Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Calling it a watershed moment in the continued development of the region gaining a key role in the burgeoning Great Lakes cruise ship industry, the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.'s directors have signed off on a pair of major issues.
First, the state agency approved a $13.4 million contract to West Seneca-based union Concrete and Construction Corp. to begin a series of upgrades needed for the Fuhrmann Boulevard property that will eventually house a welcoming terminal for the touring ships.
Union Concrete was the lowest of three bidders, said Mark Wendel, ECHDC president.
The work covers a wide range of infrastructure-based upgrades including rehabbing more than 950 feet of the concrete seawall that fronts the property that was once home to Shooters and then-The Pier restaurant.
Work also includes installing mooring bollards needed by the cruise ships and adding a concrete waterfront promenade plus installing new waterlines and hot boxes.
Wendel said the work will start next month and, weather permitting, could be done by late 2027 but more likely in 2028
"Unfortunately, we just don't know about the weather," Wendel said.
Bidding for the terminal building that will include customs inspections will go out in early 2027.
In a separate motion, the directors also approved a fee structure and revocable license with American Cruise Lines that may serve as a template for what it charges other Great Lakes cruise lines if they select Buffalo as one of their ports.
The pact runs through 2047 but does not grant American Cruises Lines exclusive access to the Buffalo terminal.
American Cruise Lines will pay a docking fee - based on a 24-hour stop - of $500 for the first five years; $525 for years 6-10; $551 for years 11-15 and $578.55 for years 16-20.
Passenger fees are set at $7.25 per passenger for the first five years; $7.50 for years 6-10; $7.76 for years 11-15; and $8.07 for years 16-20.
The fees are based on what other Great Lakes ports are charging, Wendel said.
American Cruise Lines is bringing its 136-passenger American Patriot ship into Buffalo seven times this summer and 12 times next year. More dates in later years are anticipated, Wendel said.
At the same time, Victory Cruise Lines is close to signing a long term pact to bring its ships into Buffalo.
"This is very historical, in my opinion," said Joan Kesner, ECHDC chairperson. "I'm very excited to hear that more cruise lines are interested in Buffalo."
Both actions come at a time when the ECHDC and Visit Buffalo are jointly pitching other Great Lakes cruise liners.
Victory Cruise Lines is close to signing a long term pact to bring its ships including a 390 passenger cruiser to Buffalo.
It is the possibility of bringing more ships into Buffalo and larger ones like Victory's 700-foot-long, 390-passenger ship that made the Fuhrmann Boulevard site more logical than using the Erie Basin Marina.
"We need that extra space," Wendel said.
There is more elbow room along Fuhrmann Blvd than the Erie Basin Marina
There is more elbow room along Fuhrmann Blvd than the Erie Basin Marina
