Higgins welcomes next phase in waterfront public access enhancements

Final open house scheduled for plan to improve 180 acres along Buffalo’s Outer Harbor

In remarks on the Floor of the House of Representatives, Congressman Brian Higgins credited a federal infrastructure investment, converting a crumbling, one-way Fuhrmann Boulevard into the Outer Harbor Parkway, with serving as a catalyst in Buffalo’s waterfront build out. He said the progress that continues is transforming Buffalo’s image and creating new economic opportunity.

Higgins said, “A $50 million federal investment to create a parkway opened access to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor waterfront 10 years ago. That parkway was a catalyst for new development, started with Gallagher Beach, a new state park, Wilkeson Pointe, new parkland on the former NFTA property from Terminal A & B to the Seaway Piers and beyond. …

“More Buffalo waterfront development is coming. Development to move Buffalo forward with a new, exciting waterfront of possibilities.”

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. has been gathering public input on plans to improve public access and the public experience along First Buffalo River Marina, Terminal B and the stretch of property from Wilkeson Pointe to the bell slip. Outer Harbor plans under discussion and details on the final open house scheduled for Thursday, May 2, are available at: https://buffalowaterfront.com/accessandactivation.

Work is already nearly complete on phase IB of the Buffalo Outer Harbor access and activation civic improvement project, converting 40 acres of vacant property adjacent to Terminals A and B on Lake Erie into a waterfront destination featuring a Greenway nature trail, bike park, great lawn and overlook, all which will connect people with nature and the water. 

The property, which was held by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority for nearly 60 years, was among the nearly 400 acres transferred to New York in 2016 at the urging of Higgins. The land sits between existing destinations at Wilkeson Pointe and Buffalo Harbor State Park.

More than $120 million in federal, state and New York Power Authority relicensing settlement investments have already been made along the Outer Harbor over the past decade, and, on May 2, ECHDC will unveil plans for over $100 million in additional public enhancements.