GRAND ISLAND, NY (WKBW) — A Grand Island eyesore could finally be on the brink of new development. The former Radisson Hotel, situated along a prime stretch of the Niagara River, has been vacant for nearly three years. But I have learned that there's serious interest from a potential buyer.
“It's my hope that they'll be able to complete a sale and get this done,” said Grand Island Town Board Member Jose Garcia.
Garcia told me he has learned a real estate broker is very close to finalizing a deal with a company interested in buying the former Radisson Hotel off East River Road.
“I'm not at liberty to give complete details, but since our last interview, and you were so gracious to post this challenge that we have here in our community,” explained Garcia.
I first reported on this troubled, vacant building back in July. You can watch my previous report below.
“Since then, one of our local realtors, Vienna Laurendi, she works for Howard Hanna, she had an investment group come into town for other reasons, but was able to convince them to come take a look at the property and think about the potential and I am very excited," Garcia said. "I got to meet these people and talk to them, and I truly believe they are the right fit.”
WATCH: Serious interest from potential buyer for former Radisson Hotel on Grand Island
The real estate agent working on the deal confirmed to me in a text message, pending an inspection, "the property is under contract with details of the transaction to be released shortly."
Meanwhile, Garcia says the current owners, a local architectural firm, are not interested in redeveloping this site and recently stepped up security because of constant vandalism inside. Garcia and I walked over to the vacant hotel so he could show me where some of the new cameras are actually located.
New padlocks have also been added to the doors of the building.
“It seems more like it is vandalism and kids doing things that kids do, which, you know, we don't want them to do that, but it happens in areas that are ignored, and when they get the opportunity, they're going to do it," Garcia said. "There’s mold in there. There’s moisture. It's turned into something that's a real problem, and we're really hopeful that if the sale does go through, that we're going to see that change very quickly. It’s my understanding that they've locked and secured these doors, and the cameras are being monitored and being alerted of, and actually, one day after the installation of the cameras, they already saw kids trying to get back into the building, so it is working to an extent.”
Garcia and the real estate agent tell me they're hoping more details about the potential sale and buyer could be available within the next week.
