Buffalo Daily Brief: Parking ramps, a downtown foreclosure fight, and a Santasiero’s comeback

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Buffalo, NY – March 5, 2026 – Budget-gap moves, a downtown building lawsuit, a classic West Side restaurant deal, and a new emergency-prep app.


Buffalo’s midweek headlines are a mix of money, real estate, and neighborhood staples — with a practical public-safety update from the county.

Parking ramp sale moves forward as budget pressure builds

The city’s new Buffalo Parking Authority held its first meeting and named Deputy Mayor Benjamin Swanekamp as CEO as it gears up to negotiate the sale of four city-owned parking ramps.

Officials said the ramps are expected to bring in roughly $25 million to $30 million, and the timing matters: the deal is being treated as a key piece of closing a projected budget deficit. The authority also set early groundwork like bylaws and basic operating policies, signaling that the ramp sale is now entering its execution phase.

Foreclosure lawsuit adds another chapter to the former AM&A’s stalemate

A foreclosure case has been filed involving the long-vacant former AM&A’s building downtown, putting the property’s murky future back in the spotlight.

The lawsuit alleges a $1 million commercial loan went unpaid and seeks foreclosure and sale. The building has been empty for decades, and city leaders have pointed to prior emergency repair costs and outstanding financial obligations as part of why the situation has dragged on. The newest filing raises the stakes, but it also suggests any meaningful progress still depends on the courts untangling ownership and responsibility.

Santasiero’s revival: new buyers plan to reopen a West Side favorite

A new ownership group is under contract to buy and reopen Santasiero’s on Niagara Street, a longtime Buffalo restaurant that’s been closed since August 2025.

The prospective owners said they want to keep the spirit of the place while making a few updates, including pursuing a patio permit and offering dine-in, takeout, and a no-reservations approach. For the West Side, it’s a sign that a familiar storefront could soon have its lights back on.

Erie County rolls out an updated ReadyErie emergency-preparedness app

Erie County announced an updated version of its ReadyErie preparedness app, aimed at helping residents plan for emergencies and find local response resources more easily.

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