•  “Can you please talk about environmentally sustainable strategies that might be incorporated?”
•  “Hello Bob and guests. My question is why can't we take the opportunity to do land-use planning first, perhaps hiring UBRI to do so? With the demolition of the auto impound buildings, the western Scajaquada is now almost fully de-industrialized, so it would be a good opportunity for planners and the community together to determine what are the highest and best uses for the auto impound site and other nearby land. The developers presenting tonight keep telling us, "This is what we want to give the community," so why not give the community the opportunity to help determine what it wants? Then, after all stakeholders have had the chance to help determine what the community wants and where, developers could be invited in with plenty of opportunities for everyone. This would not necessarily hold things up, because the auto impound site lends itself to many ‘lighter, quicker, cheaper’ interim uses while we're doing the land use planning. Wouldn't that really be the win for everyone?”
•  “NCAA field requirements are not compatible with community needs.  Why not create a multi-use athletic facility, similar to Canisius College, in the space of the current underutilized space occupied by the  BSC softball field in the interior of the college and then construct a community park in the Dart Street area with sites for soccer, basketball, playground, creek access?”
•  “Would there ever be a chance a Head Start program could be part of the plan?  Preschool sports as well.”
•  “Proposals show areas that are currently parking lots replaced by structures. Campus parking is already a major issue.  Where will students and staff park vehicles under proposals?”
• “Will Colby move forward with just the 166 Dart Street baseball field (the RFP’s subject parcel) without the development on sites not part of the RFP? If yes, then when will the baseball field be complete?”

Response

We so appreciate your interest in the Dart Street Project and your thoughtful questions and comments about its future design.  Once a developer is chosen and design is under way, these and similar questions can be addressed by the developer with specificity. Consistent with the terms of the RPF, the developer will seek community input during the beginning phases of design and in conjunction with any city approval processes.