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For Immediate Release:
April 13, 2010
Contact:
Laura Magee (ESD) |
lmagee@esd.ny.gov | 716.846.8239
ECHDC Board Authorizes Agreement with Buffalo
Place, Easement at Aud Site
State agency approvals advance Canal Side project, set up
exciting summer at the harbor
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of
Directors met today and approved several measures, including an
amended agreement with Buffalo Place, Inc. and an easement to
National Grid at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium site.
The board extended the operating agreement with Buffalo Place Inc.
by one year and ECHDC will provide funds not to exceed $340,000 for
operation, maintenance and special event services at the Erie Canal
Harbor site, located within the Canal Side project area. ECHDC will
make periodic disbursements to Buffalo Place on a reimbursement
basis, in addition to lump-sum payments for the official City of
Buffalo July 4 celebration and the Buffalo Place Rocks the Harbor
concert series.
“ECHDC’s relationship with Buffalo Place, Inc. is critical, as the
organization is our partner in stimulating economic growth downtown
and positively impacting the experience of visitors and residents by
providing exciting programming at the Canal Side site,” said ECHDC
Chairman Jordan Levy. “In the past couple of weeks, Buffalo Place
announced several performers for the 2010 Buffalo Place Rocks the
Harbor Series, like O.A.R. and moe., and we look forward to
announcing more programming, such as educational programs,
children’s activities, tours and more in the coming months.”
ECHDC also authorized an easement to National Grid at the site of
the former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (the “Aud”) in order to
install electrical transmission lines to service the Canal Side
project. Currently, this infrastructure is located on the ECHDC-owned
Aud site but the transmission lines need to be relocated so that
future development on the Aud site will not be affected. National
Grid has studied various locations where its network could be
relocated and found it impractical to relocate within the City of
Buffalo right-of-way along Marine Drive. Instead, ECHDC staff worked
with National Grid to identify an area on the Aud site that will
accommodate National Grid but not prohibit development of the parcel
by ECHDC.
“Without the easement, National Grid would be unable to relocate the
existing lines currently situated on the Aud parcel until another
location is identified, significantly delaying construction on the
Canal Side project,” said ECHDC President Thomas Dee. “Needless to
say, this is a vital component in our efforts to advance the inner
harbor’s revitalization.”
In other board action, the directors approved a resolution
expressing the corporation’s support for the continued viability of
the Marine Drive apartment complex as moderate income housing and
approved a final scoping project with the qualification that the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will include an analysis
of the impact of any bridge on recreational boating.
Also, earlier this week, ECHDC posted a Request for Proposal (RFP)
for a Cultural Experience Master Plan on the Contract Reporter.
ECHDC is seeking proposals from consultants with specific experience
in community arts, culture and museum/experiential planning and
design to facilitate the development of a Visitor Experience Master
Plan for the Canal Side project. The Visitor Experience Master Plan
will reflect the community’s desire to utilize arts and culture to
enhance the Canal Side project into an indoor/outdoor visitor space
offering an array of appealing activities integrating museum and
cultural experiences, recreational activities, a public market,
waterside and special events, as well as the creation of a “portal”
to all resources in the Western New York region. Proposals are due
at noon on May 7, 2010.
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is a subsidiary agency of
Empire State Development Corporation (ESD). Its vision is to
revitalize Western New York's waterfront and restore economic growth
to Buffalo based on the region's legacy of pride, urban significance
and natural beauty. ESD is New York's chief economic development
agency and also oversees the marketing of "I Love NY," the state's
iconic tourism brand. For more information, please visit
www.eriecanalharbor.com
or www.nylovesbiz.com.
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