The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation met today to discuss the on-going process of revitalizing their charge in Buffalo. 

First up, the ECHDC board, led by Jordan Levy, discussed the use of the Donovan Building lot for event parking with Mark Croce's Skydeck Corporation.  Skydeck submitted proposed to pay for temporary use of the lot for $91,682 through April 6.  Their bid was the highest by close to $10,000.  The funds will be used for further waterfront development.  Levy also pointed out that Skydeck will be using the lot if the Sabres make the playoffs, garnering more money for the corporation.

"Let's hope the team makes the playoffs," Levy said, poking a bit of fun at Larry Quinn.

"Let's hope next year it'll [the Donovan Building] be under construction," he added.

Moving on, the board addressed the $11 million in funds they lent to the NFTA in order to prevent expiration.  The NFTA used the funds to purchase 24 brand new hybrid buses, a task they would not have been able to complete without the money from the ECHDC.  The board sought recoupment of the funds.  The NFTA will be paying them back over the next four years, including $2.6 million in 2009.  The board discussed using the return on their money on the commercial slip project.

Obviously, all eyes are on the former Aud site.  The ECHDC approved the contract issued by Zoladz Construction Company at well below the estimated demolition price of approximately $4 million.  Zoladz will provide structural support at the site--among other duties--for a low bid of $2,854,973.  Mayor Brown strongly encouraged that the contractors do their best to hire at least a 30% minority and women workforce.

The famous orange Aud seats that were removed by DEMCO are still available and being sold for $299 apiece.  ECHDC voted to allow DEMCO to sell them, and will take 60% of the price for the first 400 seats, and will allow DEMCO to take 100% of the revenue from the last 200 seats.  DEMCO is also undertaking costs for shipping and packaging.  The estimated $72,000 in revenue for ECHDC will be used for further waterfront development.

After the board voted on the aforementioned contracts, they held an informational lecture on their work.  In the renovation of the Aud and the ongoing renovation of the Donovan Building, roughly 180,386 man-hours were required.  Of those hours, 54.7% went to minority workers, well above their 30% target.

The unveiling of the Canal Side plans have stirred quite a bit of discussion from parties on both sides of the fence.  The board noted that bids for construction have been coming in at good pricing. 

"We're on the verge of the most significant improvement project in Buffalo's history," Larry Quinn noted.

They also addressed the concerns of the Marine Drive residents who complained that the ECHDC began construction on the parking garage without permission, when in actuality, were seeing a work-crew perform maintenance on a sewer drain.  They also noted that 200 of the  600 units had signed the petition for more information, not 400.

"They're claiming pollution concerns in their opposition to the garage, which is understandable.  But with their proximity so close to the skyway, we need to find out what they really want," Thomas Dee said.

Finally, the waterfront saw 200,000 visitors this past summer, with around 50,000 attending various programs held by the ECHDC.  30,000 people alone attended the Harbor Concert Series.

Check out the ECHDC website this Friday, as they plan on putting up a one-minute time lapse video of the Aud demolition.

(Thanks to WCPerspective for help!)