Making Buffalo’s Brownshores Green
Tifft Nature preserve (photo) was a landfill. Times Beach was another disposal site. Steel Winds has been constructed on land that was once part of a massive steel facility. Buffalo appears to have a growing tradition of ‘greening’ former industrial sites, especially along its waterfront. Is this the best use for these lands? With the emphasis on the waterfront, does this help create an attractive and sustainable community?
An ongoing example of a ‘brownshore’ redevelopment project is the former Union Ship Canal, now the center of the Lakeside Commerce Park. Located on the Buffalo-Lackawanna border it is described as a ‘smart growth’ urban commerce park by the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. With remediation to residential standards not economically feasible in an area of housing surplus, light industry and office are the desired reuse of this land. The area directly around the canal is designed to serve as green space and parkland.
Can this land be reused in an economical and ecological beneficial way? Does public green space have more of an appeal if it is located amongst businesses that advocate for ‘green’ industry and alternative energy? With discussion of additional wind turbines being constructed and the proximity to nature preserves like Tifft and Times Beach, creating a corridor of sustainable development on top of the history of heavy contamination could create a leading example for brownfield redevelopment.
The Lakeside Commerce Park is not the only potential location for reuse and investment in green commercial enterprises. The Niagara River and Buffalo River are lined with former industrial sites like grain elevators. Innovative thinking and a partnership of public and private investment could help place Buffalo amongst the leading communities in green redevelopment.
What Others Have To Say
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zenfur
So the idea here isn't so much greenspace and condos like I've heard before....but greenspace and 'sustainable' industry. Fits Buffalo's identity, thats for sure!
Though, I can't imagine even sustainable industry as not having a localized negative impact and detering recreational use and public enjoyment....unless they were completely closed loop....the turbines generate noise pollution up close (that wouldn't stop me from riding a bike to gawk at them)...ethanol plants would smell (that might stop me)... etc?
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pegger
Has anyone ever been to the Palm Springs area? Endless seas of windmills in the wind corridor that eventually creeped up the mountain sides. Through great PR and even postcards they have become a destination in themselves, But, they came at a high price in the form of goverment kickbacks an scenic loss. Once a foot hold was established and a precedent set, it has proliferated to the point that the once grand scenic view that announced to anyone traveling East from the Pacific Ocean that they were about to descend into the vast, sweeping desert was completely lost forever. The locals feel a trmendous sense of loss and receive practically no monetary benefit.
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