Link to November 4 Buffalo News article.Excerpt: Ambitious plans to revitalize the old AM&A's department store downtown and the Lafayette Hotel took preliminary steps forward today when a city agency agreed to oversee environmental reviews in the initial study phases.
Some members of the Planning Board acknowledged that it's too soon to say whether developer Rocco R. Termini's visions for the two downtown icons will pan out. But they said the fact that he has submitted requests asking the board to serve as the lead agency to review the big-ticket proposals are hopeful signs.
"I've spent 30 years longing for someone to come along and [renovate] the Lafayette Hotel," said board member Cynthia A. Schwartz, adding that the current owners have done little work in the Washington Street structure.
