BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A Buffalo assemblyman has unveiled his own development ideas for a hotly contested intersection in the Elmwood Village.
Sean Ryan says his vision for the Elmwood-Forest intersection favors adaptive reuse over demolition.
It would include space for features that already shape the neighborhood, like an art gallery and a bed-and-breakfast.
Ryan's drawings are a response to a five-story condo and retail development proposal from Chason Affinity Companies some fear will damage the look and feel of the village.
Ryan says the properties the company wants to tear down are salvageable.
"Remember, these buildings have been held for 30 years by three different sets of millionaire developers," Ryan said. "They've never been owned by people who couldn't afford to do repairs, or absentee landlords."
Ryan says his proposal would comply with all zoning aspects of the new Buffalo Green Code, including the three story height limit.