I decided to walk down Elmwood to do my weekly chores, as opposed to taking the bus. It was quite warm today, but not sunny. But that didn't matter.

I started by going to work to get my dinero. I headed to the bank and each week it still amazes me to see that every one of my co-workers will be at the bank around the same time every week (between 2 and 3pm). I never realize how many people I work with until I see them all flock to the bank. I think this is the only day of the week I can gurantee that no one will call in sick, pay day :)

I back tracked to go to Cole's to meet up with the roomie and to give her money for the bills. I hate bills. Expecially when you have to pay like three hundred bucks. Oh well...they are all paid. I decided to have a beer, Labatt's Blue Light. My Usual, and of course draft. I did not eat there though.

I then continued my walk down Elmwood. I had my camera and was hoping to catch a decent picture, but it started to rain :( I did take a picture of the Auburn and Elmwood shops and the Globe Market.

As I was walking further down towards Utica Street, the rain stopped. I decided to get some food and so I stopped into Louie's Hot Dogs on Elmwood. Man how I love them.

I ordered a 1/2lb cheeseburger with ketchup and mustard and dill pickles. I never had the Cajun fries, so I got those too. I decided I need something to wash it down so I got a Pepsi.

I would have taken a picture of what I got, but I ended up getting ketchup all over me and did not want to risk messing up the cam, and getting it all greasy :(

But it was DELICIOUS. The Cajun fries were, well very cajun. Lets just say that my sinus's are perfectly clear now. When they say Cajun, they are not kidding. I was not able to finish them because the burger was so filling and delicious. But man, were they good. I reccomend them highly, if you like spicy food.

I continued my walk to Allentown and met up with friends and we watched the movie Domino. Nice action, a hot guy ;-) but the plot sucked. But it was a free movie.

I had a few bits of some chicken Parmesan thet my friends girlfriend made. Boy can she cook. I even invited her over to my house to cook dinner ;-)

Around 8:00pm I headed back home and it started to rain again, so I got on the bus, and here I am.

What, were you expecting somethiong about the hotel? Suprise :)

Jason

Actually I am not taking this personally. I do not like anyone less or more than when I first joined. I just hope everyone else is not taking this personally. Some might say I am shoving rthis down your throat....hmmm well now you know how I feel...Savarino is shoving this down my throat. And I am sorry if I pissed anyone off, and that was not my intention(s) and they still are not my intentions. I hope that everyone is not mad at me. Sorry.

RE: Why do I feel like no one is listening? Because the reasons some of you give are just plain rediculous.

I am all fdor something happening on this corner, but I see absolutely no reason whatsoever that all these homes and businesses need to be demolished to do it. If these buildings were abandoned, empty, half burned, or unrepairable, then I might agree to a hotel right here. But the truth is, Mobius and the developers would rather ruin lives that fix a few things.

If we let this happen, then we may as well let it happen everywhere in Buffalo. Everyday people buy buildings and then just let them sit and rot. Why does a development company HAVE to do this? They don't HAVE to. All they want is their 7 million dollars. Honestly, I really think they could care less about us or anyone's houses.

Well anyways. It seems there is probably only one thing stopping this hotel from going up, and that's this house. They need 60 feet from the house to the hotel, and they don't have it. And the owner, is not selling this house. Unless this house goes, then there will be no hotel. I fear that imenent doamin might take a play in this house and the one next door if the city agrees to the project. Some say if that happens then I have lost, but lawsuits are a bitch. If they try to force the owner to sell through imenent domain, then I can almost promise you lawsuits will be filed, and this project would be delayed indefinately.

Myabe we do need a hotel. I am NOT saying we do not. We just do not need to destroy all of this end of Elmwood to do it. Where will they shop? Well not on this end. They will go to Auburn and Elmwood. Or allentown. Or Hertel. There will be NO shops other than the overpriced ones in the hotel. Where is this benefiting us or Elmwood?

Jason

(e:Leetee) wrote, and I am replying:

Q: If Hans Mobius had kept his properties to code and wasn't such a slumlord, then perhaps all the tennants in those houses would have had way way way way higher rent, perhaps even not been able to afford to do business or live there?!?

A: Possibly, but he has owned these properties for twenty years. For twenty years, he has not made a single major repair to any of those properties. As a landlord, he is required BY LAW to keep them to code.

Q: So, the options are for him to sell the property to someone else and be rewarded or continue to be a scumbag slumlord? Neither are attractive. If he ends up in jail because he is a slumlord, what happens to the buildings and the tennants?

A: What would change if he was in jail? The business owners would not go anywhere. They pay rent. He broke the law, not them. The buildings could be better, but also keep in mind that any repairs done to the buildings were done by the tenants. Also keep in mind, that people live in these buildings too.

Q: Does the city take over? What the heck would they do with the buildings? Condemn them and boot out the tennants? Or sell them to the highest bidder and then the tennants would be out anyway?

A: The city could yes. Have you heard of Rocco Termini? read my previous enteries or see my article here: you can scroll to Related Wikinews and see the oldest article at the bottom of the list. Anyways, there is one about Rocco in there and a picture of what he wants to do. Remember Elmwood and Auburn? why not do something like that? He has said that all the tenants and businesses can stay and offers 7 storefronts as opposed to the 3 with the hotel.

Q: Instead of telling me what is wrong with Hans Mobis and him being a slumlord and wanting to sell to a developer that will do things you thing aren't good for you, your neighbourhood and the tennants of those buildings, how about what you are hoping will happen?

A: I hope that Rocco will do what he says he will do. His Idea is what Elmwood needs. What we do not NEED is a hotel. Plus with his Idea, it seems the tenants will get the option to buy.

Q: What is your suggestion in an ideal world? Really, i am not being sarcastic or arguing, i really want to know...

A: Please read my articles as there is too much to type :) But my suggestion: Progress is not demolishing homes and businesses. The Waterfront is progress. The Canal District is progress. The Burchfield Art Museum? is progress. Get the tourists here and then worry about a hotel.

Jason

(e:Dcoffee) said:

Stores like, Everything Elmwood, Urban, and etc have a real advantage over the businesses in these homes, one reason is that they have big windows right on the sidewalk. They're more inviting because when you walk by you can see what's in the store, and therefore you feel more comfortable walking in and hopefully purchasing something from them.

Have you even read anything I wrote? Have you seen Rocco Termini's design? Seven strofronts, all tenants stay and theres room for more. They will look just as you described.

How many more college students would be spending their beer money at these stores if they could easily see what the place is selling,and who is inside, right from the sidewalk?

Last time I checked, there are many many college students who go to these shops. I have seen them. How many college students will spend their "beer money" in this hotel?

furthermore, think of the parents coming to visit their sons and daughters at the college. Many of us went to college, I went to Fredonia, it was far away enough to be your own person, but close enough that mom can come down for lunch. How many students from Elma, Clarance, Hamburg, Rochester, batavia, and elsewhere have parents coming to visit them at Buff State?

Are you serious? You make it sound like those places are hours and hours away from Buffalo. And as far as I know most students go home on breaks and such anyway. But I could be wrong, you seem to have the answers for that one I guess.

and how many take their children out for lunch at some nearby restaurant, and wander down the street? With a big new commercial building on the corner, this shopping district will look a lot more attractive to visiting parents who may not have ventured down there to shop yet

So where will they shop again? the 2 or 3 possible shops in the hotel? Remember, there is no gurentee that any shops can afford to move in there and if they can afford it, then they will be overpriced as the rent will be outragous. So will these visitors shop at another resturant? We Never Close? Mobil? Give me a break. The shops that do exist on this end of elmwood will be demolished. So we are sending these people all the way to Auburn and Elmwood. Build the hotel there then.

and the businesses would really appreciate visiting parents because they are likely to spend money with their children while in town. A new 4 story building would create a grand commercial gateway, and make this part of the city seem as active as it really is.

So the students and their parents will go eat at a resturant then proceed to Coles and Mr. Goodbar to get drunk? Right...Active? You mean see the wandering puking drunks right? The bums asking for change 24/7?...the crazy people from the hospital?...yeah real attractive. And when they see a seven million dollar hotel there then they will flock to this corner like there is no tomorrow.

It is a commercial strip, that is it's purpose, and if the businesses there succeed and expand, then the area is doing well. If you don't like living on an active commercial strip, move to linwood, richmond, colvin, ashland, or any one of the million Buffalo streets that are residential. the greatest challenge for the city today is for it to reestablish itself as the commercial center of WNY, and take some of the money away from the big box chains, which are trampling our farms and forests as the suburbs sprawl ever outward. You know?

No. Elmwood is not a "active commercial strip." There are people that LIVE on Elmwood too. So your statement is wrong. Elmwood is not a strip mall. If we allow a hotel, we may as well call Walgreens back and offer them the site where We Never Close is. Ok...so Wyndham Hotels is not a big Chain? Correct me if I am wrong, but aren't they International? Tell me to move? I live in this neighborhood, and again who are you to tell me or anyone else whats good for OUR neighborhood? If you love the hotel so much, let them tear your home down.

That corner deserves more, and this hotel is far better than anything I expected, someone is really willing to put some serious money into that corner. it never had a great corner building like some of those in my neighborhood and around the city. this is an awesome step in the right direction.

Don't get out much do ya. Pay attention. I wrote all about Rocco's plan. Whats wrong with it? So far no one has given any reason as to why his design is not worth it. Afterall Elmwood is a VILLAGE not a damn mall. Let them say your house is next and you tell me you want a hotel.

Jason

Well it looks like we wone another delay. The hotel proposal has been sent to commitee to be "discussed further". No tabling, no date for the next meeting (common council meeting).

I want to organize a protest of those OPPOSED to the hotel. We will have signs and a bagel company will supply coffee and bagels if we do this. Anyone who is interested please send me a post it note with you e-mail address and I will send the information to you when we organize it.

Only three residents spoke that were for the hotel. At least 5, including myself were againsty it and spoke.

I will be writing my next article now, but it will take a bit.

Watch WB 49 News at 10 TONIGHT for an update and to see me on TV :)