BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation officials are still focusing on keeping Buffalo's Outer Harbor as a green space in contrast with Canalside.
"It's 200 acres of space along Lake Erie," ECHDC President Steve Ranalli said. "It's going to be a mix of all kinds of things. We've got places like Wilkeson Pointe that are a little bit quieter where you can watch a sunset or walk next door to Times Beach and go birding. You can go all the way to the Lakeside Bike Park and ride your bike and take your kids down there."
They are also hoping that Terminal B along the Outer Harbor will be transformed into an 8,000-seat amphitheater. Business First initially reported that construction will begin later this year on the venue.
Despite continued events that will take place at the Outer Harbor like races that draw thousands of people and the Thunder on the Buffalo Niagara Air Show on Father's Day Weekend, Ranalli said the Outer Harbor will be relatively low-key.
"We do want to offer fun and exciting things for people of all Western New York to come and do," he said. "Something as big as this air show, this is really a draw. It's tough in a COVID year when we're restricted in the number of people coming down, but these are the kinds of events that transform the whole city when they talk about Buffalo."
[shortcode-inline-related expand="1" link="/wben/news/local/thunder-on-the-buffalo-waterfront-coming-to-outer-harbor" headline=""Thunder on the Buffalo Waterfront" coming to Outer Harbor" image="/media-library/image.jpg?id=63622349"]ECHDC Board Chairman Robert Gioia said he appreciates everyone's passion over plans for Buffalo's Waterfront and the various ideas they have had. There are no major plans for buildings to occupy green space, similar to what is happening at Canalside.
"Almost 85% of it is zoned open space," Gioia said. "Which is basically a private definition of a park. It's one notch below a park. Every city that has developed their waterfront has told us...if you have a big old barn, keep it. Don't tear it down because you can have mixed use for that facility, which is Terminal A and even to some extent, Terminal B. This community is a mixed community. Let's embrace that and provide that."
It's expected that summer concert series will no longer take place at Canalside once the amphitheater is created. However, Ranalli said there will still be entertainment at Canalside including the carousel, longshed, upcoming bicentennial, and various health and wellness events.
"It continues to evolve," Ranalli said. "That was always the plan to build out and make it a great part of the city so we're going to have a wonderful mixed-use, urban section of the waterfront and then you can come out here to the Outer Harbor and enjoy open space for 200+ acres. I think that's a good mix for everybody."
Learn more about future plans for the Outer Harbor by clicking here
