Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Board of Directors met on Monday morning and approved a number of measures that will promote Buffalo’s Waterfront and the Erie Canal bicentennial, continue to advance ECHDC’s projects on the waterfront and protect ECHDC’s assets.
The ECHDC is currently planning celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal in Buffalo, which is the birthplace of this vital waterway across New York State. While the canal’s 200th anniversary will likely be a focus of celebrations throughout the state, ECHDC is organizing a summer-long celebration at Canalside from May to September 2025.
Canalside will also host the World Canals Conference from Sept. 21-25, an event first announced by New York Gov. Hochul in June 2022, that will bring together canal and inland waterway enthusiasts, professionals and scholars from around the world to learn about a variety of canal-related topics.
To gear up for Canalside’s bicentennial celebration, the ECHDC Board authorized ECHDC to hire Crowley Webb, a Buffalo-based, full-service advertising agency, to assist in a marketing and promotion campaign.
Crowley Webb will develop a brand strategy for the bicentennial, create a schedule for implementing the marketing campaign, and identify strategic advertising and event sponsorship opportunities. It will also be tasked to create a bicentennial website and upgrade the current Buffalo Waterfront website. The marketing campaign is needed to attract a large audience, create excitement and drive attendance and engagement throughout the summer celebration.
The contract is not to exceed $625,000 with a contract term of April 1, 2024 through March 31, 2027.
"The excitement keeps building on Buffalo’s waterfront, and with the Erie Canal Bicentennial Celebration fast approaching we want everything to be perfect for the families, friends and out-of-town visitors who will be joining in all of the festivities,” said ECHDC Chairwoman Joan Kesner in a statement. "This anniversary also allows us to highlight the steadfast work of Gov. Hochul and the ECHDC Board in bringing exciting projects to Buffalo’s inner and outer harbors and to acknowledge the Erie Canal’s important role as the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes and beyond."
In other actions on Monday, the ECHDC Board:
- Found that the Marine Drive Apartments Redevelopment project is consistent with the design guidelines established by ECHDC as part of the Master General Project Plan for Canalside. The project was formally reviewed by the Canalside Design Review Committee to determine consistency, and reviewed by the City of Buffalo Planning Board.
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- Authorized ECHDC to enter into a $1.925 million five-year contract with 716 Security & Investigations, Inc. for asset protection and to ensure public safety at the Inner and Outer harbors. This service will provide on premises monitoring and deterrence to property damage and theft, as well as continue to build public confidence in utilizing spaces and trail systems on the Outer Harbor and Canalside. The scope of services includes security services, as well as video surveillance, intrusion alarm, access and gate installation.
- Authorized a contract extension with TY Lin International for architectural and engineering design services at the North Aud Block. The $204,349 amendment, which brings the contract total to $1.76 million, is for unforeseen conditions and modifications that have required additional services from TY Lin during construction of a three-story building in the southwest corner of the North Aud Block, which will provide public amenities and office space.
- Authorized ECHDC to grant an approximately 2,000-square-foot easement on the Outer Harbor to the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation for electrical utility equipment. The Bell Slip area is currently under construction to reorganize the existing parking surface, provide a comfort area including restrooms, and enhance landscaping, which together will provide a sense of place. These upgrades to the Bell Slip area require improvised utility infrastructure. A new electric transformer will be installed by Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation to address the required service needed for the completed project.
- Approved ECHDC’s $67,878,046 capital and $1,393,940 operating budgets for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
Funding for these contracts is from the New York Power Authority, through relicensing agreements tied to the operation of the Niagara Power Project.