By BRIAN MEYER
News Staff Reporter
10/17/2005

A developer is working with the owner of the former AM&A's building on a plan to transform the empty structure into a mixed-use complex that would likely include housing, offices and a retail component.
Centerstone Development confirmed it is partnering with building owner Richard Taylor to devise a reuse strategy. The plan will be unveiled within 60 days, said Centerstone Chief Executive Officer John Giardino, adding that substantial work already has been completed on architectural studies and market research.

While Giardino said it is premature to discuss specifics, he expects the final plan to propose a blend of uses for one of downtown's prime real estate locations.

"Mixed-use buildings add a lot of energy to a downtown area," he said.

Giardino does not envision the demolition of existing structures.

The site, once home to AM&A's flagship department store, is made up of about 10 structures, most of them unified by a facade that is situated between the headquarters of M&T Bank and the Brisbane Building. There is also a former warehouse behind the complex on Washington Street.

"Our plan would preserve some existing architectural features while adding our own architectural inspiration to the project," he said.

Meanwhile, an environmental firm will begin work this week on removing or storing any hazardous materials inside the Main Street complex. When city inspectors toured the building in March, they found combustible materials and drums containing unknown substances.

MCS Remedial Services of Orchard Park has been hired to address the concerns. There is also crumbling asbestos in many parts of the 10-story structure, according to the report filed by city inspectors.

But Giardino, who said he has toured the building at least 15 times since he and Taylor began working this summer, said he is convinced there is nothing inside that would hinder redevelopment.

"We have satisfied ourselves that the building is structurally sound," he said, adding that the asbestos and other problems red-flagged by inspectors are problems that one would expect to find in any building of similar age.

Giardino is a former CEO of Ciminelli Construction who was involved in the early phases of a citywide school modernization program. He said that substantial behind-the-scenes planning has been under way since July at the AM&A's site and that Mayor Anthony M. Masiello has been in touch with developers about twice a week.

Giardino said Masiello has been subjected to unfair criticism for his decision not to take Taylor to court after inspectors found more than 100 code violations.

"The mayor has taken a rap for working with us, when we have been taking a very responsible approach," Giardino said. "We don't need to be working this out with judges and lawyers. We need to be working with development people."

Masiello said Giardino's involvement bodes well for the project.

"John brings to the table experience and focus. That's what this kind of project needs - a taskmaster with a strong focus."

Masiello said he recently joined Giardino on a tour of two projects in New York City that involved transforming aging buildings into mixed-use projects.

"They were eye-catching conversions with a lot of of pizazz," Masiello said.

Still, Masiello has stressed that, if for some reason the building reuse plan isn't unveiled by the time his term as mayor expires in December, he will initiate a "very aggressive" court case against Carpe Diem Development, the Taylor-owned company that owns the structure.

"Believe me, if this falls apart, I'll be the first one in court," he said. "You'll see the wrath of the mayor come down heavily."

The real estate broker who has been working with Taylor for six years to market the AM&A's complex said last month that three groups have expressed an interest in the building. But George Hamberger of Hunt Commercial Real Estate made it clear that Taylor is also interested in developing the building himself. Hamberger, a high-profile player in Buffalo's commercial real estate arena, said he might become a partner in Taylor's redevelopment project.

But at this juncture, Giardino said, members of the development team are not ready to discuss details. For example, he declined to comment on Masiello's prediction that any reuse plan for the sprawling complex would likely need public subsidies. Giardino said the team is still working on a range of issues, including cost estimates, and ensuring that any plan preserves the "historic" characteristics of the building.

"We're not interested in floating a plan prematurely that cannot be achieved," he said.

Centerstone Development began meeting with Taylor this summer, shortly after a plan advanced by Uniland Development fell through to acquire the building, demolish it and build a 230,000-square-foot office tower. Giardino, who started Centerstone in 2003, said his company has been involved in numerous local projects, including redevelopment of the former Knights of Columbus building on Delaware Avenue. Cornerstone is also involved in a redevelopment effort at the old Curtiss-Wright Corp. factory on Grider Street.


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