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The next few years will see an enormous transition along the City
of Buffalo’s waterfront. Over $100 million in waterfront
improvement projects will be constructed, providing a variety
of public access and other amenities to allow residents of
the region to enjoy the shores of Lake Erie and the Buffalo
and Niagara Rivers. These improvements have already begun
to attract new, private investments on the waterfront.
The City of Buffalo is in the final stages of completing its
Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP). The LWRP will
establish the long-range policies, land use and development
ordinances for future development on the waterfront. In a
companion effort, the City is also investigating overall access
to the waterfront as part of its Buffalo Waterfront Corridor
Initiative. This effort, funded by the Federal Highway Administration,
is responding to consistent community desires to improve and
increase access to Lake Erie, Niagara and Buffalo River shorelines.
In the next several months, the NFTA will be selecting a development
team to prepare and implement a master plan for 120 acres
of its property on the Outer Harbor. This effort will result
in the transformation of one of the more visible and high
profile vacant sites on the waterfront, with an expected mix
of water-enhanced uses that will include generous opportunities
for public access. Click
here to view the proposals submitted to the NFTA on their
website.
The City, County and State are actively pursuing private investments
for the downtown waterfront, with the vision of creating a
regional destination and entertainment district. Although
Bass Pro is the focus of current attention, the pending completion
of the Erie Canal Harbor and associated public improvements
will ensure the region’s ability to attract high quality
private investments.
We are ensuring that proper planning occurs before major new
investments are implemented, environmentally sensitive areas
are preserved, and exceptional and numerous opportunities
for public access are provided. The pace of this transformation
is quickening and the waterfront we will see in 2007 will
be much different than the waterfront we see today.
For more information please contact:
David A. Stebbins
Waterfront Coordinator
Erie County Industrial Development Agency
275 Oak Street
Buffalo, New York 14203
(716) 856-6525
e-mail: dstebbins@ecidany.com
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