(WBEN) City officials have announced  the selection of a ice rink  plan submitted by Sabres owner Terry Pegula's development group, as the preferred developer of the Webster Block in downtown Buffalo, opposite the First Niagara Center.

The $123 million plan includes two amateur hockey rinks, a hotel, and retail space.  The Buffalo Sabres are expected to add plaza improvements outside First Niagara Center to integrate the new development with Seymour Knox Plaza outside their arena.

More on the proposals, from the City of Buffalo Sabres’ Harbor Center Proposal Webster Block Proposal Presentation Ellicott Development Presentation  Ellicott Development Proposal Slideshow

The rink option apparently beat out a proposal submitted by Carl Paladino's   Ellicott Development Company  with a proposed $64 million plan that included office space, retail, a hotel and apartments.

HARBORcenter Development, LLC (the development company affiliated with the Buffalo Sabres) submitted a proposal that included plans for two ice rinks, a hotel, retail and a restaurant. Both plans included a parking structure.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown made the announcement in city hall Wednesday morning, after weeks of review. The announcement was originally scheduled for mid August, but delayed a few weeks for further study.

Brown made the announcement with Cliff Benson, (pictured L)  a close Pegula confidant and the team's chief development officer.  The selection follows an evaluation process that included the Mayor's senior staff, and open hearings held by a community review panel that discussed both developments. 

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The proposal includes about 15,000 sq. feet of stores split between parts of the development facing Scott Street and Main Street, adjacent to the HSBC Atrium (pictured at far right in above photo, with First Nigara Center in the background.)  The plans submitted to the city specify a 118,000 sq. foot hotel, the ice rinks, a fitness center and a 965 stall parking garage.

Pegula's development group estimates that it will create 450 full and part time jobs, not counting the approx. 2,500 construction workers who they expect to be employed while the project is being built.