From Airplane Ramp To Dog Ramp To... Who Knows?
While I was visiting the Maritime Center this past summer I noticed this curious rendering hanging on the wall. As I stared at the depiction I narrowed in on the ramp that was seen leading down to the water. As I stared, I began to place (in my mind) where this was... or knowing John fairly well by that point, where this was intended to be. Suddenly it occurred to me that this could only be a proposal for the former airplane launch at LaSalle Park. Once I had focused in on the ramp, the rest of the image came into play.
In order to make this rendering work, there would have to be a manmade sea wall added to the park. That sea wall would offer protection for a small harbor where boats could be moored. To the right of the image are the existing condos that you see there today. The bike trail leading towards the back of the image is also there, as is the roadway off to the left (though that roadway should be moved to the rear of the park - away from the water's edge).
The land where you see this rendering looks like this right now. It's just waiting for investment. I would think that it would behoove The City to find financial partners for this part of LaSalle Park... maybe someone like Captain Pierre Wallinder who has been looking for a home for his Maritime Charter School. Maybe with the help of John Montague's vision that we see here, Pierre (or somebody with a vision) could look into investing in this parcel of underutilized land. If something were to happen there, it would only help to reinforce possible plans at Colonel Ward Pumping Station. Maybe there could even be a Master Plan someday? For a while this property was used as a place to take the dogs, but now that there is a dog park, this land is an open slate.
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STEEL
So logical to do something like this.
LaSalle Park is in such a prime location and is currently a dump. It is barely better and maybe not as nice as the outer harbor in its current condition.
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Buffalo21stcentury
I would triple the number of slips shown in that picture at the very least
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Buffalo21stcentury
Also a Maritime Museum should include the former Naval Yards in Black Rock where Adm Perry had his ships in the war of 1812. Buffalo was burned to the ground in that war and there is narry a peep for a resident or tourist to see. Yet, its a critical piece of Buffalo history.
http://www.andrle.com/markers/mark144.htm
Looking at a satellite map, this location is now a veritable spaghetti junction where the scajaquada meets the niagara expressway....so the Ward Pumping Station would be a better location. I just dont think this piece of history should be forgotten.
Anyone want to take up a collection to rebuilt Adm Perrys warwhip. What a way to compliment the WWII warships and planes at the Air & Naval Museum, and the WWI (Curtis Jennys) planes at the Aerospace Museum.
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PaulBuffalo
Buffalo21stcentury, thank you for mentioning the War of 1812. In my opinion, the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society has been negligent in its abilities to present the richness of Buffalo history. The remains of the War of 1812 seem invisible yet the importance of these events must be reintroduced to the public. Recently, I visited the Admiral Perry statue in Front Park, erected in 1915, and he stands, without context -- so lonely -- surrounded by a circular swath of asphalt.
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pier1sailing
The WNY Maritime Charter School with 400 cadets and mandatory NJROTC program have a "Main Campus" building on 266 Genesee. It is probably one of the very few US Maritime schools without access to any separate waterfront building, which is needed when you have a fixed schedule. Imagine a naval academy without access to the water?
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sbrof
I like the LaSalle idea here... it is currently a blocked off and useless public boat launch. If my memory serves me right it was shut down because of 'concerns' from residents in the Waterfront Village. This would be a huge group to win over for this site as a museum as well.
One of the major wins that this could do, similar to what the dog park has done would be to bring a whole new group of people to come and enjoy the park thereby making the investment done or proposed more tenable. As people have said, we have a very large park here but because of its isolation it is very underutilized.
Look at Riverside Park as a counter to this... the highway is on the far side of the park (which has its own drawbacks) but at least it allows the neighborhood to take advantage of this amenity. And with much of the lower west side changing from Downtown north and from Allentown west this park will be a needed resource for the quality of life for current and future residents.
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impressingagent
i believe this area has some septic functions. if they can be solved, a project like this would create a distinguishing presence for the park. Drastically improving the connectivity of our waterfront quadrants.
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MJWorthington
the park needs to be better integrated into the city. Right now it is a dead end off of porter separated by the I-190.
I'd suggest a long range plan of connecting the park to Lakefront Blvd. The condo owners would pry bitch, but so what. Open up the back section of the park for development between Dar Dr and the 190. Maybe berm the edge of 190 and load it up with trees. On both sides. Create the signature Hudson Stpedestrian bridge that was shown in the park master plans. You would now have two points of auto access and three for pedestrians. Residences facing the park and blocking the I190 would make it more inviting and create more life at the site on a regular basis. The northern tip can be used for buisness/maritime center/ etc type development.
Right now it is no different than Walden Pond Park in Lancaster. A drive in, drive out park that's unsderused except for "events" such a t-ball/softball leagues or the stry elderly man looking to escape the mrs. for a few and read his paper in the car.
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BackInBuffalo
Cool idea. Boats + Planes = Seaplanes. Wasn't there a time when Curtiss AND Consolodated built Seaplanes (Catalina PBYs?) here in Buffalo? With a proper seaplane dock, Jimmy Buffett could play at the Central Wharf ;)
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