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Restoration Of Historic Inner Harbor Streets

Contacts: Peter K. Cutler 851-4841
               Theresa Kennedy 803-4281             
     

City Will Use Federal Funds to Reconstruct Historic Waterfront Streetscape

Mayor Byron W. Brown, Senator Charles E.Schumer and Congressman Brian Higgins today announced that the City of Buffalo will this week advertise for bids on the reconstruction of four historic streets in the city’s Inner Harbor area.

Financed with $4.4 million in federal funds, including $2.3 million in federal stimulus monies and other federal funds secured by Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Brian Higgins, the project is scheduled to start in September 2009 with a completion date of August 2010. The city’s Department of Public Works will oversee the reconstruction project.

“The city’s waterfront continues to improve and the reconstruction of these historic streets in the Inner Harbor will build upon the successful redevelopment of this vital tourism and recreational area of Buffalo,” said Mayor Brown. “By using actual cobblestones that are original to sections of these streets, we intend to provide a faithful and historically accurate reconstruction of these long covered streets that are essential to the continuing restoration of Buffalo’s storied waterfront.”

The work will consist of reconstruction of four cobblestone streets (Prime, Lloyd, Perry and Hanover), installation of granite curbs, exposed aggregate concrete sidewalks, new street lighting, landscaping, traffic signal work; the street alignment is designed to match the existing street grid as much possible, especially given the presence of Skyway support columns that are located within the project site.

"This is terrific news for the City of Buffalo. Rebuilding these streets will reference the past, even while we build for the future," said Senator Schumer.  "Investing in the revitalization of the Inner Harbor will jump start economic development across the city, bringing jobs, business and economic prowess to the entire region. I am proud to have helped secure this funding through the Economic Recovery Package to improve the waterfront for locals and tourists.”
 
“With last year’s opening of the historic Commercial Slip, the ongoing work at the Aud, construction of the Outer Harbor Parkway, and now additional work in the neighborhood of the Inner Harbor, we continue to see positive momentum along Buffalo’s waterfront,” said Congressman Higgins.  “This significant federal infrastructure investment continues our efforts to make the water’s edge a more attractive place for the public and potential businesses alike.”

The reconstruction project calls for the use of cobble pavers salvaged from the site; cobbles salvaged from Genesee Street in the city and cobbles salvaged from old cobblestone streets that match the existing pavers in Buffalo, but were once in place in Cleveland, Ohio.

Project funding sources:   $2.300M Federal Stimulus Funds
                                       $0.790M Federal Highway Administration Funds
                                       $1.350M Federal Transportation Funding
                                        Total:    $4.440M

The bid process for the project is as follows:

Advertisement:  In Contract Reporter – Monday May 18, 2009;   In Buffalo News – Wednesday May 20, 2009

Pre-Bid Meeting:  Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 10:00am in Room 515 City Hall

Bid Opening:  Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 11:00am in Room 502 City Hall