A Buffalonian is posing the question about whether there is an opportunity for this city to expand its inner water ways. Now that we are finally taking advantage of the Buffalo River and the Erie Canal, and hopefully some day soon the Scajaquada River, what are the possibilities that we might see additional waterways in the future? Don’t laugh. We did it for the Pan American Exposition, and we have been extending faux canals into the Inner Harbor.
I think Buffalo has this potential, obviously expensive, but it is cool to make people think. Especially relevant to the city with the massive influx of kayakers. In my opinion, the Scajaquada Creek is an awesome little gem to kayak under the tunnels of the ugly expressway. Obviously building a canal system is expensive, but I would love if the vision was out there; especially as they look to build out the masterplan of Canalside.
Right now, in Venice Beach, CA., a real estate developer is banking on the location a canal system on one of the roads in Venice CA. Back in the day, a number of the residential streets in Venice were actually canals. In 1905, it was called Venice of America (see here). If this developer has his way, these streets might actually be returned to waterways.
Personally, I think that Kelly Island (Buffalo’s Middle Harbor) is the perfect spot to build a series of canals – there were once a number of dry docks on the island, which essentially simulated canal inlets.
We have now seen what water can do for our economy. There’s no reason not to imagine the possibilities, now that our city is under steady transformations. If these types of opportunities do present themselves, then there’s no reason why we shouldn’t consider them.
In fact, one of the biggest no-brainers might be sitting right in front of our eyes. Remove the I-190 along the Niagara River. Replace it with the truncated Erie Canal waterway, and then develop on both sides with pedestrian bridges traversing it the entire way.
Lead image: Venice of America circa 1918. Courtesy of the USC Libraries – California Historical Society Collection. Buffalo Drydock photo: Wikimapia