On November 19, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) held its second open house for the Outer Harbor Access and Activation Project. Attendees of the open house had the opportunity to comment on design alternatives, provide feedback, and respond to a survey. Presentation materials from the open house can be viewed on the project’s website.

The Outer Harbor Access and Activation Project is composed of three distinct project areas and design teams. TWMLA is leading the visioning and Capital Planning effort for the area from Wilkeson Pointe to Bell Slip – nearly 150 acres. Objectives include enhancing public access to the waterfront, improving connectivity, and enhancing habitat.

The First Buffalo River Marina is a 15-acre area that includes an existing 115-slip marina to be retained. Goals for the site are to enhance the existing marina while creating public access, as well as identify potential adaptive reuses for the Connecting Terminal grain elevator. The team working on the First Buffalo Harbor Marina is being led by OLIN.

The Terminal B site includes a 96,000 square foot one-story building and 15 acres. The team is being led by Bergmann Associates, with TWMLA providing landscape architectural services.

The final ECHDC public meeting is planned for Spring 2019, where the preferred design alternatives and implementation projects for each site will be presented to the public.