Tuesday, the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority, the city of Buffalo, Erie County and an outside commercial real estate developer announced plans to build an 80-acre amusement park on Outer Harbor land.
According to the April 15 issue of the Buffalo News, the park would be partially outdoors and partially indoors, enclosed by a dome. Open year-round, authorities say the park will have sporting facilities like swimming, climbing and skating, while also housing movie theaters and shops.
The Spectrum has consistently advocated waterfront development while urging caution about how that development comes about. This is no different.
The neighborhoods near the harbor will benefit from a tourist attraction as a boon to the struggling economy, and increased traffic will only rejuvenate the downtown local businesses. Critics of the city point to what they see as a stagnant downtown area as a hindrance to economic prosperity. An amusement park will attract business and jobs throughout the year and help draw families into an area notorious for losing the younger generations. It may just be that elusive spark that generates activity in the city.
The park does raise concerns, however, particularly in the areas of finance and infrastructure. The cost of the facility is estimated at $100 million, and the current plan is for financing to come from federal, state, local and private sources. It is important to keep the taxpayer contribution in mind, as the goal of waterfront development should be to infuse vibrancy and cash flow into the Buffalo area.
Civic planning concerns would have to be allayed, as the development and construction of such a park would likely interfere with traffic flow. Once it opens, planning the routes to get to and from the Outer Harbor area would have to be handled with care to maximize accessibility while not disrupting the neighborhood.
The NFTA, Giambra and Masiello administrations have a plan with real potential to aid the dying city, but they must take care not to worsen an already bad situation. There is reason for hope, though, as the developer building the park has a great record in commercial real estate, including holding the First Canadian Place complex in Toronto and the World Financial Center in New York City.
Optimism is increasingly difficult to find in Western New York, and for a large-scale development even more so. A successful amusement park will help lead Buffalo toward financial growth and stability.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
