Community Feedback on Waterfront Development

ECHDC Tables Vote on Modified Plan, Announces a Series of Open Houses - General Public invited to attend sessions and provide input into waterfront development plans

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) announced today that it will delay its vote on the Canal Side Modified General Project Plan (MGPP.)  The MGPP emphasizes the development of public infrastructure on the Aud Block, including a series of public canals, walkways and a parking garage.  In order to solicit more input from members of the Western New York community, ECHDC will be sponsoring a series of open houses over the next two weeks.

The open houses will begin Wednesday, November 17th and continue through Wednesday, November 24th.  For two hours on each of those days, the public will be invited to participate in a public session that will be attended by representatives from ECHDC.  These sessions, which will be simulcast on the web and transcribed, will allow the public an opportunity to convey their ideas and opinions regarding waterfront development.

“Our goal is to provide the community with a forum to express their views,” said ECHDC Chairman Jordan Levy.  “These new sessions have grown out of the feedback we have received from the community and an opportunity for the citizens of Western New York to make their opinions known directly to ECHDC, without any filter.  Coming on the heels of our successful public hearings, we wanted to extend the opportunity for both ourselves and for members of the community to continue this dialogue before any decisions are made.  Board members will be provided with transcripts from these sessions in advance of the final vote on the MGPP and it is my expectation that they will use them as a resource to aid in their decision.  The members of the ECHDC board are stewards of public resources and public dollars and they seek to be fully informed as they weigh their vote.”

In addition to the open house sessions, ECHDC will conduct a series of meetings with elected officials and community leaders which will include invited representatives from several leading Western New York organizations and advocacy groups. Stanton Eckstut, the master architect for Canal Side, and a nationally recognized innovator in public design, will also attend these sessions in order to fully inform them of the development that ECHDC is proposing on the Inner Harbor.

The schedule for the open house sessions will be as follows:
- Wednesday, November 17th: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Thursday, November 18th: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Friday, November 19th: 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Monday, November 22nd: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 23rd: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 24th: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

The sessions will be held at the offices of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, 95 Perry St., Suite 500, Buffalo, NY 14203.  There is free, two-hour parking on Mississippi Street on the side of the building.  Anyone who is interested in presenting their ideas to ECHDC, but is unable to attend one of the public sessions is encouraged to contact:

Erich Weyant, Assistant Director, Communications
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.
95 Perry St., Suite 500, Buffalo, NY 14203
716/846-8258
716/846-8262 fax
eweyant@empire.state.ny.us

"It remains our intention to make certain that Canalside is a model for world class re-development projects across America.  It was our intention when we began this project almost nine years ago to build a place that Buffalonians and all people from throughout Western New York will be proud of and will take full advantage of for generations to come.  Adding a few more weeks to the schedule can only serve to help us to achieve that objective" said Levy.

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.