Today the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) took action to officially transfer its Buffalo Outer Harbor property to Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC).
Congressman Higgins hailed the approval, “Today Buffalo’s Outer Harbor enters a new era that demonstrates we, as a community, are embracing improving, developing and preserving our waterfront as a priority. I commend the principals at the NFTA and Erie Canal Harbor Development for their leadership and partnership on this transformative action for Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. This was a long time coming.”
For years Congressman Higgins has contended that a transfer of the Outer Harbor property into the hands of an entity that is best suited to handle waterfront development would be best for the community. Most recently, in December of 2012, Higgins called for the transfer of the waterfront land from the NFTA to ECHDC for a cost not to exceed $2.
Last September, under Governor Cuomo’s leadership, a plan was announced for the transfer of hundreds of acres of Outer Harbor property and creation of a new state park including a public swimming beach.
On January 13, 2014 the ECHDC board took action to begin the transfer process. Under the agreement ECHDC purchased 354 acres of waterfront land from the NFTA for a sum of $2.00. The NFTA will continue to operate the boat harbor for the 2014 season and will relinquish oversight in November 2014.