Lock In Buffalo Episode 14: Mitch Nowakowski on Eminent Domain, Tax Breaks & Buffalo’s Future

In this episode of Lock In Buffalo, Michael Nanula sits down with Buffalo Common Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski, who represents the Fillmore District and serves as Chair of the Common Council’s Finance Committee, for a wide-ranging conversation about development, housing, politics, public safety, and some of the biggest issues facing the City of Buffalo.And we don’t avoid the controversial stuff.We get into eminent domain and the battle over the Cobblestone District, including the debate over when government should have the power to take privately owned property in the name of redevelopment.We also dig into one of Buffalo’s biggest challenges: how do you actually get development to happen?Should developers receive tax credits and incentives to take on difficult projects? How much public assistance is too much? And what happens when buildings sit vacant for decades because the economics simply don’t work?Mitch gives his perspective from inside City Hall on the policies, projects, neighborhoods and controversies he deals with every day.IN THIS EPISODE:• Eminent domain and Buffalo’s Cobblestone District• The debate over private property rights vs. redevelopment• Infill housing and Buffalo’s vacant lots• Why building new housing in Buffalo can be so difficult• Tax credits and incentives for developers• Historic rehabilitation and saving Buffalo’s aging buildings• Development throughout the Fillmore District• Broadway-Fillmore and the East Side• Downtown Buffalo and adaptive reuse• Club Marcella and public safety concerns• Entertainment districts, nightlife and policing• The challenges facing Buffalo neighborhoods• What City Hall can — and cannot — do to encourage investment• Mitch Nowakowski’s perspective on where Buffalo goes nextThe Fillmore District is one of Buffalo’s most diverse council districts, stretching through neighborhoods and destinations including Broadway-Fillmore, downtown, Chippewa, Canalside and the Cobblestone District — putting Nowakowski directly in the middle of many of the development and public-policy debates shaping Buffalo right now.Whether you agree with him or disagree with him, this is an opportunity to hear directly from one of the people making those decisions.Lock In Buffalo is about having the conversations Buffalo is already having — with the developers, business owners, elected officials, community leaders and personalities shaping Western New York.🎙️ Guest: Mitch Nowakowski — Buffalo Common Council, Fillmore District🎙️ Host: Michael Nanula📍 Buffalo, New York🏠 Powered by CrossCountry Mortgage BuffaloIf you care about Buffalo development, housing, politics, real estate, downtown Buffalo or the future of Western New York, subscribe to Lock In Buffalo and join the conversation.What do you think? Should Buffalo be more aggressive about using eminent domain to spur redevelopment — or should private property rights win out? Drop your opinion in the comments.HASHTAGS#LockInBuffalo #BuffaloNY #BuffaloPolitics #BuffaloDevelopment #MitchNowakowski