Benderson is trying hard to make sure they can go ahead with their lifestyle center on Maple where the former shooting range is today next to the Pepsi Center.

There are plenty of issues here…Amherst is already pretty developed-could afford to keep some open spaces, Amherst is more than well represented in terms of retail options and facilities, and Amherst is already starting to face some suburban decay as its inner ring starts to deteriorate.

I’m not sure what the chances are of stopping this project but I think its an inevitable look into the evolution of surburban design-specifically for shopping.

The very American concept of the shopping mall is starting to lose its flair as cities become sterilized and attractive to the middle and upper classes who cities have tried so hard to get back for so long. Because of this trend, developers are seeing the need to develop urbanized projects in suburbs.

The Maple Road project by Benderson would be a very town-village type place with mixed use and self-sustaining.

Its also a great location. Right next to UB and close access to the wealthier parts of Amherst.

And with this project will come the complete and utter demise of inner-Amherst, potentially falling into the same categories that made Buffalo so unappealing to many. Boulevard Mall will struggle to maintain its success since most retailers would much prefer to be even closer to 27,000 UB students, wealthier portions of the area, and the swankiest and newest shopping center in town.

It won’t happen overnight but look no further than the lack of interest in shopping plazas around Bailey and Sheridan and Eggert near the Boulevard Mall and realize that this decay will continue to slowly crawl until a bit before UB.

Development is cold and rational, and this is a good project that in an economic market like Buffalo-Niagara region will hurt some successful areas but will be applauded for its fake urban-village design that makes for a pleasant, sterile ‘urban’ experience.

Overall I think its a good project-it would be nice to see suburban Buffalo breakaway from the Post WWII standard suburban concepts of design…its’ just unfortunate to know that their success will be at the expense of well developed and long established areas. But so goes life in the Buffalo area.

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