Board of Directors

Jordan Levy, Chairman

Julie M. Barrett O’Neill
David J. Colligan
Michael DiVirgilio
Maureen O. Hurley
Mindy Rich
Chris Collins, Ex Officio
Byron W. Brown, Ex Officio
Historic District Committee 95 Perry Street, Suite 500
Jordan Levy, Chair
Richard G. Berger, Esq. Buffalo, NY 14203-3030
Bruno Cagliostro
Henry Giorino
P: (716) 846-8200
Mark Goldman F: (716) 846-8260
Peter F. Hunt
Kathy Konst www.eriecanalharbor.com
Eric Lander
Newel Nussbaumer
Christel Peacock For Immediate Release: April 12, 2011
Paul Redding
Casmiro Rodriguez Contact:
Mike Schmand
Lynda H. Schneekloth Erich Weyant (ECHDC) | eweyant@empire.state.ny.us | 716.846.8258
Catherine Schweitzer
Tim Tielman
Outer Harbor Subcommittee
David J. Colligan, Chair
Anthony Anderson, P.E.
Alan Bedenko, Esq.
“Summer of Transformation” for Buffalo’s Waterfront
Vince Connors
Tucker Curtin
Peter Demakos, P.E.
John M. Fell, AICP
ECHDC Board formally approves several waterfront initiatives, including:
Don Finkle
Sergio Fornasiero
Central Wharf expansion, expanded events, a water taxi, and lighthouse repairs
Mark Goldman
Marti Gorman
Erin Heaney
Bill Jones
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation’s (ECHDC) Board of Directors
Renata Kraft
Scott McKee
today approved a slate of items that will begin to change the way that Western
Laurence McMahon
John Montaque
New Yorkers connect and interact with their waterfront. The board awarded a
Carl Montante, Jr.
William Nowak
contract for a temporary extension of the Central Wharf, renewed its contract with
Alan Oberst
Marc Odien
Buffalo Place to provide programming at Erie Canal Harbor, which will result in
Jud Payne
Anne Perry
more than 300 events on the Inner Harbor, approved a grant for repairs and
Alfred Price
David Stebbins
restoration to the historic Buffalo Lighthouse and announced that a water taxi
Pierre Wallinder
Marty Walters
service will provide access to various locations along the Buffalo River and Inner
Buffalo River Subcommittee and Outer Harbors, a first for the region. Looking towards the future, the board
Julie Barrett O’Neill, Chair
Justin Booth named the contractor who will oversee the engineering and design of a series of
William Breeser
Ronald Chapin historically aligned public canals, due to open during the summer/fall of 2012.
Timothy Delaney
Lisa DuBois
Jessie Fisher
Erin Heaney The board awarded a contract for $196,500 to the C. Destro Development Co. of
Leanna Hefferman
Jill Jedlicka Buffalo for construction of a temporary extension to the Central Wharf. The
Laura Kelly
William Novak extension will provide an additional 400 feet of waterfront access for cyclists and
Jackie O’Bannon
Margaret Overdorf pedestrians, resulting in a continuous linkage to the Outer Harbor via the Ohio
Carl Paladino
Lorraine Pierro Street Corridor. The contractor is required to achieve 20 percent Minority
Daryl Rasuli
Sam Savarino Business Enterprise (MBE) and 5 percent Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
Jennifer Sepulveda
Erin Sharkey participation and has indicated confidence in meeting that workforce utilization
James Simon
Rick Smith III goal.
Steven Stepniak
Gregory Stevens
Gerhardt Yaskow
Greg Wisniewski Buffalo Place will again provide operations, maintenance and special event
Cultural Steering Committee
Maureen O. Hurley, Chair
services at the Central Wharf this summer. Building on the successful
Peter B. Dow, Chair
Cindy Abbott-Letro
programming already in place, ECHDC has committed to tripling the number of
Ted Bickford
Melissa Brown
events offered on the Inner Harbor this summer. The Cultural Steering
Kevin Cottrell
Donna Fernandes
Committee, which has been led by Maureen Hurley since 2007, endorsed a series
Dottie Gallagher-Cohen
Duncan Hay
of cultural offerings designed to tell “The Story of Buffalo” in the very place
Paul Hogen
Michael Kimmelberg
where Buffalo began. These events will complement the existing events offered
Barbara Park-Leggett
Thomas Mooney
during the past two summer seasons.
John S. Montague
Mark Mortenson
Christopher Schoepflin
Catherine Schweitzer
Art Selection Committee
Jordan Levy, Chair
Molly Donovan
Sandra Q. Firmin
Louis Grachos
Richard Huntington
Jean Knox
Board of Directors
Jordan Levy, Chairman
Julie M. Barrett O’Neill
David J. Colligan
Michael DiVirgilio
Maureen O. Hurley
Mindy Rich
Chris Collins, Ex Officio
Byron W. Brown, Ex Officio
Historic District Committee 95 Perry Street, Suite 500
Jordan Levy, Chair
Richard G. Berger, Esq. Buffalo, NY 14203-3030
Bruno Cagliostro
Henry Giorino
P: (716) 846-8200
Mark Goldman F: (716) 846-8260
Peter F. Hunt
Kathy Konst www.eriecanalharbor.com
Eric Lander
Newel Nussbaumer
Christel Peacock New events will include:
Paul Redding
Casmiro Rodriguez
Mike Schmand
Lynda H. Schneekloth
• The Buffalo Native Creek Festival
Catherine Schweitzer
Tim Tielman
• The Fish and Wildlife Experience Festival
Outer Harbor Subcommittee
David J. Colligan, Chair
• Clinton’s Ditch (Historical drama detailing the building of the Erie Canal)
Anthony Anderson, P.E.
Alan Bedenko, Esq.
• The Masten District Jazz Festival
Vince Connors
Tucker Curtin • Family programming from Explore & More Children’s Museum
Peter Demakos, P.E.
John M. Fell, AICP
Don Finkle
Sergio Fornasiero “The people of Western New York have made it clear that what they want is
Mark Goldman
Marti Gorman connection to the water,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. “Our goal is to create
Erin Heaney
Bill Jones linkages along the waterfront so that people can enjoy what’s already available,
Renata Kraft
Scott McKee and to get a sense of the opportunities that are there.”
Laurence McMahon
John Montaque
Carl Montante, Jr.
William Nowak The water taxi, operated by the Queen City Ferry Company, will link the three
Alan Oberst
Marc Odien distinct areas of Buffalo’s waterfront: the Inner Harbor, the Buffalo River and the
Jud Payne
Anne Perry Outer Harbor. Queen City is a private venture with Buffalo Sailing Adventures,
Alfred Price
David Stebbins whose owners have over 30 years combined experience operating passenger and
Pierre Wallinder
Marty Walters educational vessels on waterfronts nationwide, and have a proven record of
Buffalo River Subcommittee
Julie Barrett O’Neill, Chair
success in providing engaging, authentic, and professional public access to
Justin Booth
William Breeser
Buffalo’s waterways on the Spirit of Buffalo. The $96,500 agreement ensures
Ronald Chapin
Timothy Delaney
three years of regular water ferry services (pedestrian and bicycle) with
Lisa DuBois
Jessie Fisher
standardized routes and schedules to four locations:
Erin Heaney
Leanna Hefferman
Jill Jedlicka • The Commercial Slip (Inner Harbor)
•
Laura Kelly
William Novak River Fest Park (Buffalo River)
Jackie O’Bannon
Margaret Overdorf • First Buffalo Marina (Inner Harbor)
Carl Paladino
Lorraine Pierro
Daryl Rasuli
• Small Boat Harbor (Outer Harbor)
Sam Savarino
Jennifer Sepulveda
Erin Sharkey
James Simon
“As progress moves forward, we are reminded that the water is the anchor that
Rick Smith III
Steven Stepniak
draws growing crowds. Public participation in this process and the actions of the
Gregory Stevens
Gerhardt Yaskow
board ensures that families and tourists will visit more often and stay longer as
Greg Wisniewski there will be more access and programming,” said Congressman Brian Higgins,
Cultural Steering Committee
Maureen O. Hurley, Chair who noted the projects approved today are supported by funding secured through
Peter B. Dow, Chair
Cindy Abbott-Letro the relicensing settlement with the New York Power Authority. “Restaurants,
Ted Bickford
Melissa Brown restrooms, a ferry that connects an expanded commercial slip boardwalk to a
Kevin Cottrell
Donna Fernandes series of pedestrian paths along the transformed Outer Harbor Parkway, and
Dottie Gallagher-Cohen
Duncan Hay increased activities brought to us thanks to the experienced leadership of Buffalo
Paul Hogen
Michael Kimmelberg Place are creating the destination that the people have demanded and certainly
Barbara Park-Leggett
Thomas Mooney deserve.”
John S. Montague
Mark Mortenson
Christopher Schoepflin
Catherine Schweitzer
Art Selection Committee
Jordan Levy, Chair
Molly Donovan
Sandra Q. Firmin
Louis Grachos
Richard Huntington
Jean Knox
Board of Directors
Jordan Levy, Chairman
Julie M. Barrett O’Neill
David J. Colligan
Michael DiVirgilio
Maureen O. Hurley
Mindy Rich
Chris Collins, Ex Officio
Byron W. Brown, Ex Officio
Historic District Committee 95 Perry Street, Suite 500
Jordan Levy, Chair
Richard G. Berger, Esq. Buffalo, NY 14203-3030
Bruno Cagliostro
Henry Giorino
P: (716) 846-8200
Mark Goldman F: (716) 846-8260
Peter F. Hunt
Kathy Konst www.eriecanalharbor.com
Eric Lander
Newel Nussbaumer
Christel Peacock
Paul Redding
Casmiro Rodriguez Demonstrating its commitment to preserving our waterfront’s heritage, ECHDC
Mike Schmand
Lynda H. Schneekloth approved a grant of $170,700 for the repair and restoration of the Buffalo
Catherine Schweitzer
Tim Tielman Lighthouse. Built in 1833, the lighthouse stands at the mouth of the Buffalo River
Outer Harbor Subcommittee
David J. Colligan, Chair
and is so identified with Buffalo that it was incorporated into the City’s seal. The
Anthony Anderson, P.E.
Alan Bedenko, Esq.
structure currently sits on federal land owned by the U.S. Coast Guard. Access to
Vince Connors
Tucker Curtin
the site was restricted in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Congressman
Peter Demakos, P.E.
John M. Fell, AICP
Brian Higgins secured over $6 million for reconfiguration of the Coast Guard
Don Finkle
Sergio Fornasiero
facilities to allow public access to the area around the historic lighthouse.
Mark Goldman
Marti Gorman
Construction is expected to begin soon on the grounds and the masonry repair and
Erin Heaney
Bill Jones
stonework is being completed in anticipation of the return of visitors to the site
Renata Kraft
Scott McKee
this fall.
Laurence McMahon
John Montaque
Carl Montante, Jr.
William Nowak
C&S Companies of Buffalo will provide architectural and engineering design
Alan Oberst
Marc Odien
services for the historically aligned public canal system which will be constructed
Jud Payne
Anne Perry
on the Aud Block, in accordance with the terms of a $1.7 million contract
Alfred Price
David Stebbins
awarded today. Construction on the canals will begin later this year and will open
Pierre Wallinder
Marty Walters
during the summer/fall of 2012.
Buffalo River Subcommittee
Julie Barrett O’Neill, Chair
Justin Booth
William Breeser
In other business, ECHDC approved its 2012 Operating Budget and named
Ronald Chapin
Timothy Delaney
Empire State Development Counsel Leecia Eve as Corporation Counsel.
Lisa DuBois
Jessie Fisher
Erin Heaney
Leanna Hefferman
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is a subsidiary agency of Empire
Jill Jedlicka
Laura Kelly
State Development Corporation whose vision is to revitalize Western New York’s
William Novak
Jackie O’Bannon
waterfront and restore economic growth to Buffalo based on the region’s legacy
Margaret Overdorf
Carl Paladino
of pride, urban significance and natural beauty.
Lorraine Pierro
Daryl Rasuli
Sam Savarino
Jennifer Sepulveda
Erin Sharkey
James Simon
###
Rick Smith III
Steven Stepniak
Gregory Stevens
Gerhardt Yaskow
Greg Wisniewski
Cultural Steering Committee
Maureen O. Hurley, Chair
Peter B. Dow, Chair
Cindy Abbott-Letro
Ted Bickford
Melissa Brown
Kevin Cottrell
Donna Fernandes
Dottie Gallagher-Cohen
Duncan Hay
Paul Hogen
Michael Kimmelberg
Barbara Park-Leggett
Thomas Mooney
John S. Montague
Mark Mortenson
Christopher Schoepflin
Catherine Schweitzer
Art Selection Committee
Jordan Levy, Chair
Molly Donovan
Sandra Q. Firmin
Louis Grachos
Richard Huntington
Jean Knox