New hotel planned near Buffalo-Niagara airport

Aug. 12, 2008
127-room airport Hyatt planned

Cheektowaga's hotel boom is continuing, with the submission of plans for a six-story Hyatt Place on Buell Avenue, just south of Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

"We're very excited about that," Zoning Inspector Daniel J. Ulatowski said.

The 127-room hotel would be built on 3.4 acres to the east of the Holiday Inn Express.

Oxford Development of Pittsburgh proposed the latest hotel and has submitted a request for a rezoning and site plan approval. The property would be rezoned to C-retail.

"I think they'd like to start the construction as soon as possible," said Sean Hopkins, attorney for Oxford Development.

Nearby residents successfully fought a proposal to build an eight-story hotel east of the proposed Hyatt Place. Manga Developers of Mississauga, Ont., agreed to scale its Aloft Hotel plans down to a six-story hotel after neighbors complained it would loom over their homes.

Ulatowski said the Hyatt developer agreed to a six-story maximum.

"The height of the hotel is consistent with what the town has determined to be the appropriate height of hotels in that area," Hopkins said.

New hotels near the airport include a proposed Hampton Inn, the Aloft and Marriott Courtyard, which are under review; the Fairfield Inn, which is under construction; and two others that have been proposed.

Town officials attribute the boom to rising airport traffic, which is affected by the falling dollar and strong Canadian currency.

"It's all being driven by the Canadian dollar," Ulatowski said.

"What your seeing is some out-of-town developers proposing high-end hotels," Hopkins said, adding that the Hyatt is asking for no tax breaks.

The Hyatt Place would not have a restaurant, but would have a continental breakfast area, meeting room and 150 parking spaces.

Hopkins said the developer plans to meet with the residents to explain the proposal and discuss any concerns.