05 09 12 the Future of Buffalos Waterfront Takes Shape

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For Immediate Release: May 9, 2012

Contact: Erich Weyant (ECHDC) |[email protected]| 716.846.8258

The Future of Buffalos Waterfront Takes Shape

ECHDC gives Explore-n-More approval to begin the planning phase for a Childrens

Experience and endorses Benderson Developments plans for the Donovan Building

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) announced today that it has selected

Explore-n-More Childrens Museum as the operator that will move forward with initial studies

for a proposed Childrens Experience at Canalside. The board also gave its approval to

Benderson Developments final design for the renovation of the Donovan Building.

These two projects will propel Canalside to the next stage of its development, said Sam Hoyt,

ECHDC interim chair. This is significant progress towards our goal of transforming Buffalos

waterfront into an attractive place to work and play throughout the year.

Located in East Aurora, NY, Explore-n-More Childrens Museum has been operating since 1994

and attracted nearly 48,000 visitors in 2011 at its current 6,500 square foot space. Attendance

at Explore-n-More is spread evenly throughout the year and is divided 70/30 percent betweenadults and children. Seventeen percent of the attendance was from outside Erie County,

demonstrating that the current facility, while small in size and in a difficult location to find, is

already an attraction. School visits include classes from Pre-K through Grade 3.

Explore-n-More Childrens Museum was selected to be the operator of the Childrens

Experience at Canalside based on its vision for a childrens museum at Canalside; its ability to

meet the Canalside and Museum objectives in the RFP; its history of financial operations; itsgrowth and consistency in attendance, its board strength and diversity; its ability to meet the

project schedule; and its acknowledgement that the organization could meet the financial

obligations of the planning phase in a reasonable timeframe. The Explore-n-More proposal for a

Childrens Museum at Canalside is adapted to the sites history and culture, and is highly

influenced by the Story of Buffalo. Most of the exhibits, including a marquee Fifteen Miles on

95 Perry Street, 5th

Floor

Buffalo, NY 14203P: (716) 846-8200

F: (716) 846-8262

www.eriecanalharbor.com
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.eriecanalharbor.com/http://www.eriecanalharbor.com/http://www.eriecanalharbor.com/mailto:[email protected]


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I am looking forward to our partnership with Explore-n-More, said Maureen Hurley, chair of

ECHDC Cultural Advisory Group. ECHDC made a commitment to present the best mix of

cultural offerings at Canalside, and I am confident that a Childrens Experience under theguidance of Explore-n-More will fulfill our mission to bring The Story of Buffalo to a wide

audience of children and adults. I want to thank the citizen-volunteers of our Cultural Advisory

Group for all of their hard work and dedication on this project.

On July 19, 2011, the Directors authorized ECHDC to enter into a development agreement with

Benderson Development, LLC. to undertake an adaptive reuse of the Donovan Building for a

new mixed-use development, subject to review and approval of the project design inaccordance with the design guidelines adopted as part of the Canalside MGPP. Those guidelines

are intended to ensure that future development contributes to a dense, urban, pedestrian-

scaled development pattern and architectural themes consistent with Canalside development

objectives.

To facilitate the process, ECHDC established a Design Review Committee (DRC), which is

composed of local professionals with specific training and/or expertise in

urban/architectural/landscape design, construction and development, to review and make

recommendations to the Board of Directors on the design of private development proposals at

Canalside with regard to their consistency with the design guidelines. The plans were also

referred to the City of Buffalo Planning Board on May 8, 2011 for consideration on its

consistency with the design guidelines. The Planning Board approved the plans without

changes.

The proposed Project will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silverqualifications for the core and shell and the applicable building codes for a Type 1B

construction classification. The entire exterior skin of the building is proposed to be removed

and replaced with high quality materials that are consistent with the need to achieve a LEED

Silver designation for the project. In addition, the existing mechanical, electrical, fire protection

and plumbing systems throughout the building will be upgraded to meet LEED Silver

requirements. A number of new site features are proposed, including: the construction of a

large focal point gazebo at the southwest corner of the Project site; the addition of decorativecladding on retaining walls; artistic lighting elements and a porte-cochere, which will utilize a

green roof system.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is a subsidiary agency of Empire State

Development Corporation whose vision is to revitalize Western New Yorks waterfront and


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Background

Childrens Experience at Canalside

In 2010, Lord Cultural Resources and Ralph Applebaum Associates were hired to develop a

comprehensive cultural plan based on the Story of Buffalo that would integrate cultural

projects, as well as refine the use of public spaces and special features, into Canalside. This

Master Plan, accepted by the Board in January 2012 identified short-term and long-term

opportunities for cultural attractions, entertainment, waterside and special events

programming which maximize use of the indoor and outdoor public spaces, increases thelikelihood of commercial investment, and would attract additional visitors to Canalside. The

recommendations included initiating a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select a Museum

Operator for a childrens museum/experience at Canalside. The selected operator was required

to propose a facility that would be appropriate to the Aud Block building parcel and to

demonstrate a relationship to the Story of Buffalo through the Museum Operators mission,

exhibits, and/or programming. From a financial standpoint, the operator was required to be

operationally sustainable, with capital and operational costs and a track record of funder

support and successful capital campaigns.

ECHDC received three submissions from local, not-for-profit organizations: The Buffalo Fire

Historical Society, The Great Lakes Experience and Explore-n-More Childrens Museum. The

submissions were reviewed by a selection committee consisting of ECHDC and ESD staff. A

three-member panel of community volunteers, with experience in early childhood education

and regional tourism, also provided comments on specific sections of the proposals. The

selection committee (with unanimous concurrence from the community panel) short-listed twoorganizations for interviews: the Great Lakes Experience and Explore-n-More Childrens

Museum.

The next step is the completion of work that will determine the facilitys size and configuration,

exhibits, capital and operational costs, and confirm Explore-n-Mores ability to fundraise the

required capital. Explore-n-More will be required to complete a Draft Museum Master Plan

by February 2013. A public involvement plan, approved by ECHDC, will be implemented byExplore-n-More as part of the Master Plan process. Additionally, Explore-n-More will be

required to complete a Capital Campaign Feasibility Study in conjunction with the Draft Master

Plan.

The Final Museum Master Plan based on the Feasibility Study and public input will be


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and construction consultants for interiors, exhibits, and other ancillary items outside the core

and shell. It is anticipated that ECHDC will design and construct the core and shell building

through its own consultant contract for an architect, working closely with Explore-n-More.Explore-n-More will provide 80 hours of annual on-site, outdoor programming at Canalside for

a minimum three-year period beginning after the museum opening.

Donovan Building Project Plan

After a technical review, the DRC convened on April 23, 2012 and unanimously recommended

that ECHDC approve the project plans (Exhibit A). The DRC did have several recommendationsconcerning lighting design, landscaping materials, consistency with site materials on the Aud

Block, and the various outdoor structural elements along Main Street. Staff has reviewed the

comments and intends to incorporate the recommendations where appropriate. The plans

were also referred to the City of Buffalo Planning Board on May 8, 2011 for consideration on its

consistency with the design guidelines. The Planning Board approved the plans without

changes.

The former buildings primary foundations, grading and structural systems will be re-used,

although most of its interior spaces, building systems and exterior cladding will be razed and

replaced. A series of pedestrian-scale elements, including terraces, steps, lighting and green

spaces have been added to the southern side of the project site. In addition, a planting trellis

has been added to the Washington Street side of the parking garage to soften the view.

Further, a drop-off area has been added to the building from Washington Street which will

allow patrons of the building to be droppedoff on Washington Street and provide the

opportunity for them to walk through the parking structure to gain access to the building.

The Project is consistent with the goals and objectives of the MGPP because it reuses a vacant

building and provides additional public space. Also, the project will meet the MGPPs objectives

for creating tenant spaces suitable for a mix of uses, including office space, hotel space,

ground level retail and community facility spaces, to ensure that Buffalo can capture its share of

future economic growth and new jobs. The Project varies slightly from how it was described in

the MGPP; for example, no residential component is planned as part of the Project at this time.

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05 09 12 the Future of Buffalos Waterfront Takes Shape

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