Connecting our developing waterfront to our central business district is essential to downtown revitalization.  While the inner and outer harbors are so close you could practically throw a rock between the two, when trying to drive from downtown to the outer harbor you are taken on a convoluted path of confusing, one-way streets that leads to a less than inspiring destination.  Progress over the last few months seeks to completely transform this waterfront destination. 

Outer Harbor Parkway
Travel along Fuhrmann Boulevard today and you will see something new – construction trucks and workers.  A $55 million project is underway to change this unsafe and underutilized road into a two-way tree-lined parkway running parallel to the Outer Harbor. 

In addition to creating the infrastructure that can get people to the water’s edge we wanted to make the waterfront land surrounding the parkway an exciting public destination. We put together a volunteer, citizen panel comprised of local landscape and design experts to work with the New York State Department of Transportation on incorporating landscape and urban design elements into the project.  The team’s combined efforts will result in a gently curving parkway with decorative lighting and ample street-side parking; a pedestrian/bicycle path with benches and beautiful landscaping, new fishing stations, picnic pavilions and boardwalks. 

Outer Harbor Greenbelt
Dramatic improvements are underway along the 6,600 feet of Lake Erie shoreline, starting at the now demolished Pier Restaurant, from the Bell Slip to Terminal B of Buffalo’s port facilities. This $14 million Greenbelt project will be completed this spring and will include a recreational path, decorative landscaping, stream-bank stabilization and construction of a shallow-water fish habitat along the Bell Slip.

Buffalo Lighthouse & Coast Guard Property
Senator Clinton has been a strong and active partner on an effort which will open up public access to the historic lighthouse and valuable waterfront land near the site of the Buffalo Coast Guard station.  Sector Buffalo currently occupies approximately 31 acres on the City of Buffalo’s Outer Harbor.  The present configuration of the base prevents public access to a significant portion of the City’s waterfront, including one of our community’s most historic landmarks, the Buffalo Lighthouse.  The Coast Guard has indicated that Sector Buffalo occupies a site that is too large for its needs.  In 2003 the Coast Guard drew up a preliminary plan to upgrade facilities – some of which are over 70 years old – and consolidate them in a way that would meet its operational needs and allow for future growth.  $3.1 million in federal funding was included in the 2007 appropriations bill for preliminary engineering and design work which will begin this year.

NFTA Land Transfer and Lakeside Meadows Investment
Just recently, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding allowing for the transfer of 111 acres of Outer Harbor land to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) for a greenfield redevelopment project.  ECHDC will spend $3 million in improvements on the site, being named Lakeside Meadows, which will take place on the land between the Skyway and the water’s edge.  This initial investment will convert land currently barren and unsightly into property welcoming to the public and attractive to private investors interested in residential and commercial development along this site.

Skyway Removal and New Bridge Connections
Two million dollars in Federal Highway funds was designated to start the first phase of a project to construct an at grade bridge between the inner and outer harbors.  This phase consists of an environmental study and preliminary engineering to investigate possible locations for the bridge connecting downtown Buffalo to the new Outer Harbor waterfront parkway.  Empire State Development has agreed to serve as lead agent for the study of a new bridge.  Bridge locations that have been considered include Michigan Avenue, Main Street and Erie Street. 

Skyway removal is a three step process.  First we must construct the Waterfront Parkway which provides attractive, two-way access to the water’s edge.  Next we need to build bridge that connects the inner harbor to the new Parkway.  And finally, we can remove the Skyway once its alternative is in place. 

For Western New York to thrive we must take advantage of those things that are naturally ours – an abundance of cultural and architecture treasures; hard-working and well-educated people; and great access to fresh water.  Over the next 12 to 36 months our waterfront is going to take on dramatically different look and feel.  By creating the framework that builds community excitement we will in turn attract economic development that leads to regional investment and growth. 

Below you will find the latest on Brian;s efforts to advance waterfront development in Erie and Chautauqua Counties.

CONGRESSMAN HIGGINS, MAYOR BROWN ANNOUNCE PLANS TO INSTALL A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA IN THE OUTER HARBOR AREA

New Shoreline Trail on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor Open to Public

Erie Canal Harbor Officially Opens to Public