Work on Canal Side is expected to start as soon as mid-August. An update on the Canal Side project was provided at the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation's (ECHDC) Board of Directors Meeting this morning. The Board unanimously adopted the Statement of Findings for the project as well as the overall inner harbor General Project Plan, a necessary step before construction can begin. The documents must also be approved by the Empire State Development Corporation. A vote could occur as soon as next week.
A design/build Request for Proposals (RFP) will be going out to four firms at the end of the month for the public infrastructure work that includes below grade parking under Bass Pro, Canal Side hall, park and canals. The ECHDC. When the environmental review process is complete, the ECHDC will have legal authority to begin land transfer negotiations with the City.
Benderson Development's role in the Canal Side project appears to be in doubt.
"We're at a crossroads with the other development parcels, we are either going to enter into an agreement with Benderson or we're going to RFP those parcels to individual developers in Buffalo," said Larry Quinn Chairman, Canal Side Development Committee. "We'll probably want to address that at our next meeting, because, without making more progress with Benderson we probably will. When all that's done, we're looking at a start of construction of pretty much of everything in phase one the second week of August."
"It's a real project, it's all really going to happen now," said Quinn.
A draft lease agreement is ready to send to Bass Pro for review. Once the environmental document is adopted, ECHDC will have legal authorization to enter into a contract with Bass Pro. Negotiations on the contract are expected to take "a few months."
According to Thomas Dee, ECHDC President, Bass Pro has invested over $1 million to date designing their store.
"They are fully engaged, they just turned over load designs necessary to finish the design of the below grade parking," said Dee.
"RFP those parcels to individual developers in Buffalo"
Yeah, do this, please. Seriously!
Just lay out the lots, rigorously enforce a good set of architectural and zoning rules that ensure good urbanism and a coherent visual style, and let everyone go to town on it.
I wonder if the subtext of this is that Benderson has done a disappointing job at recruiting major retailers to Canal Side...
RE: RFP individual developers: I got a bit excited momentarily, too. I agree with exactly what you're calling for. But my impression is that we are still going to get suburban mall rather than urban mixed use neighborhood.
I agree with your subtext as well. Retail is in the freezer in strong established locations, much less highly speculative ones like this.