"It's great that Bass Pro is coming and other development is planned, but this project isn't dependent on anything," he said. "It can be successful in its own right."

For more than a decade, even before the first shovels went into the ground for construction of HSBC Arena, city planners have predicted that

Cobblestone, a chiefly industrial neighborhood surrounding the sports
facility, would be Buffalo's next development hot spot. But in the seven years since the $127 million arena made its debut, spinoff projects have been sparse, at best.

Mayor Anthony M. Masiello said the Cobblestone project is further evidence of the rebirth of downtown Buffalo.

"It's taken a little longer than we thought, but we always knew Cobblestone would take off. Nobody

wants to be the first in, but now that Sam and Chris are making the investment, I think we'll see the momentum build," Masiello said.

While a number of vacant industrial buildings, circa 1900, are available for creative reuse, about a dozen businesses, employing some 200 people, are thriving in Cobblestone.

John McKendry, chief executive officer of of Niagara Insulations at 79 Perry, directly behind the proposed mixed-use development, said the project will be a welcome addition. "It's about time," McKendry said. "Maybe something will actually happen over there this time. I think we'll all coexist quite nicely."

Savarino and Jacobs come to the project with strong records.

Savarino's portfolio ranges from luxury housing units at 50 Waterfront Circle at Erie Basin Marina, to redevelopment of

Central Park Plaza, to construction of the D'Youville College Sports Complex.

He recently announced plans to convert the historic Corn Exchange Building downtown into a hotel, and is embarking on an overhaul of the vacant New York Telephone Co. building on Elmwood Avenue to a mix of apartments and commercial use.

Jacobs recently completed an interior renovation and facade restoration of the historic Stokes Seed Co. building at 737 Main. He is now converting two adjacent structures into office space.

Getting this picture to come to life in theCobblestone District will take $15 million as developers plan to convert a group of five vacant industrial buildings into housing, restaurant, office and retail space.