Judge sets Statler auction - Business First of Buffalo:

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Issa had pledged to invest morethan $100 million in the Statler and returning it to its showplacs status by bringing in a 150-room hotel and convertingb the upper floors into upscaled condominiums. Issa had also announced plans to constructta 40-story tower at the corner of West Mohawk Street and South Elmwood Only a minimal portion of the renovations ever took No work has taken place in the Statlefr since April 2008. The tower property was sold last summertfor $2.5 million. Issa has not been in Buffalo in more than 18 monthsx allegedly because ofvisa problems.
This wintedr he was found in contempt of court by State Supremw Court Justice John Curran in relatio n to the Park LaneCaterintg litigation. Creditors, including the Park Lane, petitioned federaol courts to place the Statler into involuntary Chapter 11 Bucki agreed and placed the Chapter 11 protection on the building onApril 13. New York City attorneyu Joseph Leon, who representsz Bashar Issa, said his client is “beinbg portrayed as a bad actor ofsome sort.” Leon said Issa investede $8 million in renovations to the Statler. “I walked through there and expectesd to see exposed dry wall andhanging wires, but I Leon said.
“My client was sabotaged by the When you peel back allthe allegations, what you have is an economicallt challenged owner.” Following Bucki’s ruling - which came afte a 2.5 hour-long hearing - the judge said he made his decision “based solely on the “The trustee’s concerns are legitimate,” Bucki Fink said he was not surprised but disappointed by the ruling. Both Pfalzgraff and Graber, however, applauded the decision. “Wr think this was the right Graber said.