Waterfront

WaterfrontSM.JPGInvesting in our Future

Improving and connecting our waterfront is essential to Western New York’s future. Brian believes by making the necessary investments in public infrastructure that build on our history and provide a uniquely Western New York experience, we set the stage for long-term private sector investment.  Significant progress has been made over the last several months toward the goal of completely transforming our waterfront.

 

Outer Harbor Parkway

A $80 million project was recently completed aimed at changing Fuhrmann Boulevard from an 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, attractive to visitors and private investment. 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 produced 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.  Additional “node” projects that connect to the Parkway and provide further access and amenities are currently under construction. 

 

Outer Harbor Greenbelt

OuterHarbor.JPGImprovements were made 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, to preserve the water’s edge for public access and prepare the area for development. The $14 million Greenbelt project provides a recreational path, decorative landscaping, construction of a shallow-water fish habitat along the Bell Slip, and stream-bank stabilization along the Outer Harbor.
 

 

Buffalo Lighthouse & Coast Guard Property

Lighthouse.JPGBrian has been working with the Coast Guard to 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 acres of land at the foot of the new Outer Harbor Parkway. 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. Brian has secured $6.1 million in federal funding to begin public work on creating public access and enhancements and the northern edge of the Coast Guard property.

 

Canal Side

July 2008  marked the opening of Erie Canal Harbor Commercial Slip.  This $53 million project features substantial public open space, boat docks, the wooden-plank Central Wharf, and a Whipple Truss foot bridge at Buffalo’s Inner Harbor.  Demolition of Buffalo Memorial Auditorium was also completed shortly after, clearing the way for new development.

10-29-10 Cobblestone Streets.JPGIn the fall of 2010 work was finished on a project to reconstruct historic cobblestone streets at Canal Side.  The project to reconstruct Prime, Lloyd, Perry and Hanover, also included installation of granite curbs; exposed aggregate concrete sidewalks; new street lighting, landscaping and traffic signal work. Approximately eighty percent of the cobble pavers on Lloyd Street were salvaged directly from the site.  The cobbles were unearthed, cleaned and reset in near proximity to their original locations.  The project was paid for with $3.8 million in federal funds, including $2.3 million in Recovery Act dollars.

Reconstruction of the historic canals will be the focus during the next phase of the Canal Side project.

 

Buffalo Harbor Bridge

Two million dollars in Federal Highway funds and two million dollars in New York Power Authority settlement dollars were designated to start the first phase of a project to construct a 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 have been narrowed down to Main Street and Erie Street.

Skyway removal is a three step process. We’ve completed the first step; construction of 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.