Town of Amherst

AMHERST WARNED IT DISCOURAGES BUILDERS:

Some of the biggest developers in the Buffalo area showed up Monday at an Amherst Town Board meeting to warn town officials they are discouraging builders from working in town.

What drew them was a proposal by Supervisor Satish B. Mohan to survey the amount of vacant office space in town. Mohan says officials need to know how many vacant offices there are before the Amherst Industrial Development Agency gives developers incentives to build more office buildings in town.

A year ago, the Town Board might have defeated such a measure with ease. But Monday's discussion showed how much has changed since voters had their say in November.

"We must stop this suburban sprawl and the blighting of older areas," Mohan told reporters after the hourlong session with developers. He said his proposal is an attempt to find out if Amherst needs more office space. "That is my question," he said.

Mohan's motion noted that the town has built many office buildings over the past decade, and some are partially empty.

It goes on to say: "The Amherst IDA continues to add more office buildings which attract tenants from earlier built office buildings for tax abatement benefits."

The measure directs Assessor Harry Williams to check the amount of occupancy in the town's office developments and to report back June 30. And it also asks the Amherst IDA to stop providing incentives to new office developments until the existing buildings are 95 percent occupied.