Outer Harbor Development

Is it right for us to thank the NFTA for finally getting off its rear-end and introducing some proposals for Outer Harbor Development? I mean, they should have done this eons ago. Well, there will be a public meeting at WNED's studios on Lower Terrace in Buffalo on Saturday December 11th at 9am. Here's the press release:

• Waterfront Development Concepts to be Presented at Public Meeting Community is Invited to Attend and Comment Buffalo, NY . . . The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority announced that a public meeting regarding outer harbor waterfront redevelopment has been scheduled for Saturday, Dec.11, from 9 a.m.-12-noon at WNED, 140 Lower Terrace, Buffalo, NY. (across from the Adam’s Mark Hotel). Three teams made up of national and local firms who responded to the NFTA’s Outer Harbor Development Request for Proposals will each give a 30-minute presentation regarding their concepts and vision for reconstructing the outer harbor, followed by a question and answer session. The following teams will be presenting: Ø Jerde Partnership, Ciminelli Development, O & Y Enterprises and Urban Engineers Ø Norstar Development, Mathews Nielsen, Foit-Albert, Jaeckle Fleischmann and Mugel LLP, Watts Engineering, and Bevlar and Associates Ø Opus East LLC, VOA Associates, BIDCO Marine Group, Harris Beach, LLP and Uniland Development Luiz F. Kahl, NFTA chairman said, “This meeting will provide a forum for the community to see and learn about what the three development teams envision for our waterfront and at the same time offer their suggestions and comments regarding the presentations.” The evaluation committee consisting of representatives from the NFTA, state, county, city and the business community will be in attendance at the presentations. Jon B. DeVries, Principal and National Director of the URS Corporation will moderate the presentations. The URS Corporation was selected to assist with the process because of their extensive experience helping cities around the world with projects the scope of Buffalo’s outer harbor site. In an effort to offer as many people as possible the opportunity to be informed about the presentations, the entire program will be taped and released to community television access channels. Airing dates and times will vary depending on the availability of airtime at the various channels. Starting Monday, Dec. 13, a condensed version of each of the three proposals will be available for viewing online at www.nfta.com (Outer Harbor Development), at the central location of the Buffalo and Erie County Library and at the Earl W. Brydges Public Library, Niagara Falls, NY. Written comments may be submitted to the NFTA attention Property Division, 181 Ellicott St. Buffalo, NY 14203, or e-mailed to outerharbor@nfta.com. Written comments and e-mails need to be submitted by December 31, 2004 to be incorporated into the record.

Personally, I think that the outer harbor should be designed as a mixed-use urban village, incorporating the ideas of New Urbanism. It shouldn't be another office park. It should have character - cobblestone streets and brick fronts. It should have integrated, convenient underground parking. The NFTA should without a doubt extend Metro Rail to this new community. There should be ample retail and restaurant space. There should be easy access to a waterfront promenade/boardwalk & fishing pier. The possibilities are limitless.