Enterprise Story

Canalside, the Commercial Slip

           

            Nearly a hundred years ago Buffalo was a respected city with the same grandeur of New York City. The legacy of the city’s industry has been decaying in dystopian ruins for the last three decades. Finally, after years of broken promises, the winds of change have come to downtown Buffalo.

            Thanks to a ambitious developers and local activists, the Canalside and Waterfront areas are receiving reconstruction that is rumored to bring in more than 500,000 visitors annually. The goal is to make Buffalo more than a pit stop on the way to Canada or westward beyond the Great Lakes Region.

The future site of Silo City Rocks, an indoor climbing center.

            Revitalization depends on a several major development projects, the most ambitious being completed by the Erie Canal Harbor Corp., Seneca Gaming Corp., and Harbor Center LLC ( a development company associated with the Buffalo Sabres). 

            Since 2003,  Erie Canal Harbor Corp. has rebuilt the Commercial Slip by Canalside, restored the historic battleships in Naval Park, and added a boardwalk at the Central Wharf. The project cost over $46 million over a five year span. It was completed in 2008 and now hosts several events including a weekly farmer's market on the Central Wharf and as of 2012, Thursday at the Harbor.

A girl playing in a sand pit on Canalside.

            Seneca Niagara Gaming Corp. is in its final stages of building a new casino in the Cobblestone District, just behind First Niagara Center. An estimated 500 jobs are expected to be created with its completion this summer. It will feature 800 slot machines and 16 slot machines and local cuisine from area restaurants: Anchor Bar, Franco's Pizza, and Charlie the Butcher.

            One of the most exciting projects is taking place on the Webster Bloc next to First Niagara Center. The site will contain two ice rinks open to the public a 200 room hotel and a parking ramp. In the summer of 2014 it is expected to be completed.

Webster Bloc Construction

Webster Bloc Construction

            There are some who believe development downtown is not worth the hype. Even though several abandoned buildings and lots are receiving a second chance, what about the HSBC Tower? The city's tallest structure has been vacant for months and no one seems to know what to do with it. There have been proposals to turn the building into a mixed-use property with a hotel, office space, condos and apartments.

            In an interview with the Buffalo News, Stephen P. Fitzmaurice, the chief operating officer for Seneca One Realty (the group that owns HSBC tower) admitted it would take "a significant amount of public money" would be needed to convert the building. This could translate to higher taxes on Buffalonians. The alternative is to auction the building off, since demolition would cost nearly as much.

HSBC Tower

             Then there is the issue of parking. Currently, parking downtown is inadequate especially on nights the Sabres play home games. Reconstruction of the Metro Rail is expected to alleviate the excess car traffic.

            In five years, downtown will be the new center of entertainment and commerce. It's success depends on changing the perspectives of the people and convincing them that Buffalo is very much alive. With each completed project, there is growing evidence that we have risen out of the ashes of our Rust Belt legacy.