The first time that I had a chance to examine the overall layout of the Inner Harbor was at a waterfront discussion during Buffalo Old Home Week. Florine Luhr, Project Director with the Empire State Development Corporation presented the audience with an overview of the preferred master plan's scope (see continue), and it was then that I realized that a tour was in order. Weeks later we coordinated a guided walk, through a section of waterfront that is once again known as Buffalo's Erie Canal Harbor.
Many of the questions that I had revolved around public access to the site and the amenities that would one day be available. Would there be access by cars... what sort of private vs public features could we expect to see... and when will it be open to the public? Before I was given my tour I was first invited to an informal Q&A session with Florine, Thomas Blanchard (DIrector, Research and Planning), Paul Pfeiffer (Project Manager), and Timothy Doolittle (Regional Director), all with Empire State Development. The four wanted to help bring me up to speed with the current direction of the harbor plans, while providing a capsulated version of what they described as a very complex project.
One of my first discoveries was that the plan (12.5 waterfront acres) had been somewhat altered from the original schematic shown above. For example, a strip of the 'greenway trail', which was found towards the Northern section of the site, had now been replaced by a water feature. That feature will most likely be used for contained water activities (such as paddling canoes and kayaks, etc), and if Bass Pro does move forward there might be as many as 30-40 demonstration boats at any given time. The parcel to the right of Perry Street has also been updated and will serve as a small boat harbor, likely to be completed by the end of next fall. That stretch of land (soon to be water) will act as a natural divide between the Canal District and the DL&W Terminal, though there will be a walkway/bike path that connects the two. This walkway will also serve to connect the Erie Basin Marina with Riverfest Park.
Another feature that I was not too familiar with was how the docking system would work. In an earlier post we pointed out the commercial slip and the docking amenities that would be incorporated such as electric. What I didn't know was that there was to be a series of floating docks that would run along the face of the site. This is where boaters will eventually tie up and before climbing up to a wooden boardwalk that also runs the same length. Once on top of the boardwalk people will be greeted by a series of grassy stretches where they can sit out and enjoy the harbor. This is also where plans will enfold to build a plaza with stage to host concerts and public events throughout the warmer months.
A canal era bowstring bridge is currently in the process of being built that will cross the commercial strip allowing visitors to interact between the Naval Yard and the public harbor. The bridge is due to arrive by barge sometime around November 15th. That arrival should signify an exciting moment, as a 'new historic' milestone is marked by the addition of an iconic monument. A companion bridge will arrive at a later date to be positioned where a second bridge once stood. These recreations are made to resemble the Canal Terminus as it once looked years ago. By the end of this calendar year, many of these features will have taken shape. These bridges will also be dramatically lit at night thanks to a $250,000 grant from National Grid.
There are designated plots of land that have been reserved for private development. Tom Blanchard described the area vividly while pointing to reference markers along the tour (see slide show). Once the current set of plans is complete, sections of private land will be parceled off (possible lease to own) to interested developers whose ideas are consistent with the underlying theme of the Canal District. These restaurants, shops and markets would be no more than four-storeys tall, and the designs would have to follow a set of pre-determined design standards. These wharf-looking structures will ultimately represent a look and feel that will pay homage to our past (cross your fingers).
This project has been a test for the developers who have had to come up with very ingenious solutions to a few major problems. "We had nothing to model this project after," Tom explained to me. "What to do about the Hamburg Drain was a big hurdle. We had to build a $2,000,000 pump to keep debris (among other things) out of the Commercial Slip. This is a very complicated endeavor, but there was no moving the drain... so we had to keep the water moving." I then asked him what sort of access the automobile would have inside the harbor footprint. "Cars will have access along low speed, one way cobblestone streets. We are still trying to figure out what to do with a small patch of original cobblestones where Lloyd Street runs. We like the fact that they are original remnants, but we fear that someone will trip on them due to their uneven nature. The entire project has been major work because we are dealing with a historic site. Take the canal walls for example. Each one of the stones (500 total) had to be removed and marked so that we could replace them in their original spots. Not all of the stones survived the years, so we have designed plaques to mark each historic stone.
I am sure that many of you have seen the new Naval Museum that is currently being erected. Many of the jets and boats that you see scattered about the site will one day be housed in the museum. I found it fascinating that in order to save money the crews actually worked around these military objects. The museum will not only house some very cool old ships and nautical displays, it will one day have a cafe slip-side. That means that visitors will be able to come down to the harbor to eat and drink while watching the boats coming in and out. Interpretive lawns, grass slopes and the towpath will act as picnic areas, while an illuminated stone labyrinth (remnants of the old Union Steamship building) acts as a playground for urban explorers.
The Light Rail will pull up to the Harbor Project to unload visitors in the not too distant future... and will hopefully continue on to the DL&W Market (or Convention Center... or something). There is parking for 350 cars near the site. People will also arrive in boats -finally a place to dock and enjoy the city - and hopefully catch a water taxi down the Buffalo River (more on that later). We can look forward to a Visitor's Center, interpretive panels, bronze sculptures, bronze medallions in the sidewalks, and a gallery/theater in the Naval Museum. Things are looking good for the Inner Harbor. With the right private investment, once the groundwork has been set, we will finally have a waterfront feature that we can all be proud of.
All in all there are $15,000,000 in active construction projects with an outstanding $7,000,000 more to go. As the project continues so will the job of securing the remaining funds.
