Author: Charlie Gordon – Charles Gordon Architecture
It has been almost 6 months since I wrote, “Congratulations to the Pegula’s, along with their superb team of contractors, who completed the spectacular Harbor Center in record time and within budget. Further kudos to the magical ice skating/cycling initiative which fills out a year-round Canalside activity slate.”
With Outer Harbor bike ferry recently opened, now again is a good time to repeat the plea to focus on improving FOOT of Main Street—Bookend 1. Of course lets not forget Bookend 1A at the North end—-the Pearl Street Gateway—bookend 1A is the primary Canalside vehicular access for city folks. Most would agree this important gateway looks even worse than Foot of Main Street and perhaps is more important because Pearl St corridor/arrival creates an important [positive or negative] first impression for visitors—especially for first time visitors.
But one initiative at a time. For Lower Main Street Waterfront, momentum continues to be greatly handicapped from reaching its full potential, since an inaccessible and underused NFTA surface parking lot in deplorable condition [called Women for Downtown Park” – looks more like a back service yard for a Walmart – occupies THE Foot of Main Street.
A few of us have stood upon this spot near the water’s edge. As we gaze northward up Main Street one can hardly even see the street, nor Canalside, nor Harbor Center, through an ugly maze of fencing and haphazardly arranged detritus and “back of House” support storage.
This potentially special place at the mouth of the Buffalo River offers potentially panoramic views to Lake Erie, the historic DL&W Terminal and Times Beach.
The location is the original “Front Door” to our historic waterfront!
Understandably our NFTA is going through difficult financial times and cannot shoulder the sole financial burden to fund these improvements. Here is an incremental 3 step initiative that won’t “break the bank” and can sow the seeds for future private investment.
The Guiding Principles for this as for all Outer/Inner Harbor revitalization are:
- Create Great Places… that people will return to again and again
- Make these places accessible
- Provide good connections.to other waterfront features, pathways, destinations
As the photos attached show, we’ve still got a long way to go
Step 1
Like Temporary Improvements–Green-up the whole area, camouflage the 15-20 parking spaces, replace prison style fencing with more friendly control. This short term strategy really applies to the Pearl Street “Bookend” too. Incorporate some thoughtful landscaping. Most important, create an attractive connection under/around the most southerly skyway abutment to connect with the Canalside Boardwalk. That link would of course, continue as always imagined eastward along the DL&W riverfront façade. Logically of course, the Outer Harbor Bike Ferry dock should be here.
Step 2
Create direct access to the water’s edge so people can physically engage the water. Buffalo is the only US city I know of that does not let people down right to water’s edge where they can dangle their feet in the water. Envisioned what would be a stepped amphitheater “carved out” to let river “invade” the land, eradicate the barrier like current water edge 7’-8’ above current water line. Easy to do, and not that expensive. Step 2 would include a convenient drive-up/drop-off for Bike Ferry users.
Step 3
Create a real Main Street Riverfront destination. We still envision a vibrant functioning multi-level Gateway accessible and usable from land or water. To achieve this goal, extend the existing DL&W train barn 2nd level up-over Main Street – conform to its historic configuration from almost 100 years ago. Then design a protective grand roof canopy over—A GATEWAY Portal, that would incorporate well thought-out elevator/escalator/stairways to connect Main Street with DL&W 2nd level.
Historians know that the existing train barn is only one part – actually the “back end” – of what was once a great early 20th century Buffalo version of NYC’s Grand Central Station. DL&W’s “Front door” once consisted of a passenger arrival and waiting space – a “Great Hall.” This whole complex originally extended all the way to foot of Main Street.
Let’s get it done!
The historic terminus of Main Street was once a bustling, exciting and unique multi-modal world class center of Commerce. We – Privately led, BUT with Public support – have the opportunity to take steps now to rejuvenate this PLACE by capturing the momentum of Buffalo’s current renaissance. We’ve got good. Let’s get to great!