Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Over the years, plenty of work has gone in to revitalizing the Buffalo Waterfront and bringing city residents closer to the water than ever before. However, one part of the city's waterfront is still in need of attention: The Erie Basin Marina.
That's why when the Buffalo Common Council reconvenes from its August recess, city lawmakers will hold a committee hearing for the Waterfront Development Committee. Fillmore District Councilman Mitch Nowakowski says the plan is to discuss a number of matters surrounding the Buffalo Waterfront, including the future of Erie Basin Marina.
"When we're looking at a vacant William K's or Templeton Landing that is inactive, ultimately, we don't see the highest and best use happening right now. And then, ultimately, we have a city-owned marina that's currently operated by Smith Boys. So we're going to talk about these city parcels, where they are, and where we are in development of getting more activity down there, especially when the City of Buffalo has and owns these parcels and and are charged with it," said Nowakowski in an interview with WBEN.
Nowakowski believes the city taxpayers deserve amenities along the Erie Basin Marina that are up-and-running, and bringing in revenue for the city.
"Especially when we look at the marina where we know there are millions of dollars that need to be invested, we have to find an operator that's going to bring it up to a productive use, invest the resources that it needs to be successful and to get boaters there," Nowakowki said. "If we're going to live in a competitive city, we have to have these amenities not just at a satisfiable rate, but really ones that are invested in, and that'll draw people to come, not only live at Canalside, but ultimately to recreate and have boaters, and bringing a density of people there, especially since the city owns a majority of these parcels."
Nowakowski feels the city needs to do a bit more to examine the design and functionality of Erie Basin Marina, and figuring ways to attract more residents and visitors to that part of Buffalo.
"When you're driving down through the marina, you see an area that needs to be invested in, and we have to promote pedestrian abilities. I know people want to go down there and drive their car down a loop, but that's ultimately not the highest and best use of our waterfront," Nowakowski said. "If we're going to get synergy down there, we have to activate the old William K's, we have to work in conjunction with Sully's, which is the former Hatch. And then work in conjunction with Templeton Landing, which is a large parcel, and then ultimately the marina, where we see boaters that come there, that bring activity and are recreating in our waterfront. My opinion of success is that all four of those amenities are working together to bring people down there, where you have entertainment, you have restaurants, and you have people enjoying just the natural beauty of our waterfront. And then we have the boater community who is down there to bring vitality, and it's needed to not only have an active marina, but ultimately have a proper waterfront."
Nowakowski is also critical of the job Smith Boys has done as the operator of the Erie Basin Marina. While the marina has remained relatively quiet and inactive, Smith Boys has operated while only having to pay $1 in rent per-year, while also only contributing less than $1,000 to the city in net profits.
That's why Nowakowski is curious about what future options the city has with regards to city-owned operations like the Erie Basin Marina, and who can perhaps better serve the community and the waterfront.
"From the last time I heard from the Department of Public Works, they are releasing a new RFP [Request for Proposal] for potential new operators to operate the marina. Right now, when we're looking at and examining a new contract that will come before the council next year for an operator at the marina, we have to examine the cost sharing revenue and how much money the marina [brings] in there to be able to invest in it, but ultimately make sure that the city's not on the hook or losing out on potential revenues," Nowakowski noted. "I know that RFP will be released, if it hasn't been already, to get a new operator in there, and we're going to examine all options that are not only best to fit the investment of the marina, but ultimately put the city in a good position."
As Nowakowski has worked to push the attention to the waterfront and the need for a successful Erie Basin Marina, he notes some people have reached out with interest in contributing. However, he feels the first step of the process is for the Department of Public Works to send out the RFP for people to respond, which should then allow the city to further examining those bids on operations in-and-around the marina.