ECHDC won't be building parking garage

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation seemed to surprise many of its critics Monday with a major announcement.

The rallying cry at a protest over the weekend was to make the waterfront "Lighter, quicker, and cheaper." It seems the people in charge of building the waterfront like that approach after all.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation shoved aside a plan that would've built a parking garage and instead voted to approve a plan to extend the waters of the Buffalo River further inland toward Main Street, and Scott Streets, creating new historic towpaths and laying the groundwork for private companies to spend their own money on development.

ECHDC Chair Jordan Levy said, “We think if we put in the infrastructure, if we do a lot of the things we outlined today, which include working on things for this summer, "lighter, quicker, cheaper," as Fred Kent talks about, the plans we've always had for the inner harbor, the outer harbor, and the Buffalo River. We do that, it's gonna create an opportunity for lots of private sector development to want to come in here and be a part of the renaissance of Buffalo."

Levy says he also hopes to set up a canopy pavilion, and temporary tent structures on the inner harbor to bring vendors and musicians next summer.