Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation has approved four contracts for the Terminal B renovations project on Buffalo's Outer Harbor. The project is aimed at opening up a new outdoor event center.
"The creative and adaptive reuse of the long-abandoned Terminal B site will open up this part of our scenic waterfront to the public with both passive and active recreation amenities," says ECHDC Chairman Robert Gioia. "This project, which takes up only 5% of the 200-acre property, is just one part of a comprehensive plan developed over five years with the community and stakeholders. We are thrilled to move forward with the first phase of construction."
Steve Ranalli says the project will open up a part that wasn't open to the public before. "We're going to retain a bit of the structure to celebrate our industrial heritage. We'll be diversifying plantings including the habitat enclosures, and ultimately this will help the ecology of the site," says Ranalli. "At the end of the day, the whole site will be opened up and allow us to continue events, festivals, concerts and large scale gatherings in a water-enhanced setting that is going to showcase Buffalo at its best."
The ECHDC Board authorized the corporation to enter into contracts with:
Javen Construction Company, Inc. for general construction services with a total contract amount not to exceed $7,365,000. Javen Construction's scope of services will include select building demolition, new steel framing, steel framing preparation and painting, building enclosures, interior finishes and select site work adjacent to the existing concrete platform.
Union Concrete and Construction Corporation for sitework services with a total contract amount not to exceed $3,964,400. Union Concrete's scope of work will include clearing the existing paved site surfaces, establishing the site parameters, excavating for site utilities, installation of landscape and fence materials, new surface walkways and drives, and site enclosures.
Frey Electric Construction Co., Inc. for electrical services with a total contract not to exceed $1,440,600. Frey Electric's scope of services will include demolition of all existing electrical and communication systems, routing the new electric service from Fuhrmann Boulevard to the Terminal B site, distribution of electric service within the Terminal B site, exterior lighting and miscellaneous electric connections for equipment installed by other contractors.
M.K.S. Plumbing Corporation for mechanical services with a total contract not to exceed $230,000. M.K.S. Plumbing's scope of services will include demolition of existing plumbing systems, routing the new mechanical and plumbing services from Fuhrmann Boulevard to the Terminal B site, distribution of gas and water lines within the Terminal B site, installation of mechanical systems within enclosed buildings, and installation of all plumbing fixtures.
Ranalli hopes for groundbreaking by the end of the month. "If winter works with us, we'll stay out as long as we can. But it will take a couple of construction seasons to get everything done and the plantings to be done," notes Ranalli. The goal is to have it open by 2023.
