Bass Pro faces date on Canal S

Buffalo has kept its end of the bargain with Bass Pro Shops, and after nine years, the fishing and hunting chain needs to either fish or cut bait in the next 14 days, Rep. Brian Higgins says.

Higgins, D-Buffalo, put his two-week ultimatum in a letter this week to Bass Pro founder Johnny Morris and James Hagale, its chief executive officer and president. He said he also told them he was publicly releasing the letter, which calls on the company to sign a lease to anchor the Canal Side development by Aug. 1.

"Buffalonians and Western New Yorkers have exhibited extraordinary patience since this project was first proposed in July of 2001," said Higgins, who has been the primary figure responsible for securing government funds for waterfront development.

discount designer handbags and shoes

"I write today because I must inform you that if Bass Pro Shops is either unable or unwilling to act on the lease within the next 14 days, I will insist that the officials of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. proceed with their initiative without Bass Pro's involvement," the letter said.

Higgins told The Buffalo News the process to bring Bass Pro to Buffalo has dragged on far too long and needs to come to a conclusion.

"We've done everything we've been asked to do. The environmental reviews are completed, the public financing is in place, and a lease agreement has been sitting with the Bass Pro folks for two months. It's just time," Higgins said.

The harbor corporation and the New York Power Authority finalized a deal last week that will provide $105 million for the waterfront project.

Larry Whiteley, spokesman for Bass Pro, said neither Morris nor Hagale was available Tuesday and the company had no comment on Higgins' ultimatum.

He expressed surprise when learning Higgins released the letter to the public.

Harbor corporation officials, who have continually expressed confidence that Bass Pro will come to Buffalo, also had no comment.

Bass Pro has been considered for the Buffalo waterfront since Robert and Mindy Rich approached Morris, their Florida neighbor, about coming at the start of the decade.

The company signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding to come to Buffalo in 2005 and has been negotiating with harbor corporation officials on a lease since the environmental review process was completed in April.

As the proposed anchor tenant, Bass Pro has been presented as a catalyst for the $294.8 million, 21-acre waterfront development, which would include entertainment, dining and leisure activities.

Higgins said Buffalo was "well positioned" to develop birkenstock black sandals the waterfront without Bass Pro if necessary.

"There are many other opportunities to encourage investment in Canal Side," he said. "I'm just very confident where we're going with waterfront development, and people have every reason to be very, very optimistic that we will finally have the waterfront people have wanted for decades. And I expect to be held accountable."

The Buffalo congressman suggested some of the public money intended for Bass Pro could be used to construct a bridge he has championed that would connect downtown to the Outer Harbor, also Replica Watches
Replica Watches