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Monday,
Jan 24, 2005 the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's Board of Commissioners
announced that they have ranked the proposal submitted by Buffalo Lakefront LLC
first of the three proposals received for the redevelopment of the 120 acre outer
harbor property and has authorized staff to negotiate a Memorandum of Intent.
The Buffalo Lakefront LLC team comprises Opus East LLC, VOA Associates, Uniland
Development, Urban Properties, Paradigm Consulting, BIDCO Marine Group, and Harris
Beach, LLP. The
proposal encourages a mixed-use development, having major residential and hospitality/entertainment
components. It is both economically sustainable and has the potential to generate
significant long-term public benefits, increase the tax base and create jobs.
Further, since the plan does not rely on the development of office or industrial
space, it does not compete with the Central Business District or adjacent industrial
parks. It also addresses site utilization issues and proposes solutions to accessing
the property and connecting the waterfront to downtown thus complementing the
Central Business District by expanding downtown Buffalo to the waterfront. The
plan also addresses the need for permanent public access to the waterfront by
dedicating over 20 acres of the site to green space and public use. |
