Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN - Mike Pesarchick) - Giant swings, a public access promenade and protected wetland space highlighted the revised Queen City Landing project proposed to the Buffalo Planning Board at City Hall on Monday.
It's all part of a plan for a "waterfront neighborhood" at the 15-acre Outer Harbor site, formerly home to a Freezer Queen frozen foods plant at 975 Fuhrmann Blvd. A revised rendering of the development was presented to the board by Duncan Bates of Toronto-based Diamond Schmitt Architects.
Zone 2 is most notable in that it would not be developed. The 3-acre parcel of land, north of the other three zones, would instead be restored and preserved as an ecologically sensitive wetland and wildlife refuge that would feature public trails and potentially kayak launches and fishing piers.
The zones are numbered in the order that they would be developed, meaning the 20-story tower would come first. "That is the case because [the zone] is the first to be remediated," Bates told the council. "It's the first parcel of land that is really most effectively positioned for development."
The project would be offset from the water on the southern part of the site by a 75-to-83-foot-wide promenade that would be part of 4100 linear feet of public access trails. Around 30 docking slips for boats would be attached to this pier.
"The promenade really begins to form the spine of future developments," Bates said. He also said a unique form of recreation is being considered for the site in the form of large light up swings, an example of which can be found at The Lawn on D in Boston, Mass.
"The Lawn on D is Boston's Canalside," Bates said. "They put these in and the popularity of these swings has been just unbelievable. It's that kind of interactive play for public access and for public amenities we are talking about."
Phil Pantano, a spokesperson for Queen City Development, LLC, said that he was pleased with the proceedings and feels the project is on track. "Today was a good first step. It was an update to the planning board members on everything that has been done in terms of fleshing out the full vision for the 15 acres," he said.
Pantano added that public access was very important to the revised version of the project.
"I think it's a key ingredient to [Developer Gerald Buchheit's] vision for the parcel and I think it shows that private development and public access don't have to compete with one another," he said.
The next step for the project is more review by the planning board and a public hearing to be held by the Common Council's legislation committee on April 7. The rest of the process will be determined from there but Pantano said with spring rapidly approaching that they would like to "take advantage of the upcoming construction season."
Earlier in the meeting, the planning board approved a special use permit for a cafe and restaurant to be located at 172 Rhode Island St. and tabled several proposed developments from PUSH Buffalo on Buffalo's West Side, pending further renderings.