I went down to the Commercial Slip last night. It was awesome to see all the light on and the Commercial Slip letter illuminated. There is also a large park-like setting with all the grass and trees next to the boardwalk.

I was not down there during the day, but it almost was better at night.

I went down to the Commercial Slip last night. It was awesome to see all the light on and the Commercial Slip letter illuminated. There is also a large park-like setting with all the grass and trees next to the boardwalk.

I was not down there during the day, but I can tell it would be a great place to be at night.

Why did the Mayor choose to go to the new beach with Higgins yesterday?

This may be one of the most significant events for Buffalo in years. This shows that we have the ability to actually do something with the waterfront, instead of letting it sit fallow for a few more decades.

I appreciate the waterfall sound as you look at the interpretive signs along the bridge, that is a nice touch and I can't believe that it wasn't part of the original design. In fact, there are so many things about this project that seem to be poorly contrived and planned out, but I am not going to second-guess the crack team of professional planners and architects that put this site together. They have unlimited budget and time to continue to improve it as they go, so we will probably continue to be amazed by their unbelievable abilities and vision.

I am eager to see the rest of the project come to fruition, but I am not eager to see the price tag. I like the fact that we have done something positive with the waterfront, but I am definitely underwhelmed by the mediocrity of it all.

Let me qualify my question. I was being distracted when I started my previous comment.It seems like the mayor was a lot more cheerful at the new beach opening then coming to the Phase 1 opening of the Commercial Slip. I guess the Beach is all on his watch, even if the idea didn't originate with him. As for the slip opening, and for that matter, all the infrastructure work that is currently or recently happening along the Outer Harbor, finally the old lament that many a Buffalonian or former Buffalonian asked rethorically, "Will there ever be any waterfront development in my lifetime" can be put to rest.

I like the waterfall idea also but at the same time doesn't phase two eliminate it when they extend the commercial strip? Are they going to reuse the parts from it and put to farther back up towards main and the new Bass Pro? If not it seems like it could be a waste.

Wow, for the first time in my life you CAN get there from here!

sbrof - I doubt extending the canal could be considered Phase Two. It will be many years in the future and depends on Bass Pro's final design as well as other factors.

The slip looks great. Can't wait to check it out this weekend.

I know they want to take the 200k tic-tac-toe board down(interpretative facade of the ruins), but why not leave it for now. Give it a chance and see what the public thinks instead of flushing 200k down the drain. Same goes for the "commercial slip" lettering on the bridge.

Now that the weather is warming up, I look forward to walking around down there next week! Based on the post above, I also am anxious to see this lit up at night!

BRO...how about an article and pics of the interior of the naval park museum other than "the shed". Thanks!!

KenS - I agree with what you said about the history board if that is what it is, we should give it a chance to see what the public does actually think.

I was down there a week ago on the boardwalk and I don't understand where businesses will be able to set up along the boardwalk. I think this is all so great, but along the boardwalk seems to be just greenspace. Can someone clarify with my where building will be built to house businesses and things. Thanks.

From a previous overview I've seen on the waterfront development. Future development will be 'right under' the skyway, the surface parking lot in front of HSBC arena and of course the blocks of the current Donovan building and the Aud. The buildings going up for retail/restaurants will of course have the old look and be more than 1 floor for possible office and hotel space. Benderson is working to lure Big Names in retail and restaurants to fill those spaces. Will should be able to see an updated public drawing this summer. Sounds exctiing.

I would love a "House of Blues" in the canal area.

Bobbyraz: That's a great idea. I agree, too.

The slip is great, however the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp overlooked a major element in not putting in bath/shower facilities near the docks for transient boaters. Power and sail boat "cruisers" throughout Lake Erie need a facility in Buffalo for overnight docking with bath & shower facilities, power, and water. Erie Basin has two such slips. Adding docks to the canal area is a great idea, however out of town boaters (who would spend money at downtown establishments) won't come if there are no shower facilities. Erie, PA has a great public dock facility and the Sugarloaf Marina at Port Colburn is a wonderful facility that is frequented by cruisers from Buffalo to Toledo. Too bad the planners here never consulted the boating community when putting in docks. A huge missed opportunity!

I was down at the Commercial Clip today. Not bad Could it be improved? Sure. But, it is progress. Now let's make it better.

One) the giant 'tic-tac-toe' board / sign, as some are calling it, while the map is cool, and very informative, blocks one of the better views of the Commerical Slip, might as well as have put a Celino and Barnes bill board in front of it. Take it down. All that work on the slip and its view is marred.

Two) Get Higgins to get the Coast Guard to relocate its base somewhere furrther down toward the Pier, and turn that point of land with the lighthouse into a 10-11 acre park. No bridge would be needed to connect the Hatch area / Little Rock side with it, simply use water taxis as they use in Baltimore Harbor to get from one side to the other.

Three) Kill all the parking on the Hatch side, from after the Globe statue thing by the Hatch, everything from there to the Tower should be grass. If people are so interested in enjoying the healthy sun/water they shouldn't be so lazy that they couldn't walk a bit, it'd do them well.

Sorry, thats Commerical Slip, not Clip. :)

-jb

If not a House of Blues, then at least a Dinosaur BBQ.

I went down today and I loved it too.

Congressman Higgins may not agree with me on this one but...

I couldn't help thinking about the Skyway today and coming to the conclusion that the Skyway actually enhanced my experience at the waterfront. The Skyway is spectacular. The Skyway is also an important part of Buffalo's transportation history. It is also very symbolic that the Skyway happens to arch over the old canal terminus as well as the entrance to our inner harbor. The confluence of our most important transportation systems all focused at the same location make the entrance into Buffalo breathtaking.

I hope we keep the Skyway. The Skyway is our signature bridge.

A big weekend for Buffalo's psyche- who says nothing ever gets done?

Buffalo Bolivator- what are you smoking and give me some of it!

The skyway is a an eyesore, it ruins the project. Although, I am glad to see somthing FINALLY happening down there, lets not get too excited about a boat slip and a musuem that cost tax payers millions and took 9 years to build.

Is there a projected Return on Investment or did we just spend all this money building this without any money coming back into the economy from visitors, tourist, etc. Where is the value add. We can't just throw anway millions.

I happen to agree with AllFit, that for the price, this was poorly planned. We should be getting more bang for our buck.

Let me see, I can now walk across a bridge on to a boardwalk, look at a 2 million dollar waterfall, then walk back to my car with a view of the ugly green skyway. Sweet.

Come on Buffalo, demand more and better. Afterall It's your money!

Here's an idea; since Buffalo likes to eat and get drink, why not add a nice bar/restaurant in this location with nice patio seating. Good place to go smoke a cigar, have a bloody mary, eat, people watch, have coffee, whatever.

It will be another 9 years before phase II is completed.

Get drink? What are you drinking Gaustad and get me some of it!

"Buffalo Bolivator- what are you smoking and give me some of it! "

Gaustad, I have been smoking Perdomo ESV (Estate Seleccion Vintage 1991) from a box a good friend gave me recently. They are about 5" in length and have a 54 ring guage. The ESV is a medium to full-bodied cigar. And yes I will be delighted to share them with you if we happen to hook-up before I polish off the box.

I like your idea about being able to smoke a cigar down at our new waterfront. But for me, that won't be my occasion to kvetch about ordinary concerns such as how many ways the potential of my taxes are misguided. I dwell on that every day. Rather I will sit back as I puff and soak in the majesty of the gateway to our city.

buffalowing...Did you notice all the emptry space between the boardwalk/green space and the HSBC arena? That is where the retail establishments will go(Hopefully sooner than later).

We biked down to the area today with a couple of friends and It really does look nice down there and there were a lot of people down there. Like they say in the movie "The Natural", "if you build it, they will come" and I think that this holds true in Buffalo. I can't wait for the rest of the changes to happen.

BuffBolivaor - those sound wonderful. Just finished a Davidoff 2000 myself on the course. You have good taste.

now we just need a place on the waterfront to smoke 'em

I agree with Ken S. that some consideration should be given to keeping the 'sign'. When that was all that was visible, it looked out of place. When you do visit, it seems to fit (at least enough to consider keeping it). The information and map on it are worthwhile components to the overall project.

Checking out a few other projects on Saturday morning... in brief, the city looked good.

LightoftheMoon - most women do not like cigar smoke, but most men do.

There are people smoking cigars at Bryant Park in NYC and it doesn't seem to deter anyone.

Here are some more photos from the Memorial Day opening of the Commercial Boat Slip:

http://flickr.com/photos/14610035@N08/sets/72157605256232135/show/

Lightoffthemoon -

you seem to putting words in to my mouth and it's a little strange. I mentioned earlier in the thread that there should be a nice patio/restaurant down there to have a bloody mary, enjoy a cigar, or people watch.

you flew off the handle and assumed that every cigar aficianado would be down there smoking you out because of my suggestions. Now you are somehowworried that a cigar bar is going to open up. Settle down!

Is there something you're not telling us about you and cigars. Did you have a bad experience? Do you not like men? Are you a femi-nazi by chance?

Thanks,

Gaustad

In his 1993 foreword to Mike Vogel's "Crossroads of America" about the Canal District, Prof. Marvin A. Rapp wrote "more immigrants passed through these steets . . . than passed through Ellis Island."

Rapp also somewhat wistfully wrote "Would that today, in 1993, a canal packet, vintage lake freighter or passenger steamer be docked permanently in the Buffalo Harbor to remind us of the days when America marched through the streets of the great Port of Buffalo. Remember, this city was once the largest inland immigrant port of America. But where is Buffalo's Ellis Island-type museum? Maybe someday these things will be represented."

Among all the promulgated plans for Canal District redevelopment, I have seen very little to give hope that Rapp's dreams will be realized. Plans should be underway to develop a Buffalo-Erie Canal Museum with artifacts of Canal Street days, a Canal-oriented gift shop, a Canal passenger Wall of Honor, and a database that can be accessed at the museum or on-line, by the millions of western Americans who can say "My ancestors came through Buffalo and the Erie Canal."

See http://www.conigliofamily.com/BuffaloErieCanalFoundation.htm