Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Monday approved several contractors that will advance the previously announced Wilkeson Pointe Improvements Project on Buffalo's Outer Harbor.
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"Today, we authorized the construction contracts for a general contractor, site contractor, electrical and mechanical, to build a permanent food and beverage building and public restrooms at Wilkeson Pointe," ECHDC's Senior Director of Design Mark Wendel told WBEN. "For the last two, three years, we've had a shipping container out there to provide some limited food and beverage that has been successful to the public. We are always trying to improve the amenities we're providing for the public, public spaces."
According to the ECHDC, the whole plan includes further visitor safety measures, such as moving parking away from the water and at a distance from the site’s pedestrian trail and a new outdoor seating area either on the patio or within a beach setting.
The new design calls for the site’s existing trails to be relocated and elevated near the water’s edge along with a new food service building with restrooms and storage for the operations management team, and a new outdoor seating area either on the patio or within a beach setting. All new utilities will be brought to the new building and site through the adjacent site from Fuhrmann Boulevard. The landscaping within the site will be improved with the planting of natural species, creating meadows, grasslands and pollinator fields.
"I think we're just just trying to build upon the success that Wilkeson has had for so many years," said Wendel.
This project, which is slated to commence construction after Labor Day, will have a budget of over $11 million dollars, according to Wendel.
The ECHDC Board authorized ECHDC to enter into the following contracts:
- Javen Construction Company, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $3,875,000 including contingency for general construction. Javen Construction’s scope of service will include new steel framing, steel framing preparation and painting, metal stud framing and wallboard, building enclosures, interior finishings, and select site work adjacent to the building.
- Mark Cerrone, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $5,886,500 including contingency for sitework construction. Mark Cerrone’s scope of service will include clearing the existing paved surfaces, establishing the site parameters, excavating for site utilities, installation of landscape and fence materials, new surface walkways and drives, and site enclosures.
- Frey Electric Construction Corporation, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $1,897,000 including contingency for electrical construction. Frey Electric’s scope of service will include routing the new electric service from Fuhrmann Boulevard to the Wilkeson Pointe site, distribution of electric service within the Wilkeson Pointe site, exterior lighting and miscellaneous electric connections for equipment installed by other contractors.
- M.K.S. Plumbing Corporation in an amount not to exceed $407,000 including contingency for mechanical construction. M.K.S. Plumbing’s scope of service will include routing the new mechanical and plumbing service from Fuhrmann Boulevard to the Wilkeson Pointe new building, distribution of gas and water lines within the Wilkeson Pointe site, installation of mechanical systems within the enclosed building, and installation of all plumbing fixtures.
Wendel says they are hoping to complete the project by the end of 2024.
We asked about updates to the other construction projects going on at the Outer Harbor, such as the new events pavilion starting to take shape, opening next year and the construction blocking a portion of the walkway. You can find all those updates in the player below:
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