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Project Status

View a timeline of the waterfront redevelopment effort here.
INNER HARBOR

Phase One - Complete

This phase, which encompassed the redevelopment of the Erie Canal Harbor into a new harbor with waterside and landside components, was an outgrowth of the Inner Harbor Development Project Master Plan completed in 1999. Those elements completed during Phase One include:

  • Relocation and rehabilitation of the three naval vessels to a new excavated Naval Basin west of their original location.
  • Relocation of memorials to a new Veterans Park.
  • Enhancement and expansion of existing esplanade facilities to create a continuous walkway along the water's edge.
  • Pedestrian connections from the waterfront esplanade to the proposed Phase Two Commercial Slip and to Scott Street.
  • Force Main relocation.

Phase Two - Complete May 2008

Phase Two of the Preferred Master Plan is designed to provide basic infrastructure for the full Master Plan with a priority of finished projects at the water's edge.

As in all phases, the design allows for incremental development. As additional funds are identified the site will be further enhanced as per the design vocabulary established in the Master Plan including historic finishes and interpretation.

Commercial Slip

  • A re-watered navigable Commercial Slip in alignment with original Commercial Slip.
  • A towpath/walkway on the west and east sides of the Commercial Slip.
  • Construction of a bowstring truss bridge.
  • Commercial Street reconstructed and made available for service and emergency access.
  • Steamboat Hotel and Lloyd Street ruins uncovered and preserved as an archeological site with a combination hard and grass surface.
  • Site of the former Union Block as an interpreted site with a grassy, sloped lawn.

Historic Streets

  • Reconstructed cobblestone street sections rebuilt by the City of Buffalo at historic grade.
  • Reconstructed Lloyd, Perry and Hanover Streets for pedestrian and limited access vehicle use only.
  • Commercial Street re-built and reopened as a cobblestone street (complete).

Central Wharf

  • 40 ft. wide wooden wharf at upper level with steps down to floating steel framed wooden surface dock.
  • Hardscape with interpretive elements integrated into the paving.
  • Interpretive exhibits.
  • Festival site.
  • Floating steel framed wooden surfaced docks floating 400 ft. along Buffalo River.

Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park

  • Two buildings with walkway over Commercial Street.
  • Buildings sited to have immediate connection and open access to Exhibit Yard.
  • Exhibit building in the yard will allow for flexible expanded exhibition space that will open out to Naval Yard.

Open Space

  • Transitional greenway with pedestrian and service access under skyway.
  • Development Parcels defined by historic building footprints and treated as landscaped space.
  • Crossroads Plaza north of Naval Yard at Commercial Street.
  • Intermodal Transit Plaza at Main and Scott Streets.


Phase Three – Project Commenced Winter/Spring 2008

Phase Three of the project encompasses the much-anticipated twenty-three acre Canal Side redevelopment plan. This project, located adjacent to the Erie Canal Harbor site, will include significant mixed-use retail, office and housing facilities, to help reestablish Buffalo’s historic canal district as the focal point of downtown Buffalo. Under the plan, a Bass Pro Shops store is also slated to occupy a significant part of the former Memorial Auditorium (Aud) site and will become one of the largest retail attractions in the greater WNY region. Canal Side redevelopment activities include:

  • Execution of a revised Pre-Development Agreement with Bass Pro Outdoor World and Benderson Development Company.
  • Title transfer of the Donovan State Office Building from NYS and the 16,000 seat Memorial Auditorium Aud from the City of Buffalo.
  • Site-preparation for asbestos remediation at the Aud and Donovan buildings by removing various semi-hazardous materials, as well as demolition of the Aud structure and potential refurbishment of the Donovan building.
  • Recovery of spectator seats and dasher boards from the Aud for public auction.
  • Initiation and completion of SEQR process for the entire Canal Side project area, inclusive of review of schematic drawings of key buildings and public facilities.
  • Execution of property transfer agreement with the City of Buffalo for an additional 13 acres of project area.

OUTER HARBOR

ECHDC’s near-term outer harbor plans comprise of acquisition of significant land parcels for beautification, including planting of lawns and other grassy areas, as well as native vegetation, trees and other aesthetic improvements to the waterfront site. The focus is to prepare these sites for long-term redevelopment opportunities. Efforts include:

  • On-going negotiations regarding interim lease of over 125+ of NFTA property and facilities.
  • Acquisition of a seven-acre outer harbor site from Cargill, Inc. (complete).
  • Transfer of the NYPA ice boom site parcel is under contract subject to relocation of ice boom.
  • Initiation of NEPA process and preliminary engineering design process with NYSDOT for proposed Buffalo Harbor Bridge connecting downtown to the outer harbor.


OVERALL PROJECT BUDGETS

The budget for the Erie Canal Harbor project was established in 1997 at $27 million. This budget was increased to $46 million in June of 2002.

The sources of funds for the project are as follows:
 
New York State Thruway Authority
Federal Transit Administration
State of New York
County of Erie
City of Buffalo
Buffalo Sewer Authority
US Army Corps of Engineers
$11,700,000
$14,323,832
$10,000,000
$6,000,000
$300,000
$2,000,000
$2,000,000

Total $46,323,832


The project team was also directed to prepare a Master Plan that included the addition of the heritage theme including restored historic elements and interpretive exhibits, and the use of such funds was structured as follows:
 
Phase I completed projects 2003:  
Naval Basin
Naval Vessels
Veterans Park
Force Main Relocation
$8,020,000
$2,120,000
$2,020,000
$540,000
   
Phase II completed projects 2004 - 2008:  
Commercial Slip
Hamburg Drain (Alt. 2)
Public Open Space Infrastructure
Central Wharf Bulkhead
South Basin and Pier
Naval Museum
Soil and Sludge Disposal
Soft Costs
Contingency
$3,733,000
$3,497,000
$5,425,000
$300,000
$2,700,000
$3,000,000
$656,000
$12,712,832
$1,600,000

Total $46,323,832


The budget for the Canal Side project is currently slated to include over roughly $294,829,687 in public and private investments. To download a copy of the Canal Side General Project Plan, click here.

The anticipated sources of funds for the project are as follows:
 
New York State Thruway Authority
Federal Transit Administration
Federal Highway Administration
New York State
ESDC
Private Development
$105,000,000
$11,800,000
 $11,300,000
 $21,000,000
 $5,000,000
 $140,880,000

Total Funding Sources:  $294,980,000

The anticipated costs for the project are as follows:

Public Canals & Atrium
Below Grade Parking Garage
Commercial Slip Parking Garage
Streets
Prime Slip
Design Contingency
Soft Cost
Floating Docks
Bass Pro Store
Parking at Webster & Donovan Blocks
Anchor Tenant Allowance
Private Development
 $47,870,090
$17,078,377
$24,503,000
$6,148,220
 $3,000,000
$5,000,000
 $5,950,000
$600,000
$35,000,000
$4,800,000
$4,000,000
 $140,880,000

Total Project Cost:   $ 294,829,687



 

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Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation
95 Perry Street, Suite 500 | Buffalo, NY 14203-3030 | 716-846-8200 (ph) | 716-846-8262 (fax)
For more information, contact us at: eriecanalharbor@empire.state.ny.us

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