After nearly a decade of talk, the Bass Pro Shops Buffalo, N.Y., waterfront deal has fallen through.
The decision came 11 days after New York State Rep. Brian Higgins (N.Y.-27) called for a two-week deadline on Bass Pro's decision.
Bass Pro President James Hagale responded to the congressman July 30, also in a letter. It is posted online at
BuffaloNews.com.
"Unfortunately, we cannot respond favorably to the lease draft forwarded to us by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. within the 14-day time period you requested in your letter," Hagale wrote in the letter. "There are numerous critical reasons for our position, including the fact that several major issues fundamental to the successful completion of the project remain unresolved."
Following the letter, Higgins released a statement on his
Web site.
"The last nine years of limbo is unreasonable and unfortunate but today, with nothing holding us back, we continue the momentum we already see along the water’s edge.”
Bass Pro initially began talks with Buffalo officials in July 2001, according to the congressman's
original letter, sent July 19.
On Nov. 29, 2004, Bass Pro officially announced its intentions to build at the site as a part of the area's waterfront redevelopment, which has become a more than $250 million expansion.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp., the developers behind the plans, also released a statement July 30 following Bass Pro's decision.
In it, the corporation expressed its disappointment but noted it would continue the project without Bass Pro's involvement.
In response to a Springfield Business Journal e-mail concerning the news, Bass Pro Manager of Communications Larry Whiteley declined to comment.[[In-content Ad]]
