Rethinking the Niagara Frontier
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Ongoing work in the Niagara Region Next Steps Heritage Development in Western New York The November Roundtable concluded with a lively Rethinking the Niagara Frontier It would be a mistake, however, to say that the process of heritage development has discussion of the prospects for bi-national cooperation European Participants yet to begin here. around issues of natural and cultural tourism and her- itage development. There is no shortage of assets or Michael Schwarze-Rodrian As Bradshaw Hovey of UB’s smaller scale and at a finer grain. Projekt Ruhr GmbH Urban Design Project outlined, He highlighted the case of Fort stories, and there is great opportunity we can seize by Berliner Platz 6-8 A report on the November Roundtable there are initiatives in environ- Erie, one of the smaller commu- working together. Essen, Germany 45127 mental repair, historic preserva- nities in the region, but one that Email: schwarze-rodrian@projek- tion, infrastructure investment, rightfully lays claim to the title of Some identified the need to truhr.de economic development, and cul- “gateway to Canada.” broaden and deepen grassroots November 20, 2000 tural interpretation ongoing from What Fort Erie has done is rel- involvement, while others zeroed Christian Schützinger one end of the region to the atively simple. They have in on the necessity of engaging Bodensee-Alpenrhein Tourismus other. matched local assets with eco- leadership at higher levels of gov- Focus on heritage Bethlehem Steel Plant Postfach 16 In Buffalo, work is proceeding Source: Patricia Layman Bazelon nomic trends and community ernment and business. There was A-6901 Bregenz, Austria To develop the great bi-national region that spans the Niagara River, we should on the redevelopment of South goals to identify discrete areas of a great deal of discussion about Email: c.schuetzinger@bodensee- Buffalo “brownfields”; aggressive works; and a cultural tourism desired investment. The list of how to work together, even what concentrate on our “common ground” — on the potential in preserving, develop- committee has been formed. alpenrhein.at implementation of Buffalo’s potential initiatives is targeted to to name this enterprise of bi- Web: www.bodensee-alpenrhein.at ing, and promoting our shared natural and cultural heritage. downtown strategic plan through Now is the time, Hovey suggest- investing in: an urban entertain- national collaboration. ed, to pull the pieces together Downtown 2002!; restoration of ment center focused on themes of Since November, a number of Thanks More than seventy participants in Erie Canal remnants; redevelop- and go farther. archaeology and aboriginal inhab- initiatives have moved forward. the on-going bi-national collabo- ment of the city’s Peace Bridge itation; expansion in waterfront For example arts organizations on For further information Rethinking the ration known as Rethinking gateway; and organizing cultural Development case study investments in Crystal Beach and both sides of the border have Niagara Gorge contact: Niagara Frontier Niagara met in Lewiston, NY on Source: Waterfront Regeneration Trust was made The first bi-national institutions in the Olmsted in Fort Erie elsewhere; expansion of the talked about establishing a two- November 20th 2000 to sharpen forum in this series Crescent of Delaware Park. Recent investments on the Niagara Park marina for maritime possible by the the focus on what we might do nation tourist pass akin to of Niagara Falls and the Park sys- generous occurred in March In Niagara Falls, momentum is Canadian side of the border, uses and; extension of a system of Bodensee Alpenrhein’s “Inclusive tem. All have pledged to cooper- contributions of together to help our region meet 2000. It addressed building for new investments in meanwhile, are better known. At green trails. Card.” An initiative to create a ate in multi-jurisdictional work. Donner Canadian the complex challenges of our a range of opportu- waterfront access and greening; the March 2000 bi-national Like other heritage-oriented unified bi-national map of the Finally, planning for another Foundation, the common future. nities including, improving the built Robert G. Shibley, Director United States development at the park-city forum, planner Robert C. O’Dell initiatives, however, this work also region has been under- Rethinking Niagara event in 2001 The focus, they agreed, should and natural environ- Environmental edge in downtown; and mitiga- outlined up to six billion dollars focuses on the stories that link taken. is continuing with the intention The Urban Design Project be on working to improve quality ment, repairing and “Heritage is Protection Agency, tion of the Robert Moses in recent, pending, or anticipated the places — stories of archaeo- University of Buffalo of life for all by preserving, re-using old indus- And, Niagara Falls, NY of advancing the discussion, Environment School of Architecture & Planning trial sites, investing Parkway. development on the Ontario side logical remains, native settlement, about people’s has been in the news, as reporting on work in progress, Canada, The repairing, enhancing, and inter- Niagara Region in trade and On a broader scale, work is of Niagara. community history, nature, it needs to be. Federal, and announcing important new 3435 Main Street preting the things we have Source: UB Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth sense of place, it German Marshall transportation, and going forward on regional mar- In November, by contrast, ecology, food and more. Buffalo, NY 14214-3087 Fund of the United received from the past, both nat- is a starting State, and local politi- initiatives. growing knowledge- keting through Buffalo Niagara O’Dell presented a case study cians at all levels are call- Tel: (716) 829-3483 x 218 States, and the ural and of human creation. We based industries. Enterprise; a tourism marketing about how such investments point for people ing for action in the City Keep in touch. Fax: (716) 882-3722 Margaret L. Wendt should celebrate our heritage and and investment study is in the might be targeted on a much to connect.” Email: [email protected] Foundation. develop heritage tourism as one The November Roundtable Mary Means, Website: of the cornerstones of regional The bi-national confirmed that Planner, Mary Means www.ap.buffalo.edu/~urbandesign- roundtable was economic development plans. natural and cultural & Associates, Inc. project organized by the The November Roundtable — tourism — some- Waterfront Buffalo residents will remember it times known as Crystal Beach or Regeneration as the day of a sudden and pow- “heritage develop- Source: Town of Fort Erie Planning Department Trust of Toronto, erful blizzard — was the latest ment” — as an Ontario, and the initiative where Urban Design step in a bi-national collaboration significant “value Project at the coordinated by the Waterfront added” can be real- University of Regeneration Trust of Toronto ized by working Elizabeth Benson, Executive Director Buffalo School of and The Urban Design Project at together. Later this American Falls year Rethinking Waterfront Regeneration Trust Architecture and the University of Buffalo Source: New York Power Authority 207 Queen’s Quay West, Suite 403 Niagara will (SUNY). reconvene another Toronto, Ontario M5J 1A7 By now, representatives of versities, philanthropic institu- major bi-national Rail Trail Tel: (416) 943-8080 more than a hundred organiza- forum to continue Erie Canal Depot, Source: Western New York Heritage Institute Source: Town of Fort Erie Planning Department tions, and administrative agencies Fax: (416) 943-8068 tions — corporations, authorities, at every level of government on the discussion, Douglas G. Swift, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy; Mary Brennan-Taylor, Office of Congressman John LaFalce; Deborah Trimble, Buffalo Email: [email protected] municipalities, environmental both sides of the border — have report on work in progress, and unveil Olmsted Parks Conservancy; Mark Turgeon, Proprietor, Riverside Inn; Leah Wallace, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Planning & Development Services; Website: www.waterfronttrust.com advocates, business groups, com- Jim Ward, Office of State Senator George Maziarz; Marisa Wegrzyn, Erie County Environment & Planning; Arlene White, Ministry of Tourism, participated in Rethinking new initiatives. Economic Development & Trade; Joanne Willmott, NY Power Authority; Jacek Wysocki, Niagara Falls (NY) Redevelopment Corporation. Niagara Falls, Source: New York Power Authority munity based organizations, uni- Niagara. 5 6 Ongoing work in the Niagara Region Next Steps Heritage Development in Western New York The November Roundtable concluded with a lively Rethinking the Niagara Frontier It would be a mistake, however, to say that the process of heritage development has discussion of the prospects for bi-national cooperation European Participants yet to begin here. around issues of natural and cultural tourism and her- itage development. There is no shortage of assets or Michael Schwarze-Rodrian As Bradshaw Hovey of UB’s smaller scale and at a finer grain. Projekt Ruhr GmbH Urban Design Project outlined, He highlighted the case of Fort stories, and there is great opportunity we can seize by Berliner Platz 6-8 A report on the November Roundtable there are initiatives in environ- Erie, one of the smaller commu- working together. Essen, Germany 45127 mental repair, historic preserva- nities in the region, but one that Email: schwarze-rodrian@projek- tion, infrastructure