There was NO hotel on the same site they want to build the Elmwood Village Hotel. There was however; one right across the street where the Mobil gas station is.
My Latest article I wrote:
Rocco Termini writes a letter to the Buffalo news, and it was published 3 hours ago:
That TEMPORARY hotel was called the Statler Hotel, or Statler's. It was built in 1901 for the Pan-American Exposition and ONLY for the exposition. It was taken down with 90% of everything else for the exposition and that was that.
The hotel I might add, was a failure, financially. According to documents he took what little money he (Ellsworth Milton Statker) made and built the next temporary hotel in St. Loius for their exhibition in 1904....that one was successful.
It also shows that there were no hotels or rooming houses in the area prior to the exposition, and after. To this day, any hotel or rooming house that was documented in records at the Buffalo Historical Society, in this area, does not exist anymore, and no hotel since then has existed in this area and to this day there is not one.
So tell me, if a hotel has not been financially successful for 100 years, why would it be now?
Sign the petition to STOP the Elmwood Village Hotel and put and end to this madness: Petition:
I understand the sentiment, that people want something positive for the community and the city to move forward.
The hotel will bring money to the neighborhood? In theory, yes, if people were attracted to the hotel for some reason it would yield results.
What is attracting people to this hotel year round? That's the question that nobody has adequately answered. A hotel, in and of itself, is absolutely worthless unless there is something that would bring people to it.
People are going to come to Elmwood and stay overnight so they can go to Cole's or India Gate? If that is the justification for this project, I fear it will be a disaster.
For this project to be a success, there has to be a viable economic justification. There has to be a reason for people to stay there. The chicken does not come before the egg. If someone can convince me otherwise, I am happy to listen.
wait you are trying to tell me that because they tore down a hotel on Forrest and Elmwood in 1901 because it wasn't financially viable, there's no way that one could be successful in 2006? I applaud your research and dedication, but give me a break. This hotel is essentially a sign of Buffalo's turn around, it will enrich your neighborhood by helping your local businesses to thrive. take India Gate for example, they have amazing service and fantastic food, but they can't afford to upgrade their dumpy blue awning. An influx of customers from the new hotel will help them thrive and expand, I’m sure all the businesses in the area will flourish, and that is a good thing. Plus the homes they’re tearing down are dumpy, not architectural treasures. Let this project move forward.