By Avery Schneider
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-935914.mp3
Buffalo, NY – The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation has decided to hold open houses to gain input from the public on its plans for the canal-side area of Buffalo's inner harbor.
At Thursday night's open house, Corporation President, Thomas Dee, explained that the current phase of the Canal Side project focuses on the area at the foot of Washington street, where the canal used to be.
Dee said the plan includes a re-imagining of the waterway and, right next door at the former Aud site - a level of underground parking, on top of which can be anything.
Within the re-imagined waterway will be separate pond-like sections. One will house replica historic barges from different eras of the canal's history, while another will serve as an ice-skating rink in the winter - just a small part of greater intentions to keep Canal Side a four-season attraction. After that, Dee said, the possibilities are enormous.
Though the plans are still in development, Dee said he believes the Canal Side area can become the city's hub for tourism, and the front door to Buffalo.
