March 12, 2012
James Fink
There may soon be a new light shining on some or all of the 15 grain elevators that stand along Buffalo’s waterfront.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp.’s directors agreed to underwrite a test case, conducted by Buffalo’s Foit-Albert Associates in conjunction with Quebec-based Ambiances Design Productions, that could eventually see many of the grain elevators along with two bridges along the Buffalo River given an eye-catching series of lights.
Foit-Albert was the lowest of the eight bids received earlier this winter by the ECHDC. The firm is being paid $305,011 for the study.
Officials hope to reach out to the owners of all 15 grain elevators — some of which are operating and others that are long vacant — to see who may be interested in allowing their structures to be lit up as a means of promoting Buffalo’s waterfront and, simultaneously, projecting a better image for the city. The study will determine who is interested and how much it will cost, with the ECHDC bearing a significant portion of the expenses.
Representatives from the ECHDC said they hope to have at least one elevator lit this summer.
“If we only do one this year, that will be one more than we have lit today,” said Tom Dee, ECHDC president.
While the bid was unanimously supported, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, himself an attorney, raised the question whether some of the grain elevator owners may be reluctant to participate because of security, safety and risk issues.
“I agree with the project and I think it is a good project, but I want to make sure we don’t over step any boundaries,” Poloncarz said.
Dee said unless a grain elevator property owner is on board with the lighting effort and signs off on all the necessary paperwork, the ECHDC won’t consider that silo.
Dee added he is excited that Ambiances is joining ranks with Foit-Albert on the project. Ambiances has created a wide variety of dramatic exterior lighting projects including the Aurora Borealis effort in Quebec that showcases grain elevators in that city.
“We were just blown out of the water by the Aurora Borealis project,” Dee said.
While this summer will serve as the “test case,” Dee said, he hopes to have the full project implemented by next year.
“Our goal is take what some consider a liability and make it an asset,” Dee said.
In other action, the directors:
• Agreed to hire Artservices Initiative of Western New York to put on special events along the Buffalo River. The firm was the sole bidder and will be paid $120,000 to help run and manage the events.
The Buffalo River events will serve as a companion to the 425 events planned between Memorial and Labor Day this year at the Canalside and Central Wharf properties. The ECHDC has allocated $202,000 to help underwrite the Central Wharf events, which will be presented by more than 100 groups and could help attract 500,000 people.
Last summer, the Central Wharf attracted more than 400,000 people to an estimated 300 events that took place during the summer months.
• Hired the Herbert F. Darling Co. of Amherst, the lowest of three bidders, to extend the summer season dock by 520 linear feet south towards the DLW Terminal. Darling is being paid $998,089.
The docks will allow for more boats, kayaks and canoes to be launched or berthed this year.