I feel it was like a where's waldo book. Sitting in the front row looking back at what seemed to be 300 people crammed into a room about 50 long maybe. I looked and looked, and after confirmation from Savarino, Hans Mobius was NOT there.

They ran out of chairs, literally, there were none left for anyone to sit on.

I recorded most of the speech by Sam Savarino and Eva Hassett. I got interviews with both :) I also interviewed Frizlen and Rocco Termini.

So,,,Rocco Termini...He proposed a whole new thing. No hotel, but completely redoing the exisiting structures. Much like what they did on Auburn and Elmwood. He had a brilliant picture and I was totally amazed. Shocked. Perhaps the most suprising thing from him when I interviewed him:

I would be willing to take hold of it myself. Or I would be more than happy to partner with Sam, Sam Savarino.

So...if he wants to develop this himself...why not let him. He is sending me a digital image of his design...and its really nice. And I am glad he would want to do it himself.

So wheres Hans? No one knew. I am begining to wonder just how much he really cares about Elmwood, if at all. I mean wouldn't you show up to a meeting of one of the most talked about projects in Buffalo? I would.

But as soon as I get a picture from Rocco I will post it his way with an image of the hotel...then you can judge...Personally, I go for Rocco.

Jason

I respect everyone opinion on the hotel. I just do not see any good side to this, or another side. Petition to stop Hotel Link:

I want to invite everyone to attend tonights meeting at:
Burchfield-Penney Art Gallery, Buffalo State College, Rockwell Hall, 3rd floor.

The preview begins at 5pm and the meeting starts at 5:30pm. This is an informational meeting where, from what Forever Elmwood told me, you can voice concerns too.

Jaso

Some are saying i have a "agenda". Not true. Our community and neighborhood is at risk. The way we built Elmwood is going to be taken away. We value the "small town feel Elmwood has. Why is it that we need to tear down VIABLE businesses and HOMES that people live in. Does anyone realize that these peole will be forced to pay around 1000 dollars to move? Does anyone know how much money and effort was put into theses businesses?

The ONLY reason any of these buildings look like they do is becasue they have been intentionally neglected for 20 years. Hans Mobius has made little or no attempt to fix anything in any of those buildings. They would not look the way they do if HE let them get that way. Thoses businesses and residents put their own money into them to get them to look at least halfway decent.

Hans Mobius intentionally neglected these places so he can maake a few million like he will. He does not care about the city or the community or about the peole that live there and work there.

So...there are 4 MAJOR hotels in downtown Buffalo...are they ever filled to the max? I called the Adam's Mark, who were not even open. Called 3 times and all 3 the phone rang 20 times or more with no answer. The hyatt said that usually they never have more than 60% filled at any night. So is this hotel going to work?

Also realize that a hotel is not going to bring people to buffalo. Do you think someone in California is going to say "Hey, theres that hotel in Buffalo, lets go there." Hmmm....Something tells me no.

I am being one sided a little. But the truth is, there are plenty of other places, close to the same spot, the hotel can go...see my previous blog. Why not kiddy corner from the same spot....emty space...nothing there. I am sure the hospital could use the money, if they own the land.

We do not need to tear down anything to build anything...look at the Hampton Inn on Delaware. They used an entire abandoned MORE falling apart warehouse and turned it into that fabulous hotel. These houses and busineses are not falling apart that bad.

We need to really look at this and say, Is this the best thing for Buffalo? Will this benefit the neighborhood and community not only soon but in the long run? Most importantly will YOU benefit from this? Just think about it.

Jason

I have posted a message on SpeakUpWny.com to spread the word on this hotel and posted a link to the petition. I am waiting on an e-mail from BuffaloRising too see how I can post on there as well. If anoyone has any ideas on where I can send this petition or post a link to it, let me know.

I just cannot find the words to decribe. I must say shocking, yet truthful...I will admit that there was NOT a time when I did NOT have chills. I have never seen a more well put together piece of work in my life. And yet as I sit here, I struggle to find yet one reason NOT to believe that video. I am just...well just watch it...its about 1 1/2 hours long but if you like movies, and documentaries, then this is the one....I was glued to the screen and could literally not take my eyes away.

Stop the Elmwood Village Hotel!: (link to online petition...PLEASE sign it!) SPREAD THIS LINK LIKE WILDFIRE!

Informational meeting: Tuesday February 21, 2006, 5:00pm, Burchfield Penney-Art Gallery, Buffalo State College, Rockwell Hall, 3rd floor...

I am a freelance journalist. I write for Wikinews and wrote an article on the issue. It has been on the front page of Wikinews for 2 days now. I wrote the article, interviewed the people and took the picture (both pictures on here too)

Ok everyone. Its time to stop the invasion of the Elmwood Strip again. It's time to come together as one and fight for what we know is right. We NEED to STOP the development of the Elmwood Village Hotel. We cannot let viable parts of Buffalo to be demolished. We need to preserve The Elmwood Strip.

The affected businesses are (that I know the names of): Don Apparel, HOD Tattoo, Skunk Tail Glass and Mondo Video (1109-1121 Elmwood). Residents live in the buildings as well. The business appeal to a large amount of the college students and young adult crowds. It is believed that this is a ploy to change the Strip (north end) to a more "upper-class" scene.

Forever Elmwood's goal for their orgainization is clear:" to preserve and protect the unique and historic nature of Elmwood Avenue and its surrounding neighborhoods and encourage neighborhood commercial revitalization."

This hotel is NOT preserving Elmwood. This hotel is NOT protecting Elmwood. And it does NOT benefit the surrounding neighborhood.

I live in Buffalo. Right around the corner from where this hotel is supposed to be. I live right on Elmwood andfForest and I do not need a hotel. I will never use this hotel. Will you?

They want to call this "progress". Even if it were, how is 80 rooms progress? How is closing seven businesses and forcing residents to move, to build one business progress? 80 rooms....is that really enough to say that "jobs" will be created due to this?

Could we not use "empty space" to build this...like across the street in the "field"?

So much right can be done in Buffalo, and this is NOT one of them. Please STOP this development.

Stop the Elmwood Village Hotel!