By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Local leaders are applauding a settlement with the New York Power Authority that will generate $279 million over the next 50 years for waterfront development in Buffalo. The settlement is part of the negotiations that will lead to relicensing of the Power Authority to operate the Niagara Power Project. It is expected to jump start city waterfront development that has been dormant for years.
"It's remote. It is desolate and nothing is happening out there, because you can't out to it," says Congressman Brian Higgins in describing the current look of the city's outer harbor. He says utilizing settlement dollars will present a new beginning for Buffalo's waterfront. Higgins says it will produce "extraordinary benefits" for this area.
"It is going to fundamentally change the look and feel of the Buffalo waterfront in the next 12 to 36 months," Higgins said. "It is going to create jobs, thousands of jobs in the construction trades."
Making the waterfront accessible and attractive is the goal of future development. Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Vice Chair Larry Quinn says this time there will be a very specific waterfront plan. He says it will include elements such as building roads, reconstructing the shoreline and recreational parks. Quinn says that means searching for alternatives to the Skyway.
"One of our jobs will be to find what are the ways of crossing the river," Quinn said. "You can't have housing there and expect someone to go over the Skyway to get there."
Quinn says jump starting development projects will prime the pumps for other private development. County Executive Joel Giambra agrees. Giambra says he expects these changes will also entice the new owners of the former Bethlehem Steel site to begin development. Giambra says there could be a makpr announcement at that former site in the couple of months.
"I'm hoping that we are going to see those buildings come down by this spring -- demolition of the coke ovens," Giambra said. "It is moving along. We are very close to having an agreement with the current owners. It is called a voluntary clean up plan, and this is going to help. It all comes together now."
Giambra says the county would like to issue bonds to begin raising an initial $65 million for 2006 to kick-start redevelopment projects. The re-licensing settlement still need final approval from the state, city and county, and would take effect in 2007.