A new reason to be talkin' proud
Jordan Levy wants to make Buffalonians proud again. Proud of where they're from. Proud of their history. Proud of where their community is headed.
One of the ways he's trying to do that is by heading the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp., the state agency overseeing the redevelopment of Buffalo's downtown inner harbor.
The first real sign of the agency's work, the Erie Canal Harbor, will make its official debut today.
So far, the reviews -- except for a minor encounter with sewage -- are positive. Even true cynics seem impressed by what's been done so far.
Is it enough to make you a believer, or are you still one of those naysayers demanding to see more?
-- Phil Fairbanks
It is better than nothing, but $53 million dollars ???
Posted by: Just Wait | July 08, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Some people will never be happy. They complain about the lack of progress on the waterfront and then, when there is some movement, they complain that it is not good enough. I have lived in Buffalo for 39 years. I actually got a little emotional when I went down to the canal. I think it's a great start. My children loved the look- even comparing the boardwalk look to Coney Island. Michael- if Buffalo is such a dump, why are you living here?
Posted by: South Buffalo Girl | July 08, 2008 at 08:44 AM
LMFAO !!!!!
All that wasted money on a stupid canal terminus. What a joke. All that money wasted on a boardwalk bridge with lame information signs about people nobody even cares about.
What the waterfront needs is a super mega complex of a waterpark, skating rink, hotel and casino ON THE WATERFRONT.
Bass Pro is never gonna happen. Stop pinning your hopes to a retail store to save your city. It ain't gonna happen.
Buffalo is a dump and always will be.
Posted by: Michael | July 03, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Remember ClientLogic? I worked there for six months.
Jordan Levy is a snob and name dropper, and ran a telecomm sweat shop. Nothing wrong with this development, but 'Talkin' Proud' is the wrong accolade. Levy is just one of a number of WNY's being big fish in a small pond and has no skills to engineer a bigger pond.
Posted by: Stan | July 02, 2008 at 12:44 PM
It's a good start.
I'm proud to have spoken out years ago against burial and placing a sign where we have the beginnings of opportunity to make the waterfront of Buffalo become more vibrant without a casino and with small business and apartments that make community instead of strip malls.
Now the school children can be taken to downtown Buffalo and learn the proud heritage of our community that is beyond chicken wings and pro sports teams. This is our treasure and legacy to reclaim and amplify.
We are worthy of praise as a people even though we are not all rich and powerful.
We are a country that has done amazing and astounding things like building the Erie Canal, defeating that s.o.b. house painter in WWII, and landing on the moon.
Yes we didn't let our heritage to be brushed off. I am not one of the suits or house hold media names who will be there for the acclimation and glory but I am John Q who will take up arms when tyrants come or feed the hungry and stopm to help someone in distress. I have no combat or hero medals but the Terminus Project is my victory and reward for standing up to the face of apathy in this city and calling it wrong.
This one man's humble thanks to the Bruce Jacksons, Tim Tielmans, Jammie Moses, Sam Hoyts, Joel Giambras, and Kevin Gaughns, the U.B. Geology professor and most but not least those many, many. little guys and gals who stood up and made a difference. We must always be vigilant in a democracy and be willing to take stands tht are just and for the greater good of this community. Adversity that comes down upon those who are slurred as preservationists are used to it like blizzrds in Buffalo. We just brush it off and keep moving forward instead of sitting back and getting blotto and watching what is spoon fed to us.
To the Erie Canal Terminus fighters I salute each and everyone of you. It was countless voices in our community who made this happen.
Posted by: Comino Reality | July 02, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Ooops. My fault - it is there -- the time is 3:30 p.m.
Posted by: Jim | July 02, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Yes, what time is it? You'd think the News would publish it because advance notice of local events is one of the most popular (read: ad revenue enhancing) features that local newspapers can provide. Publicizing events is what papers with under circulation under 50,000 do. What are the only papers making money? Those with circulation under 50,000. So, what time is it?
Posted by: Jim | July 02, 2008 at 11:42 AM
As an expatriate living on the west coast, we ventured to Buffalo for Old Home Days and took a look at the warf.
It's pretty cool to see the old slip and warehouse foundations. We loved the grassy areas with the paths and benches. I hope that the fenced off mud flats will quickly become more open space and cobblestone streets with shops and water related activities.
The signage is ugly and confusing though and it should be replaced with just a few bronze plaques - less is more.
The bridge that spans the slip looked cool but it seemed to be out of place as you can easily walk around the slip. I'm not sure why it's there.
Parking was scary. As we wandered the lot looking for the absent attendant, we met up with several people doing exactly the same. So none of us paid. Better Off Dead's classic line "I want my two dollars" haunted me for the rest of the visit.
All considered, it was a positive experience.
Posted by: KnoxFax | July 02, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Quotes from the article, "it's dynamic", "it's impressive"?!
Do these people get out much?
It's boring, it's flanked by the crumbling Aud surrounded by chain link fence, a soon-to-be-torn-down 70's government building, a gravel parking lot (with no parking) and low cost housing.
And the "new" part? Some stones and some ships. Can't take more than 45 minutes to see it all.
Anyone who drives downtown just to see this should have their head examined.
Oh, but maybe those visitors will spend money downtown. Um... except for there's barely anything nearby to spend money ON.
And I live downtown and want this to work. But this is just sad. We spent how many years and how many millions on a phoney recreation of a Canal?
Posted by: chris | July 02, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Yes, this place is shaping up, but, it was built with money from the state. When we can do stuff like this on our own, then I'll be happy. It's projects like these that actually prevent us from doing it on our own.
Posted by: john | July 02, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Isn't this old news?
Posted by: Bill | July 02, 2008 at 08:42 AM
I think this is great. Looking forward to shops and restaurants and more stuff to do. A playground would be awesome.
Why didn't the news publicize the time of the opening ceremony? Wouldn't it be great if 1,000 people showed up? What time is it happening?
Posted by: Kilissa Cissoko | July 02, 2008 at 08:08 AM