This editorial represents the opinion of The Bona Venture staff.
On Nov. 14, 2013, a university press release announced the Town of Allegany Planning Board granted St. Bonaventure’s request to rezone the property for Bonaventure Square. Kinley Corporation, the former lead developer of the project, was unable to secure funding for the Bonaventure Square development as it was proposed. Brenda McGee, senior vice president for finance and administration, cited difficult economic conditions in the region and the fact the demographics of the region do not solidly support financing such a large project in the same press release.
So why do two large pictures of what Bonaventure Square would have looked like still stand in the vacant lot across from campus? The signs for the failed project should be removed and the lot should remain empty.
The sign originally featured four boards signifying the plans for the space. The middle piece of the sign featured two stacked boards. The top board featured an aerial drawing of what a completed Bonaventure Square would look like. The bottom board was emblazoned with the words “Future Site of Bonaventure Square” with logos rotating between whoever the project leader was at the time. (Originally the leader for the project was Ross Wilson Associates of Buffalo). The bottom sign is gone now with only the shell of the old sign remaining. The top sign showcasing the aerial picture, and the boards on both sides where the middle sign originally stood are still standing.
While the failure of the Bonaventure Square project is embarrassing enough, keeping up the pictures of what could have been is almost laughable. The property could see a proposal for a new project that would have to be approved by the town.
As the city of Olean prepares to break ground on its $8.8 million “Walkable Olean” project to restore downtown to its former glory, Bonaventure should remove the signs showcasing its failed $65 million project and hope that new signs signaling an achievable proposal are on the horizon.
