By Mark Sommer
News Staff Reporter
When the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation announced it would spend $50 million to remake LaSalle Park in Buffalo a little over three years ago, the price tag had people buzzing.
kAmxE EFC?D @FE :E H2D?VE ?62C=J 6?@F89]k^Am
kAm%96 6DE:>2E65 2>@F?E E@ 36 DA6?E :D ?@H S`c_ >:==:@? 2?5 4@F?E:?8[ 3FE E92E :D?VE 2 DFCAC:D6 E@ E96 7@F?52E:@?[ H9:49 :D >2<:?8 E96 5@?2E:@? 7@CÂ E96 D:?46\C6?2>65 #2=A9 r] (:=D@? yC] r6?E6??:2= !2C<] %96 A=2? H2D E@ FD6 E96 :?:E:2= 8:7E 2D 2 DE2CE:?8 A@:?E 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ E@ 564:56 H92E :E H2?E65Â E96 A2C< E@ 36[ 2?5 E96? E@ H@C< H:E9 A2CE?6CD E@ 7F?5 2?5 DFDE2:? E96 A=2? E92E 6>6C865]Â k^Am
kAmQxE D@F?5D =:<6 2 =@E @7 >@?6J[ 3FE H6 2C6 4@>A=6E6=J EC2?D7@C>:?8 h_ 24C6D @7 H2E6C7C@?E[ 255C6DD:?8 4@??64E:@? :DDF6D[ FE:=:E:6D[ C@25H2JD[ 3C:586D 2?5 2 9F?5C65\J62C\@=5 D62H2== E92E :D 56E6C:@C2E:?8[Q D2:5 p?5J #233[ qF772=@VD 56AFEJ 4@>>:DD:@?6C 7@C A2C<D 2?5 C64C62E:@?]k^Am
kAmQx7 J@F =@@< 2E 9@H D@>6 @7 E96 AC:G2E6 >@?6J :D 36:?8 FE:=:K65 H:E9 6I:DE:?8 DE2E6[ 7656C2= 2?5 @E96C 8C2?ED[ x E9:?< H6VC6 C62==J 255C6DD:?8 H92E E96 4@>>F?:EJ :D 2D<:?8 7@C[ 2?5 5@:?8 :E :? 2 H2J E92E 42? 36 >2:?E2:?65 2?5 C62=:K65[Q #233 D2:5] QxE :D 2 =@E[ 3FE :E :D 2 3:8 A2C< AC@;64E 2?5 ?@E9:?8 =:<6 E9:D 92D 92AA6?65 :? 2 =@?8 E:>6]Qk^Am
kAm%96 (:=D@? u@F?52E:@?VD :?:E:2= S`__ >:==:@? 2??@F?46>6?E 42==65 7@C Sd_ >:==:@? 7@C E96 A2C< 2?5 Sd_ >:==:@? E@ 255 EC2:=D :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ H:E9 S`_ >:==:@? D6E 2D:56 7@C 6249 AC@;64E 7@C 2? 6?5@H>6?E] %96 7@F?52E:@? 2=D@ 2??@F?465 :E H2D 8:G:?8 S`__ >:==:@? E@ D@FE962DE |:49:82?[ H96C6 #2=A9 (:=D@? 925 =:G65[ E@ 36 DA=:E D:>:=2C=J @? 2 A2C< AC@;64E 2?5 E@ 4C62E6 EC2:=D]k^Am
kAmq@E9 C68:@?D 92G6 7@==@H65 2 D:>:=2C AF3=:4 AC@46DD[ H:E9 E96 D2>6 2C49:E64E 56D:8?:?8 3@E9 A2C<D]k^Am
kAmx? qF772=@[ 4@>>F?:EJ :?AFE =65 E@ 2 564:D:@? E@ 3@@DE 2446DD E@ E96 A2C< H:E9 2 ?6H A656DEC:2? 3C:586 @G6C E96 x\`h_ 2?5 2 EC2:= 6IE6?5:?8 369:?5 (2E6C7C@?E ':==286] $F3D6BF6?E 56D:8? 2?5 6?8:?66C:?8 DEF5:6D C6G62=65 E96 D9@C6=:?6 ?66565 E@ 36 DEC6?8E96?65 E@ H:E9DE2?5 DE@C>D 2?5 7=@@5:?8 E92E 4@F=5 364@>6 >@C6 56DECF4E:G6 5F6 E@ 4=:>2E6 492?86]Â Â k^Am
kAm%9@D6 EH@ :?7C2DECF4EFC6 AC@;64ED 92G6 25565 FA E@ 2 =:EE=6 >@C6 E92? Sd_ >:==:@? 2=@?6]Â Â k^Am
kAmtC64E:?8 2 >2:?E6?2?46 3F:=5:?8[ 4@?DECF4E:?8 2 ?6:893@C9@@5 A=2J8C@F?5 @? cE9 $EC66E 2E E96 @E96C 6?5 @7 E96 3C:586[ 2?5 C6A2:C:?8 2 H2E6C >2:? 2C6 2>@?8 E96 @E96C 6IA6?D6D E92E 92G6 4@>6 2=@?8]k^Am
kAm%96 (:=D@? u@F?52E:@? 92D 4@>>:EE65 Sg_ >:==:@? :? 2== E@ 52E6[ :?4=F5:?8 S`b]e >:==:@? :? 8C2?ED 7@C 56D:8?[ 6?8:?66C:?8 2?5 AC@;64E >2?286>6?E D6CG:46D]Â %92E 2>@F?E :?4=F56D 2? 6?5@H>6?E E92E 92D 8C@H? 7C@> 2? :?:E:2= S`_ >:==:@? 4@>>:E>6?E E@ S`e >:==:@?]k^Am
kAmu:?2?4:2= DFAA@CE 7@C E96 A2C<VD EC2?D7@C>2E:@? :D 2=D@ 4@>:?8 7C@> }6H *@C< $E2E6[ E96 r:EJ @7 qF772=@ 2?5 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E[ 2D H6== 2D D>2==6C 6?E:E:6D DF49 2D E96 qF772=@ U2>Aj tC:6 r@F?EJ vC66?H2J uF?5 $E2?5:?8 r@>>:EE66 2?5 E96 vC62E {2<6D r@>>:DD:@?]k^Am
kAm$:8?:7:42?E 7F?5:?8 2??@F?46>6?ED 2C6 2=D@ 6IA64E65 :? 62C=J a_aa]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6H A2C<[ 36:?8 56D:8?65 3J qC@@<=J?\32D65 A2C< 56D:8?6C |:4926= '2? '2=<6?3FC89 pDD@4:2E6D[ H:== D66 E@A@8C2A9J[ :?4=F5:?8 9:==D 2?5 G2==6JD[ 25565 E@ H92E :D ?@H 2 7=2E A2C<] p a]d\24C6 A=2J8C@F?5 :D A=2??65[ 2=@?8 H:E9 :>AC@G65 32== 7:6=5D[ 4J4=:?8 A2E9D[ 2? 2E9=6E:4 =@@A 2?5 ?6H 5@8 A2C<]k^Am
kAm%96 H2E6C[ H96C6 E96 >@FE9 @7 }:282C2 #:G6C >66ED {2<6 tC:6[ :D 2=D@ 2 3:8 A2CE @7 E96 A2C<VD C64@?DECF4E:@?] %96C6 H:== 36 64@=@8:42= 923:E2ED[ 2 =2C86 :?=6E[ 2 <2J2< =2F?49 2?5 2 AC@>6?256 E@ H2=< 3J E96 H2E6C]k^Am
kAm%96 (:=D@? u@F?52E:@? 62D:=J 4@F=5 92G6 96=5 E96 =:?6 27E6C @776C:?8 Sd_ >:==:@?[ |2J@C qJC@? qC@H? D2:5[ 3FE :?DE625 =:DE6?65 E@ H92E E96 4@>>F?:EJ H2?E65[ :?4=F5:?8 2 D276C A656DEC:2? 3C:586 E92E H:== C6A=246 E96 @?6 E96C6 ?@H]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 8C62E 7C@> >J A6CDA64E:G6 E92E (:=D@? 5:5?VE D2J[ Vw6J[ H6 2=C625J 82G6 J@F Sd_ >:==:@?[ J@F 42?VE 7:I E96 D62H2==[ J@F 42?VE 5@ E9:D[ J@F 42?VE 5@ E92E[V Q qC@H? D2:5] Q%96J 925 2 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 5@ E96 E9:?8D E92E ?66565 E@ 36 5@?6 E@ >2<6 :E H@C=5\4=2DD]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mVx>28:?6 {2$2==6Vk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 (:=D@? u@F?52E:@? 2??@F?465 :ED Sd_ >:==:@? 8C2?E[ :E D@F89E 4@>>F?:EJ :?AFE E9C@F89 2 AC@46DD 42==65 Qx>28:?6 {2$2==6]Qk^Am
kAm%96 {2$2==6 u@4FD vC@FA[ 4@?D:DE:?8 @7 a` A6@A=6 :?4=F5:?8 D6G6C2= 7C@> E96 (6DE $:56[ G:D:E65 qC@@<=J? qC:586 !2C< :? qC@@<=J? 2?5 |288:6 s2=6J !2C< :? r9:428@[ 3@E9 56D:8?65 3J '2? '2=<6?3FC89[ 2D H6== 2D (2D9:?8E@? !2C< :? r:?4:??2E:] %96 EC:AD H6C6 :?E6?565 E@ 6IA2?5 E96 8C@FAVD 2H2C6?6DD @7 A2C<D E@ D9@H H92E H2D A@DD:3=6 :? qF772=@]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@46DD 2=D@ 3C@F89E c__ A6@A=6 E@ AF3=:4 >66E:?8D[ 2?5 8@E 7665324< 7C@> `[`__ 4@>>F?:EJ DFCG6JD HC:EE6? :? D6G6C2= =2?8F286D 7@C E96 >F=E:4F=EFC2= (6DE $:56] *@FE9 7C@> E96 ?62C3J q6==6 r6?E6C E@@< A9@E@8C2A9D 2?5 HC@E6 23@FE H92E E96J H2?E65 E@ D66 :? E96 A2C<]Â k^Am
kAm~FE @7 E92E AC@46DD 42>6 :?E6C6DE :? D6G6C2= @7 E96 762EFC6D A=2??65 7@C E96 A2C<[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 ?6H A656DEC:2? 3C:586]Â k^Am
kAmQ%96 4FCC6?E 3C:586 :D 2 C62= FE:=:E2C:2? 3C:586 E92E 5@6D ?@E 766= D276[Q #233 D2:5] Q*@F 92G6 E@ 8@ FA DE66A C2>AD 2?5 J@F 42?VE D66 24C@DD :E] xEVD ?2CC@H 2?5 ?@E H6==\=:E] !6@A=6 5@?VE 6?E6C E96 A2C< E92E H2J]QÂ k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E96 ?6H 3C:586[ H9@D6 56D:8? H2D 49@D6? 3J 2 ;FCJ[ H:== 255C6DD E9@D6 4@?46C?D]k^Am
kAmQxEVD >@C6 @A6?[ H6== =:E[ H:56C[ >@C6 2:CJ 2?5 J@F 42? D66 2== E96 H2J 24C@DD :E[Q #233 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 4@DE @7 E96 3C:586 :D S`e]c >:==:@?] }6H *@C< $E2E6 4@>>:EE65 Sf]d >:==:@?[ E96 r:EJ @7 qF772=@ Sb >:==:@? 2?5 E96 (:=D@? u@F?52E:@? Sd]h >:==:@?[ :?4=F5:?8 Sh__[___ 7@C 6?8:?66C:?8 DEF5:6D]Â k^Am
kAm%96 ?665 7@C 8C62E6C D62H2== AC@E64E:@? 2?5 E@ AC@E64E `b @7 E96 A2C<VD h_ 24C6D 7C@> 7=@@5:?8 42>6 @FE @7 9J5C@=@8J 2?5 6?8:?66C:?8 DEF5:6D 4@?5F4E65 3J qF772=@ }:282C2 (2E6C<66A6C[ 2?@E96C @7 E96 AC@;64EVD A2CE?6CD]k^Am
kAm(2E6C<66A6C :D 56G6=@A:?8 2 qF772=@ q=F6H2J E92E H:== D@7E6? E96 D9@C6=:?6 E@ >2<6 :E >@C6 ?2EFC6\32D65 H9:=6 56G6=@A:?8 2 =2F?49:?8 A25 7@C <2J2<D[ 2 7:D9:?8 A6C49 2?5 2 A=246 E@ D:E 2?5 H2E49 E96 DF?D6E]k^Am
kAm%96 ?665 E@ AC@E64E E96 A2C< 282:?DE 6IEC6>6 H62E96C 4@?5:E:@?D E92E 2C6 364@>:?8 >@C6 4@>>@? D@@? D92C65 6BF2= :>A@CE2?46]k^Am
kAmQ(92E H2D C62==J DFCAC:D:?8 E@ >6 H2D E96 67764E @7 =2<6 =6G6=D 2?5 E96 67764E @7 4=:>2E6 492?86 2?5 E96 ?665 7@C D9@C6=:?6 C6D:=:6?4J[Q D2:5 y]y] %:896[ H9@ 5:C64ED E96 (:=D@? u@F?52E:@?VD !2C<D U2>Aj %C2:=D x?:E:2E:G6]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D :D 2 C62= :DDF6 E92E H@F=5 925 E@ 92G6 366? 255C6DD65 H96E96C E9:D A2C< AC@;64E 42>6 2=@?8 @C ?@E[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96 D62H2== :D C6249:?8 E96 6?5 @7 :ED FD67F= =:76]Qk^Am
kAm%:896 D2:5 :E H:== 4@DE Sbd >:==:@? E@ 7@CE:7J E96 D9@C6=:?6 282:?DE :46[ D6:496[ E2== H2G6D 2?5 @E96C C@F89 H62E96C 4@?5:E:@?D[ 2?5 E@ 4C62E6 E96 64@=@8:42= 923:E2ED 2?5 AF3=:4 2446DD]Â Â k^Am
kAm%96 AC@;64E E62> 92D 2=D@ C6BF6DE65 255:E:@?2= 7F?5:?8 7@C 7=@@5 DEF5:6D 7@C E96 A2C< 2?5 E@ D66 H92E @E96C 2C62D 2=@?8 E96 qF772=@ H2E6C7C@?E 2C6 2E C:D< @7 7=@@5:?8 2?5 4=:>2E6 492?86]Â k^Am
kAmy:== y65=:4<2[ (2E6C<66A6CVD 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C[ D2:5 E96 D9@C6=:?6 2446DD[ 64@DJDE6> :>AC@G6>6?ED 2?5 4=:>2E6 C6D:=:6?4J 36:?8 4C62E65 2C6 4C:E:42==J :>A@CE2?E 762EFC6D @7 E96 A2C< AC@;64E]k^Am
kAmQ%96C6 H:== 36 ?@E9:?8 =:<6 E9:D :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ 2?5 :E C62==J :D 8@:?8 E@ 492?86 @FC H2E6C7C@?E 7@C E96 ?6IE D6G6C2= 86?6C2E:@?D[Q y65=:4<2 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 &]$] pC>J r@CAD @7 t?8:?66CD :D 4@>A=6E:?8 2 C6=2E65 Sg]d >:==:@? AC@;64E[ A2:5 7@C H:E9 7656C2= 7F?5D[ E@ C63F:=5 E96 A@CE:@? @7 E96 D62H2== :? 7C@?E @7 E96 r@=] (2C5 !F>A:?8 $E2E:@? 7@C DE@C> AC@E64E:@?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mqFC:65 3@EE=6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 AC@;64E 92D 2=D@ 96=A65 D9@H E96 EH:DED 2?5 EFC?D :? E96 A2C<VD 6G@=FE:@?]k^Am
kAm~=5 xC@BF@:D 3C6H:?8 3@EE=6D H6C6 7@F?5 3FC:65 :? H92E H2D @?46 >F?:4:A2= H2DE6[ 367@C6 E96 A2C< H2D 4C62E65 :? E96 `hb_D[ D2:5 v23C:6= $49>:532F6C[ E96 pC>J r@CADV AC@;64E >2?286C]k^Am
kAm%96 4:EJ ;FDE 7:?:D965 C6A2G:?8 E96 A656DEC:2? 2?5 3:<6 A2E9 2=@?8 E96 H2E6C[ :?4=F5:?8 2 564@C2E:G6 723C:42E65 C2:=:?8]k^Am
kAm%96 (:=D@? u@F?52E:@? :D 7F?5:?8 492?86D :? 2 aa\24C6 A2C< :? s6EC@:E E92E 2=D@ C646:G65 Sd_ >:==:@? 2E E96 E:>6 @7 E96 qF772=@ AC@;64E[ 2?5 D:>:=2C=J 92D 366? C6?2>65 7@C (:=D@?] %96 s6EC@:E A2C< 92D 2=D@ D66? 255:E:@?D E@ :ED A=2? QD:>:=2C :? ?2EFC6Q E@ H92EVD 92AA6?:?8 :? qF772=@[ %:896 D2:5]Â Â k^Am
kAmr@?DECF4E:@? @? E96 qF772=@ A2C< :D 6IA64E65 E@ 368:? :? =2E6 DAC:?8 @C 62C=J DF>>6C a_aa] %96 AC@;64E 4@F=5 36 4@>A=6E65 :? EH@ E@ E9C66 J62CD Q:7 6G6CJE9:?8 72==D :?E@ A=246[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm#@36CE $9:3=6J[ 562? @7 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@VD $49@@= @7 pC49:E64EFC6 2?5 !=2??:?8 H9@ 92D 724:=:E2E65 E96 AF3=:4 >66E:?8D[ 4@?E:?F6D E@ 36 :>AC6DD65 3J E96 AC@46DD 6DE23=:D965 62C=J @? 3J E96 (:=D@? u@F?52E:@? 2?5 @E96C A2CE?6CD E@ 36 C6DA@?D:G6 E@ E96 A2C<VD 2?5 E96 AF3=:4VD ?665D]k^Am
kAmQ!2CE @7 E96 AFCA@D6 @7 E96 AF3=:4 6?8286>6?E H2D E@ =:7E FA E96 2DA:C2E:@?D :? E96 7:CDE A=246[Q $9:3=6J D2:5] Qx7 E96 >62DFC6 @7 E96 3F586E E92E :D C6BF:C65 E@ 5@ :E C:89E 2E E9:D A@:?E :? E:>6 :D 2?J :?5:42E:@?[ H6VG6 >@C6 E92? 5@F3=65 E96 2DA:C2E:@?D]QÂ Â k^Am
kAm$9:3=6J 5@6D?VE 6IA64E :E E@ DE@A E96C6]k^Am
kAm~G6C E:>6 E96 A=2??65 #2=A9 (:=D@? !2C< r@?D6CG2?4J[ 2? ``\>6>36C 3@2C5 E92E H:== :?4=F56 >6>36CD 7C@> E96 {2$2==6 u@4FD vC@FA[ H:== F?5@F3E65=J >2<6 255:E:@?D E@ E96 A2C<[ E@@]Â Â k^Am
kAmQ{:<6 E96 4:EJ :D ?6G6C 5@?6[ ?6:E96C :D E96 A2C<[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
Mark Sommer covers preservation, development, the waterfront, culture and more. He's also a former arts editor at The News.Â
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter.
