Buffalo Rising Online

Oct 7th, 4:10pm By Elena Cala Buscarino

Ontario Specialty Contracting Inc.(OSC) has been chosen by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors to perform demolition on the Memorial Auditorium. The ECHDC authorized a nearly $1.5M contract with the Buffalo-based firm, the lowest bidders for the demo out of 11 companies.

In addition, OSC will grind the concrete for reuse, rather than simply disposing of it.

The demolition contract directs OSC to carry out the work within a 5-month window beginning this November. OSC was responsible for demolition of the Westinghouse Plant on Genesee, the old Roswell Park Memorial Hospital and the High Street Clinic.

Within the contract $177K has been alloted "to cover the costs of removing various architectural elements requested by the City of Buffalo." These elements, originally consisted of a seal of the City of Buffalo, and eagle and cornerstones. Though there is no definite plan at this time, the elements are supposed to be reformed into a memorial and displayed on-site at some point in the future.

An alternative to that plan has the entire doorway structure being saved also, but there are no actual plans, and the ECHDC board asked Mayor Brown to find out what the City Preservation Board cares to do.

A contingency fee of 10% was also authorized for change orders that may occur, in the case of additional asbestos discovery or further soil environmental testing needs. It was noted that the canal was backfilled under the building, and there is no clue as to what it may have been filled with. In addition, it was voted on that any change orders exceeding $25K would need to pass board approval.

ECHDC plans to pay for the Aud demolition contract through monies received via an agreement with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and remaining grant funds provided by the County of Erie for asbestos remediation.

ECHDC Chairman Jordan Levy stated that in all hiring procedures, preference will be given to local concerns and individuals as part of Affirmative Action and in deference to Mayor Byron Brown's wishes.

Levy also expressed concern over any items of interest that might be found as demolition proceeds. Mayor Brown answered that the Aud was already picked over when he came into office and that by the time an agreement was reached with ECHDC, everything else was taken out. It was stated, that were anything to be found, the city would have first rights.

Aditionally, Empire State Development (ESD) Upstate President Dennis Mullen was named Interim ECHDC President, effective immediately. Mullen, who succeeds Chuck Rosenow, will be charged with the task of overseeing the corporation’s operations until a new President is selected, following an anticipated national candidate search.

“We’re excited with Dennis Mullen’s willingness to step in and make sure that ECHDC has proper administrative leadership while we search for a new President,” said Jordan Levy, chairman, Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation. “His leadership will guarantee the agency’s stability during the executive transition phase, and allow him to learn deeply about what we do and the critical nature of this project to our region.”

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is a subsidiary agency of Empire State Development Corporation. Its vision is to revitalize Western New York's waterfront and restore economic growth to Buffalo based on the region's legacy of pride, urban significance and natural beauty. ESD is the New York's chief economic development agency and also oversees the marketing of "I Love NY," the state's iconic tourism brand. For more information, visit www.eriecanalharbor.com, or www.nylovesbiz.com.

Above; Outgoing ECHDC Chair Chuck Rosenow shows plans for preserving portions of the Aud's architecture.