9 Comments

1. Andrew Kulyk says:

   April 25, 2008 at 8:28 am

   Pundit, why does any of this surprise you? This project has been one clusterfuck after another… delays,, obstructionist assholes, miscues and more delays. We are well into the warm weather into 2008… it has taken 9 months just to erect chain link fencing around the Aud and Donavan for what I assume will be demolition work, which, who knows will actually get started… 2011? Anybody? Anybody?

   At least the two smoking guys sitting on the loading dock at Donavan are gone… for sure they are making their 50K and bennies smoking and slacking elsewhere.
2. Merr says:

   April 25, 2008 at 10:47 am

   I actually took a walk down there on lunch last week. I don’t care what they do with the commercial slip, BassPro, etc. it’s all gonna look ridiculous with a loud, disgusting highway overhead. The skyway’s gotta come down or else the whole thing is going to be a joke.
3. Adam K says:

   April 25, 2008 at 10:53 am

   I think it looks good. Really good.

   Not so much the giant sign, or the bright green letters, but if that’s what you’re hung up on – and it shouldn’t be, because it’s changing – than you’re missing the forest for the trees.

   What are we going to be left with? A beautiful waterfront project with modern historical markers, an Erie Canal remnant, and a nice place to bring the kids, a date, or a visitor.

   Perfect.
4. Adam K says:

   April 25, 2008 at 10:56 am

   Andrew -

   The demo work started months ago. That’s why there’s a fence. The actual tear down of the buildings is scheduled for this fall, because with asbestos abatement, artifact removal, and the necessary removal of anything glass, plastic, toxic, and basically anything else not concrete or steel, it takes more than a couple weeks.
5. Buffalo Rox says:

   April 25, 2008 at 11:33 am

   BP,

   I know the architects involved in this project very well. Peter Flynn of Flynn Battaglia Architects is very accomplished. For example, he has involved with the restoration of the Guaranty Building (in ’80s and current) and Delaware Asbury Church (aka “The Church” or “Babeville”). I haven’t seen the interpretive display in person but like the pictures as it helps to add context to the area. The state was not going to provide enough money to replicate buildings in the area. This display helps visitors understand what they are looking at in a way that is more interesting than looking at a bunch of boring markers. It reminds me of the Holocaust exhibit in Boston in that you don’t get an exact recreation but rather an interpretation.

   Ron
6. Mark says:

   April 25, 2008 at 11:38 am

   1850′S = LIME GREEN!
7. Tbone says:

   April 25, 2008 at 1:37 pm

   Hey Ron,
   The state was going to give money to replicate buildings in the area. In fact the state was going to give money to replicate arguably the most important canal era building- the central wharf. As it turns out our preservationist friends thought it would contaminate our “sacred ground” to have such a building on the cite, they were however fine with the lovely billboard facade and other “interprative signs”. Because of their “heroic” intervention we now have (at best) the second best alternative for canal side re-development.
8. Denizen says:

   April 25, 2008 at 1:48 pm

   boondoggle
9. indabuff says:

   April 25, 2008 at 2:15 pm

   I’ve got a mule, her name is Sal,
   Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
   She’s a good old worker and a good old pal,
   Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
   We’ve haul’d some barges in our day,
   Fill’d them with lumber, coal and hay,
   And we know every inch of the way
   From Albany to Buffalo,

   Chorus
   Low bridge, everybody down,
   Low bridge for we’re going through a town,
   And you always know your neighbour,
   You’ll always know your pal,
   If you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.

   We’d better look around for a job, old gal,
   Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
   ‘Cause you bet your life I’d never part with Sal,
   Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
   Get up there mule, here comes a lock,
   We’ll make Rome ’bout six o’clock.
   One more trip and back we’ll go,
   Right back home to Buffalo.

   Oh, where would I be if I lost my pal?
   Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
   Oh, I’d like to see a mule as good as Sal,
   Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
   A friend of mine once got sore,
   Now he’s got a broken jaw,
   ‘Cause she let fly with her iron toe
   And kicked him into Buffalo.

   You’ll soon hear them sing about my gal,
   Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
   It’s a darn fine ditty ’bout my darn fool Sal,
   Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
   Oh, any old band will play it soon
   Darn fool words and darn’d fool tune,
   You’ll hear it sung before you go,
   From Mexico to Buffalo.