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TERMINAL PLAN HINGES ON TENANT; DEVELOPER SAYS FINDING MAJOR RETAIL OUTLET IS KEY TO CREATING COMPLEX
January 10, 1990
by: LINE: By KEVIN COLLISON News Staff Reporter

A proposed $80 million redevelopment of the historic New York Central Terminal must attract a major retail tenant before the ambitious retail, apartment and office project can begin, one of its developers said Tuesday.

Sam Tuchman said he and his nephew Bernie Tuchman are confident they will attract a major department store to the site but emphasized discussion of the project has begun too early.

"It seems everything is premature at this time," he said. "The main hurdle is putting the whole package together. We anticipate a major department store."

His mood was reflected at City Hall.

"We can't go on hearsay, but if they have anything definite, we're willing to help them in any way that we can," Mayor Griffin said today. "Certainly, we'd like to see the project happen, and we'd like to see a spur into downtown. But it's going to take a lot of work and a lot of money."

One part of the plan calls for a possible Metro Rail link to downtown.

City Hall sources said the mayor had planned to announce the project in about two weeks. Former County Executive Edward J. Rutkowski, a Griffin supporter and the local consultant on the project, said the mayor has been a strong backer of the redevelopment plan and is convinced of the Tuchmans' abilities.

Rutkowski said the Tuchmans' primary goal now is to find a major retailer and a few tenants to form the base for their marketing effort. He also said preliminary plans call for an open-air farmers' market. "These are ideas and generalities and can change at any moment," Rutkowski said. "But the fact they have the vision and the means to do this should be commended."

Sam Tuchman said he and his nephew have already talked to representatives of two department stores and have plans to meet with a third next week.

Tuchman also said they hope to close a deal with a major tenant within 60 days. If that occurs, renovation work could begin by March.

Their proposal calls for converting the first three levels of the six-story terminal building into a 600,000-to-800,000-square-foot shopping center. A five-story former baggage building, which extends from the southwest corner of the terminal, would be renovated into an apartment and office building.

Plans for the distinctive, 20-story octagonal tower at the northwest corner of the terminal are still incomplete. There has been discussion of using it for an office building or hotel.

Sam Tuchman, who lives in Malibu, Calif., said he has had extensive experience developing expensive homes and shopping centers. Bernie Tuchman, who lives in New Orleans, said his experience has been in developing retail stores.

Both men are Buffalo natives, but neither would offer details of their previous experience.

Sam Tuchman said his nephew may move to Buffalo to supervise the project, and he may rent an apartment here.

"I've been negotiating on this project going on three years," Sam Tuchman said. "One thing that it will do for Buffalo is that it will change the whole complexion of the city."

Tuchman also said he is confident the project has adequate financing. He declined, however, to discuss details. The Tuchmans have an option to purchase the terminal from its current owner, Tom Telesco.

Local developers said they welcome the proposed redevelopment but expressed varying degrees of confidence it can succeed.

Frank Ciminelli, president of Ciminelli Development Corp., said he plans to do whatever he can to help the project. He said his company may become a partner in the development.

"It's good for the city and good for the area," he said. "I've talked to the Tuchmans, and we might be involved."

Robert Stuart, general manager of Hammerson Property Corp., which owns the Liberty Building and Main Place Mall, wished the Tuchmans good luck on what he described as an ambitious project.

Stuart said the developers will be hampered by the railroad terminal's location about two miles from downtown off Broadway and the condition of the 61-year-old building.

"They have years of neglect to overcome," he said. "The upper floors of the office building have been without heat for years."

Stuart also said the Tuchmans may have problems finding retail tenants. He said the developers of the waterfront Pavilion project haven't been very successful, and he speculated there will be less interest in the railroad terminal because of its isolation.

"I hope he has someone with deep pockets to help," Stuart said.

Developer Carl Paladino also said the project will have a difficult time attracting tenants.

"These guys with their monumental projects," he said. "There's just so many tenants to go around. Where will they be drawn from ?"

Paladino said the redevelopment of the terminal, if successful, would be disastrous for the nearby Broadway Market. He also said it would hamper the development of the vacant lot where the Sattler's department store once stood.

Paladino said he's been trying to build a retail and grocery store at the Sattler's site.

"As a practical developer, I approve anybody trying to attempt this and wish them luck," Paladino said. "But the viability of that project is remote," he said.

Fillmore Council Member David A. Franczyk, whose district includes the railroad terminal, said he believes its redevelopment would stimulate more business along Broadway.

"Something like this is so big it will have a spin-off effect on the market," he said. "It'll bring people into the area, tourists from all over the country."

Rutkowski said the renovation of the railroad terminal will have a significant effect on downtown Buffalo if it's successful.

"This would help downtown because it would be the renovation and restoration of an architectural masterpiece that nobody could duplicate at today's prices," he said.

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