The Buffalo Rising Roundtable welcomed Erie County Harbor Development Corporation Board Chairman Jordan Levy for our podcast discussion this week. Newell was off doing Powder Keg Festival press, which you can read about in this Donn Esmonde Buffalo News column. Note that Levy says in the podcast that we can use a thousand more Newells, and Esmonde writes that Newell "makes Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm look like a chronic whiner," and it would be hard to disagree with either of those assessments.
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We invite you to read the Esmonde article, but please don't miss the conversation with Levy in this full 26-minute podcast. In it, Levy candidly discusses the developments at Canal Side, as well as the great possibility that Bass Pro will be an anchor there "if we don't do anything to screw it up."
Of the skeptics, Levy says, "We're working feverishly toward development of this project...The truth of the matter is, until we actually complete something, I expect everyone should be cynical because [Buffalo has] programmed people to be that way. I'm confident we're going to build something. I'm confident its going to be extraordinary. I believe strongly that it's a transformational activity in the history of this region. Bass Pro is a component."
Beyond that, Levy praises Congressman Brian Higgins in his ability to get things done. We registered Levy's gratitude for Higgins' support of Canal Side. As Levy says, Higgins has been a big proponent of developing the canal, and he's been a good friend to the ECHDC.
In addition to Levy's first-hand and fresh information about Canal Side, he has a certain sensitivity to public concerns and a deep understanding of how the general public thinks. All the while, Levy keeps his sights set on what he believes will be an unparalleled economic generator in the Buffalo area.
And speaking of Buffalo, Levy will soon be leaving his "vacation in the suburbs" home and returning to city living. He's worked here, played here, and this seems the perfect time to settle in for good.
It all sounds great.
I just hope we are all young enough to enjoy it by the time its completed.