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For Immediate Release:
December 14, 2010
Contact:
Erich Weyant, (716) 846-8258
ECHDC Gains Approval for Modified Plan
Empire State Development Board approves changes that will
improve the historical accuracy of the public canals
The Board of Directors of the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC)
today voted unanimously to approve the modified Canal Side General
Project Plan (MGPP), paving the way for the construction of public
canals in downtown Buffalo.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) had begun the
approval process for the MGPP in October. During the course of the
public comment period, members of the community expressed the desire
for more time to review the plan and offer suggestions.
At the November 16, 2010 board meeting, ECHDC Chairman Jordan Levy
announced that the comment period would be extended and called for a
series of “open house” sessions that would enable the public to
interact with ECHDC staff, review the plans and submit ideas. In the
wake of these meetings, the ECHDC board voted to approve the MGPP on
November 29, 2010, with significant revisions, including the tabling
of the underground parking a garage on the Aud Block and the
decision to change the alignment of the public canal system to
better interpret the historic character of the original Erie Canal.
In order to be able to move forward with this revised plan, ECHDC
needed the approval of its parent corporation, ESDC. That approval
was secured today when the members of the ESDC board voted
unanimously to approve the revised MGPP. This approval means that
the project can be put out to bid in the spring of 2011, with
construction commencing in late summer 2011.
“Our goal is to capture the look and feel of the original Canal
District, with some small compromises to deal with the Skyway, the
Hamburg drain, security concerns and Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) requirements. I thank Chairman Mullen and the members of the
board for their support of this new direction.”
“We heard two messages from the public during our outreach sessions:
‘Make it authentic, and get it done without delay’,” said Erie Canal
Development Corporation President Thomas P. Dee. “This MGPP will
allow us to do both. We can begin the construction process in the
next few months, and what we build will respectfully interpret the
look and feel of the original Canal District. The summer of 2012
will be a very good time for Buffalo”
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is a subsidiary agency of
Empire State Development Corporation whose 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.
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