Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New leadership is now in place for the organization continuing to oversee the ongoing transformation of the Buffalo Waterfront.
Mark Wendel has been named the new President of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC), taking over for Steve Ranalli, who is now heading the Erie County Stadium Corporation.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says Wendel will lead the state entity that supports and promotes the creation of infrastructure and public activities at Canalside and the Outer Harbor in Buffalo, and work to attract critical mass, private investment and enhance the enjoyment of the waterfront for residents and tourists in Western New York. The ECHDC Board of Directors met on Tuesday and appointed Wendel as President of the corporation.
“Mark Wendel is a dedicated public servant and Western New Yorker with the talent, experience, and commitment to bring our vision for the region to life,” Hochul said in a statement. “With Mark on board at ECHDC, we’re ready to take Buffalo’s waterfront to the next level as a destination for residents and visitors and a catalyst for economic development. I look forward working with him and ECHDC as we continue to break ground, transform the waterfront, and boost the local economy as part of our mission to drive the region forward.”
“I am excited to continue the development projects and improve waterfront access for the public at both Canalside and the Outer Harbor," said Wendel in a statement. "Steve did a wonderful job continuing to create both locations as a family destination and I look forward to working with Gov. Hochul to build on that success.”
“The ECHDC Board is excited to welcome Mark Wendel into the role as ECHDC President," said Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation Chairman Robert Gioia in a statement. "Mark is an accomplished professional with a true capacity to effectively advance the mission of ECHDC. That being said, I also want to thank Steve Ranalli for his decade-plus commitment to ECHDC and acknowledge the remarkable progress we’ve seen under his leadership. When he began his role at ECHDC, the Aud was being demolished and the Outer Harbor was a blank slate that few even knew existed, much less visited. Today, the North Aud Block is being fully built out and transformed into a mixed-use, urban space. The Outer Harbor now has new amenities, interconnected trails, and we are in the process of redeveloping the terminals – all which bring recreation and tourism to the water’s edge.”
Prior to taking on his new role with ECHDC, Wendel served for four years as the corporation’s Senior Director of Design.
Since March, Wendel has assisted with overall day-to-day oversight and management of all projects and initiatives within ECHDC’s 450 acres of waterfront property. Wendel also regularly coordinates on broader efforts across Western New York, contributing and assisting on concurrent initiatives of Empire State Development’s Western New York Regional Office and ESD’s USA Niagara Development Corporation subsidiary.
During his ECHDC tenure, Wendel’s key accomplishments have included construction of the Longshed Building, completion of the Buffalo Heritage Carousel, oversight of the design and construction of the Gateway Building at Canalside, and procurement and selection of a preferred developer for the North Aud Block.
He has also managed several components in the continued redevelopment of the Outer Harbor, including the adaptive reuse of Terminal B, Bell Slip Improvements, and Wilkeson Point upgrades. He is currently managing the potential development of the Terminal A building, the redevelopment of the North Aud Block, and planning for a subsequent phase of Outer Harbor redevelopment.
Before joining ECHDC, Wendel worked as an associate principal at Flynn Battaglia Architects, PC. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and has earned U.S. Green Building Council LEED certification.
Wendel is a registered architect with experience in urban planning, design, and economic development. He has been an employee of the corporation since 2019.