The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation board approved a contract with Union Concrete and Construction Corp. to begin Phase 1 construction of the new Buffalo Cruise Terminal at the Outer Harbor’s Slip 2 site on Fuhrmann Boulevard.
The contract is capped at $13.4 million. ECHDC said construction is expected to begin next month and marks the first major step toward a planned grand opening during the 2028 cruise season.
The site is the former location of the Pier Restaurant, which was demolished in 2007.
ECHDC Chairperson Joan Kesner said the project reflects Governor Kathy Hochul’s waterfront vision and will help position Buffalo as a Great Lakes destination. She said the terminal will connect with public spaces already built at Wilkeson Pointe and the Bell Slip.
Phase 1 will focus on marine and structural work, including seawall repairs, guardrails and heavy-duty mooring bollards. ECHDC said those improvements are needed so cruise lines can begin using the site for scheduled dockings as the work advances.
A second phase will be bid separately and is expected to address upland infrastructure and amenities. Plans include a building for public restrooms and a Customs and Border Protection facility.
The overall site plan also calls for seawall shoring, site remediation, a multi-use path, a pedestrian promenade, a scenic sunset point with seating and a small parking lot. ECHDC said the terminal’s design will match nearby Outer Harbor destinations.
Along with the construction contract, the board authorized ECHDC to enter a 20-year revocable license agreement with American Cruise Lines. The non-exclusive agreement would allow ACL to dock passenger vessels, manage boarding and off-boarding, and handle vessel resupply.
Under the license, ACL will pay a $25,000 upfront fee and monthly payments based on passenger volume and dock time. ECHDC said the agreement preserves its ability to work with additional cruise lines in the future.
ECHDC said Buffalo has already reentered the cruise sector through a temporary docking site near the Erie Basin Marina, and said the market study completed in 2024 supported the Slip 2 location. The agency said it has also received commitment letters from two Great Lakes cruise lines.
