The Board of Directors of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) today voted to approve the modified Canal Side General Project Plan, with amendments that will ensure that the proposed public canal system will follow the historic path of the Erie Canal. The Board tabled the proposed underground parking ramp at the Aud site, citing concerns that had been expressed by the community during the recent public outreach period. In addition, ECHDC Chair Jordan Levy announced a series of steps that will be implemented over the next several months in order promote activity and improve conditions on the Inner and Outer harbors this summer.
"After several weeks of listening and learning, we have heard a lot that we agree with and will now incorporate into our planning," said Jordan Levy. "We are excited and enthusiastic about this new and improved design, and hope that the community will respond favorably as well."
The new design for the canal will match the alignment of the original Erie Canal as it came through downtown Buffalo, culminating at the Commercial Slip. The canal will be one continuous body of water, lined by towpaths on either side. The goal is to capture the look and feel of the original Canal District, with some small compromises to deal with the Skyway, the Hamburg drain, security concerns and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
The underground parking garage that had been proposed on the north side of the Aud block has been tabled, pending further study and review. Reservations about the garage had been cited by members of the public during the comment period on the MGPP, and today's action by the Board was in response to those concerns. "Our goal is to work on developing the district, expanding opportunities and events for the public. If, down the road, it becomes clear that additional parking is required, the board will be able to revisit the issue at that time," said Levy.
ECHDC conducted a series of meetings, hearings and outreach efforts over the past several weeks, in order to gather input and ideas from the Western New York community regarding waterfront development. These sessions indicated that, in addition to wanting to pursue longer term, historically accurate development on the waterfront, the public is eager to embrace a series of "lighter, quicker, cheaper" proposals that can be implemented this summer.
These low cost/high impact actions will include:
1. The establishment of three sub-committees, tasked with studying the Historic District, the Buffalo River and the Outer Harbor. These committees will be chaired by Jordan Levy, Julie Barrett O'Neill and David Colligan, respectively. ECHDC is pursuing a broad spectrum of community participation, reflecting the diversity of the Western New York community and including many of the individuals who have been vocal about the previous direction of the project. These committees will be responsible for issuing their first report to the ECHDC board of directors by February's meeting, with the objective of making things happen this summer on the waterfront.
2. Retaining the services of Fred Kent to assist Canal Side's architectural firm, EEK, with planning for all three sub-committees and to assist with summer 2011 programs. In particular, the idea of a market using temporary tent structures was an idea that received broad support during the recent comment period. ECHDC will seek to implement such a market space in the historic district this summer.
3. Working closely with Buffalo's preservationist community to explore the necessary steps towards the construction of a canopied pavilion on the Inner Harbor. The 2004 Master Plan called for such a structure and ECHDC embraces its development.
4. Committing half of the necessary funds (up to $2 million) for the creation of Lakeside Meadows Park on 120 acres of Outer Harbor land and working with the NFTA and the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, with the park opening this coming summer.
5. Working towards adding additional boat slips and marina services for this summer's boating season, including washroom, shower and laundry facilities, so that Canalside can become a destination for boaters from all parts of the Great Lakes.
6. Working with NFTA to transfer ownership of Outer Harbor land to ECHDC this spring, so that the redevelopment of this important parcel of land can be added to ECHDC's planning process.
7. Entering into a study with the NFTA about the feasibility of converting Gallagher Beach into a sand covered swimming beach.
8. Partnering with the Buffalo Lighthouse Association and supply funds to restore the historic Buffalo Lighthouse in time for the 2011 Annual Conference of the Historic Trust.
9. Providing funds to enhance and maintain the newly developed Outer Harbor Parkway. This important new resource should be sustained in an interim period before sustainable revenue resources become available as a result of new development. To this end, the corporation will seek to engage the services of a non-profit with relative expertise and experience to enhance and maintain the landscaping and other amenities.
I like the ground level images and the idea of building the structure and letting business fill in.
Hopefully this moves forward and there is no obstruction.
And please no "living wage" talk. No business, not spot coffee, not urban threads, not blue monk, not even walmart would move to an area being told what they must spend on employees.