WKBW ABC-7
Waterfront Debate
Story Published: Jun 21, 2007 at 4:46 AM EDT
Story Updated: Jun 21, 2007 at 4:36 PM EDT
By Lou Buchheit Watch the story
The water front is a big part of the future of Buffalo. What will it look like, and will there be a Bass Pro? If there is, where should it be? All part of a debate on Wednesday night put on by the Western New York Coalition for Progress. The group brought local players to the table to debate. "Why does bass pro have to be right on the water front? Right there? It could be 100 yards up stream. It could be a 100 yards down stream . The outer harbor.", said preservationist Scott Fisher. "What we're talking about is wether a 50-thousand foot plaza should be built on this way on Commercial Street, which happens to be along the walk way you talked about, or alternatively wether it oughta be built on the Erie Canal. We could argue all day which is a better location for the park.", said the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation's Larry Quinn.
The panel did argue; chiming in on how much of your tax money should be used. "It involves a tremendous amount of corporate welfare . There's 25 million dollars handed out to Bass Pro. It involves another public authority.", said community activist Jerry Ostrowski. "Subsidize em give em whatever they want. Get em in there. There a natural attraction. There gonna attract people." said developer Carl Paladino.
The debate happening on the same day there is progress. Members of a consulting group called Thinkwell are in town meeting with different museums and other resources to get the best of Buffalo incorporated. "We don't design in a bubble. We have to go out to the community to listen to the stories the stake holders to understand what is there. From that we will coalesce and start coming up with ideas for the experience.", said Thinkwells Joe Zenas.
The point of the debate on Buffalo's future. "Something's gonna get built. The question is what's it gonna look like and wether or not there's gonna be a Bass Pro there. If we can get past these types of arguments and move forward with the overall project. I think that the city can win." said Western New York Coalition for Progress activist Alan Bedenko.
|
