THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS FAIR FREE MAY 28 - JUN 05 , 2013 VOL. 14, NO. 21 FREE Uniland to Get Taxpayer Money to Pirate Delaware North? 2 NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER MAY 28 - JUN 05, 2013 Will Uniland Grab Delaware North With Taxpplya buiyld eanorthe rH offiece lbupild?ing close Tony Farina to existing office buildings will only The future home of Delaware detract from and devalue the non-in - North’s global headquarters in down - centivized existing buildings. In that town Buffalo is very much the subject case, according to experts, the devel - of speculation these days, and that oper requests tax incentives to solidify buzz is centered on the possible move its profits while other building owners of the $2.6 billion company and its 350 are hurt and injured through the loss of employees around the block from its tenants to a building which is newer current location to property recently and can now afford lower rents be - acquired by Uniland Development at cause of the government subsidies. the northwest corner of Delaware and That’s the exact point that David Chippewa. Sweet was making about “creating un - Nobody is saying much publicly Delaware North’s Jeremy Jacobs fair competition” and the New York about the potential deal, but the rum - Carl Montante of Uniland is not shy about asking hard working tax - City-based owner of Key Center, blings are widespread that Amherst- payers to help pay for his modest development of the Catholic Health where Delaware North currently re - based Uniland, the largest real estate needs. Building on Genesee St., when you sides, is fearful that is what is going to developer in the Buffalo-Rochester compare the project incentives of ap - happen to him if Delaware North corridor, would like to lure Delaware lure Delaware North from its current proximately $5 million to the total jumps to Uniland. North to its new property at the corner headquarters, changing the downtown project cost. Calling Delaware North a good of Delaware and Chippewa that it ac - landscape in a big way? That’s the According to a local real estate at - tenant, Erwin Zafir told us in a tele - quired last September for $3 million, question that many are asking behind torney, the incentives Uniland received phone interview that he doesn’t want and includes the Delaware Court build - the scenes, and in some cases, publicly. in that project, including sales and to be left holding the bag in a Delaware ing and a gas station along South Elm - Count David Sweet, president of property tax abatement, were in excess North-Uniland deal that will seriously wood Ave. Main Seneca Corp., among those who of 15 percent. Typically, a developer devalue his property and leave it 50 Much of the speculation is center - believe corporate welfare in the form would attempt to obtain a profit margin percent vacant. He wrote a letter last ing on the possibility that Uniland, like of IDA handouts “creates unfair com - of between 10 and 15 percent on siz - month to city and county officials, in - it did with the Catholic Health facility petition” by luring tenants away from able construction projects. As the proj - cluding the ECIDA, requesting assis - on Genesee St., will seek taxpayer competitors and is opposed to giving ect costs increase, the profit margin tance in keeping Delaware North. funds through the Erie County Indus - companies like Uniland taxpayer would decrease and it would not be un - “If it’s [government money] there, trial Development Agency (ECIDA) to money. reasonable for a developer to earn ap - we should be entitled to it,” said Zafir, build a new home for Delaware North, “My slant is companies should proximately seven percent on a so we can have a level playing field. luring it away from its current head - start doing [things] with their own construction project like Catholic “While we’re opposed to doing selec - quarters in the south tower of the Key money,” said Sweet. “I don’t agree the Health (in excess of $32 million). tive subsidies, if it’s not a level playing Center where it has been since 2000. competition should be buttered up with While the Catholic Health incen - field, you never know what’s going It’s a possibility that Key Center views money. Why do they keep handing out tives were clearly “substantial,” ac - on.” as a near death sentence for its build - taxpayer money to change the compe - cording to experts, some inducement In the case of the incentives given ing. tition,” adding it has happened time resolutions are seen as necessary and to Uniland for the Catholic Health fa - The question that is raising the and again in the local development beneficial to the surrounding munici - cility, Assemblyman Sean Ryan (D.- most eyebrows on the possible huge arena. pality or area as a whole, like in the Buffalo) wrote a letter to the ECIDA deal is should taxpayers hand out Uniland got a substantial assist ear - medical corridor in a depressed area of urging the agency to reject tax breaks money to hugely successful Uniland to lier this year from the ECIDA in the the city and be a positive economic being sought by the Uniland Develop - stimulant to growth. ment Company, saying the $46 million In the alternative, however, giving facility had already been selected to re - NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER incentives to developers who will sim - ceive $4 million in state funding and “The Truth is Always Fair” PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF APARTMENT FOR RENT Frank Parlato LaSalle Silverlake Apartments. FOUNDING EDITOR SENIOR EDITOR 2 bedroom. $625 + electric. Mike Hudson Tony Farina Open house Saturdays - 8235 Buffalo Ave: 11-3pm. call 716- MANAGING EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS 877-3142 Dr. Chitra Selvaraj Johnny Destino Lori Lane Moose, Jr. MARKETING DIR. Michelle Reeb Craig Tretiak CIRCULATION Lou Avino P.O. Box 3083, Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14304 Phone: (716) 284-5595 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.niagarafallsreporter.com All contents copyright © 2013 Niagara Falls Reporter Inc. 3 NIAGARA FALLS REPORTER MAY 28 - JUN 05, 2013 Billionaires are often surprisingly willing to take welfare Assemblyman Sean Ryan Deputy County Exec Richard Tobe. ported as considering a parking lot at Uniland site at Delaware and Will government create an uneven playing field by paying to snatch away West Huron and Franklin Streets as a Chippewa. Delaware North from the Key Center to give to this Uniland owned prop - possible headquarters site when its cur - Uniland executives could not be erty? rent lease expires in 2015, but most of reached for comment in time for this the buzz concerns a move to the prime story. asked “why should the taxpayers of benefits to the community. If the own - Erie County be expected to provide ers of Key Center, who have previ - nearly $5 million to subsidize a devel - ously received ECIDA benefits, wish oper, when the tax subsidies will do to have a project that complies with re - nothing to create more jobs or improve cently-enacted New York State law the project?” considered, they should submit an ap - Ryan’s letter fell on deaf ears but plication to the ECIDA where it will be in the same letter he called on IDA’s reviewed.” "to stop giving away tax subsidies that Reached by telephone, Tobe said do little to create the kind of good our no formal application has been made entire region needs,” adding that by any of the parties, including Uni - “property and sales tax breaks given land, in time for consideration at the out by IDA’s in Erie County mean less agency’s June 3 policy board meeting. revenue for every single municipality Charles Roberts, a spokesman for and school district in Erie County.” Delaware North, said the “selection Responding to Key Center Owner process for our global headquarters— Zafir’s call for assistance, Deputy in which there are 350 employees — County Executive Richard Tobe re - remains focused only on downtown (Left) A lazy welfare mother gets several thousands in benefits from hard leased the following statement to the Buffalo, with an announcement to be working taxpayers. (Right) An industrious corporate welfare mother gets Reporter: “Over the last 15 months, made in the coming months.” millions in benefits from hard working taxpayers. County Executive Mark Poloncarz has Delaware North has also been re - been against giveaways to any entity that does not produce commensurate For news tips, ad information or other communications, feel free to call 716-284-5595 DELIVER THE NEW VERIZON TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES M & W 18+ w/insured vehicles to deliver in Niagara Falls, Lewiston, Ransomville areas. Also looking for office clerks & loaders. Starts june 10th. Work minimum of 6 daylight hours per day get paid within 72 hours at completion of route. 800-979-7978, 9-5:30 pm, M- F. Refer to job# 30057-a. 4 Maziarz Wants Hard Questions Answered About Vationl aund Veisi toor’s Bfu rNeau,T whCichC we rte o Tourism Effort Here Mike Hudson often at odds,” Dyster told the Re - New York State Sen. George porter. “It was my understanding that Maziarz will meet today with the board the NTCC was created in large part in of directors of the Niagara Tourism and order to take the partisan politics out of Convention Corp. to try and get a the tourism game.” clearer picture of what the agency’s Dyster said he believes the NTCC leadership believes the role of the has performed valuable service to the NTCC is and should be going forward. city. “I was instrumental in the creation “I think if you just look at the num - of the NTCC, and I saw it’s mission as bers you see that they’ve been success - twofold,” Maziarz told the Niagara ful,” he said.