In yet another process stumble for the ill-fated Peace Bridge Expansion, the Federal Highway Administration has been directed back to the table to meet with consulting parties who have been kept largely in the dark on key aspects of the project. Yesterday, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP, the Federal Government’s official preservation advisory body) requested Federal Highway Administration to reinstate Consulting Party meetings for the Peace Bridge Expansion project, something that hasn’t happened since July, 2008.
In addition to the perennial issue of a lack of meaningful stakeholder engagement and communication with the bridge’s closest neighbors, the concerns involve — as always — impact on a historic waterfront neighborhood and a project scope that continues to exclude a consideration of meaningful alternatives.
Beyond pointing out that the FHWA hasn’t met with the Consulting Parties since July 2008 (and calling on it do so), the ACHP pointed out in its letter that the National Trust for Historic Preservation “also indicated that the mitigation measures contained in the Memorandum of Agreement inadequately address the major threat to the National Register-eligible Prospect Hill Historic District … and that FHWA has not responded to earlier recommendations that it could avoid or dramatically reduce this impact if the agencies made an effort to develop creative solutions and compromises.”
The letter also refers to written objections received by ACHP from numerous stakeholders. “All of these parties express similar concerns about the consultation process and the sufficiency of the measures … to mitigate the project’s effects on historic properties.” The letter also calls input from consulting parties and transparency “insufficient”. It suggests additional project clarification is needed, and specifically calls for a reduction of the “size or configuration” of the visitor center, duty-free shop, and parking gargage to reduce impacts.
Responding to this development, the Columbus Park-Prospect Hill neighbors released the following statement today:
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) told Robert Davies, Upstate Team Leader for the Federal Highway Administration, that they agree with the National Trust, local preservationists, and community residents that circulating a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in support of the Peace Bridge Expansion project is premature (see attached letter). In a reversal of their earlier position, the ACHP now states that they failed to recognize “the level of interest” among the consulting parties, concluding that the FHWA should resume meeting with consulting parties to assess the “sufficiency of the measures contained in the MOA to mitigate the project’s effects on historic preservation.”
Kathy Mecca, community activist and long-time resident of the Prospect Hill historic district, who has attended Section 106 Consulting Party meetings for more than two years, credits the ACHP ‘change of heart’ to the vigilant work of the National Trust, local preservation organizations and neighborhood residents. “We have never lost faith in the system,” said Mecca, “because our story is being told by the highest caliber professionals in the preservation field. That alone is a measure of how important this historic district is to the City of Buffalo, the WNY region and the nation.”
Other residents of Prospect Hill also got the attention of the ACHP. “None of the numerous objections raised by the other Section 106 consulting parties have been addressed,” Linda DeTine wrote. “Consulting parties were left out of the drafting of the MOA and never even saw a copy of the draft before it was sent out. “
One of the most important objections raised is the lack of alternatives to the Peace Bridge Project. “That is the very heart of the issue,” says Carole Perla, thirty-year resident of Columbus Parkway. “We have never been able to discuss alternatives to irreversibly destroying this community. Location matters. The PBA does not have the exclusive right to build an international bridge. Before the PBA starts to seize private property, the public has the right to know what else is out there.”
In a recent letter to Ms. Perla, NYS Assemblyman Sam Hoyt agrees that the project has left numerous and substantial issues raised by residents unanswered. “Buffalo needs more strong neighborhoods, especially waterfront neighborhoods that can attract home ownership and investment,” writes Mr. Hoyt. “Thoughtful and considerate project planning are not complete. The plan in its current form would be an irreversible mistake that could devastate this community.”
Kate Cody, homeowner and Consulting Party member agrees, “I refused to sign the MOA because the Federal Highway Authority and the Public Bridge Authority failed to provide a plan that will adequately avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects of the Project on these properties. I have yet to see a current draft of the final plan for the Peace Bridge Expansion Project.”
In fact, states Mecca, none of the Consulting Parties have seen the current draft of the Environmental Impact Statement. “Before we even get to complete one process, the Public Bridge Authority is on to the next. Didn’t they (PBA) just announce they are considering building the bridge first and not the truck plaza? That would mean starting all over again.”
The ACHP’s decision will insure that mitigation of historic properties impacted by the current expansion project be resolved before the FHWA can move the project forward. “This should not be misconstrued as another delay by the preservation community,” said Mecca. “We are ordinary tax payers facing extraordinary circumstances.”
The amount of private property being seized by the American and Canadian Bi-National Public Bridge Authority is unprecedented in the history of Buffalo and will be used for the purpose of building a duty free shop, 500 space parking garage, and visitor’s center. “We are immensely grateful to the ACHP for recognizing the historic significance behind this far reaching action,” Mecca said. “The ACHP’s mission is to preserve America’s Heritage. They understand that Prospect Hill is a place in history that matters.”
It’s time to get this right — the stakes are too DAMN high!