Buffalo Rising Online

Methinks relocation of the pumping station would be the major stumbling block to this.

The major obstacle impeding all of these great waterfront ideas is the highway system, in this case, the 190. The peace bridge project absolutely has to be designed with waterfront development in mind. As long as the peace bridge remains on the West side of buffalo, the 190 will never be downgraded or removed, thus forever impeding waterfront development. Constructing a new bridge at the current Peace Bridge site or even the Ambassador site will only cause the 190 to remain for at least the next 75-100 years. We have to think a lot more progressively than that. The peace bridge has got to be moved outside of the city boundaries to a location where there is enough open land that the majority of its operations do no occur along the water. Grand Island is the perfect solution. The west side of Grand Island is almost entirely unpopulated, as well as the canadian land across the river and this area offers direct connections to the 190 and QEW (check it out on google earth). I understand there are some high value properties along the water, but we're talking about 10-20 that would be directly affected, at most. A far cry from the tens of thousands who's standards of living are deprived everyday.

If the Peace Bridge location is moved outside the city, then there is no reason why the 190 can not be downgraded to a parkway IMMEDIATELY. This opens up MILES of waterfront land for development, and gives the West side neighborhoods direct access to the water - can you imagine how those neighborhoods would come roaring back?! Property tax revenue skyrocketing for the city. LaSalle and Front Parks would be the premier open space in the city. Right now, you can hardly even get to them.

We have got to get out of our old ways of thinking, that the Peace Bridge will always be where it is, and do whats truly right for the city and the region. Its such a no-brainer, if only people weren't so resistant to change.

A plan isn't worth the paper it is drawn on, unless action is taken. The problem with past plans is not the changing of the guard, it is the lack of action while the current administration is in place. We fall for these grandiose schemes and plans all the time; yet we still sit with an undeveloped waterfront and a struggling downtown core.

Every administration has made promises about the waterfront, dating back to the 60s, but it still remains under-utilized and under-developed. How many 'Master Plans' exist in City Hall? How many newspaper reports have highlighted the great things that could be done in Buffalo.

It is up to the public to hold officials accountable for our future. The problem is that we are so fucking naive and accepting that we vote the same people into office, year after year, and accept the same political appointees, year after year, and vote our particular party line ticket, year after year, and yet we expect something to change? Seriously, the problem with Buffalo is US! The community that elects politicians and accepts mediocre results and inactivity from them.

This plan is no better or worse than any other plan, they are all the same... just nice looking pictures and words on expensive paper. One of these days, we will actually make something from them, but until then they make great decorations for City Hall.

What businesses benefit from close proximity to the peace bridge? Duty Free??? The city does not benefit from the peace bridge to any amount even remotely comparable to opening up that waterfront land. Any business that would greatly benefit, probably requires massive truck access that would be better suited in another regional location anyhow.

No, think that we have an enormous opportunity to think bigger and it begins: 1) by opposing the second Peace Bridge or expansion of the existing plaza. I do not support the demolition of more homes and businesses to expand the present plaza in any way shape or form

2) Lets come up with a plan that would in effect create a wharf district from the Peace Bridge all the way to Michigan Street incorporating Front Park, LaSalle Park, Erie Basin Marina, the Naval Park, the Western Terminus, Bass Pro and the DL&W.

3) Reconnect the former streets from Massachusetts to Erie back ... connect them all to a waterfront promenade which would re-invigorate the west village and the westside.

4) It wouldnt hurt to contemplate bringing back the demolished Fort and the demolished DL&W concourse.

5) It wouldnt hurt to consider reactivating the Belt-Line. This becomes increasingly justified as the area bounded by the belt line continues to grow in density: HealthNow, Waterfront Tower, Bass Pro, Buffalo State, Central Terminal, Larkin District are all growing.

6) It wouldnt hurt to add a few rotaries and maybe reconstruct the fountains from the PAN AM for the cneter pieces for the rotaries....it wouldht hurt to incorporate some of the old PAN AM gateways either. Its absolutely amazing how few truly classic fountains Buffalo has....

7) Please no parks....we can easily incorporate a walkable waterfront promenade with a wharf with housing, office and commercial development.

What it really boils down to is Buffalo needs less politicians in office and more businessmen calling the shots

This prominent park is in a most fantastic location and is in the most deplorable condition. To not take advantage of this asset is a sin. It should be converted to a State Park and treated accordingly.

The first thing that needs to be done is to link the roadway to the Waterfront Village neighborhood and have these people start to take ownership of their neighborhood park and their city. The faux suburban cu de sac must be eliminated.