The concept of adding a Waterways Center to the region's waterfront drew dozens to a public meeting Tuesday night.
Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper Executive Director Jill Jedlicka says she wanted to hear what that might mean to the public, what it might be and where it would go. There were many ideas mentioned as confidence in waterfront development has risen in recent years.
The focus was mainly on the Outer Harbor, which has open land and woods and a nature preserve
"This is an exercise that gives the community a voice, to share their ideas and their innovations for what does the community want to see for its waterfront. Maybe this future Waterways Center is just a facility for recreation and water-based recreation. Maybe it's just a meeting place. Maybe it's shared office space for non-profits. We don't know. That's the intriguing part of this conversation," Jedlicka said.
"I'd like to see a real waterfront," said doctor and real estate owner Fadi Dagher. "I'd like to see like what is Chicago or New York City, something more development, more building, more restaurants, more life."
Joanne Kahn was there to push for a giant park on the Outer Harbor from Times Beach to the old port terminals.
"We feel that it would be the best and highest use of this land. It would be such an amenity for downtown and all the new residential that's occurring," said Kahn.
Jedlicka says there isn't any money nor is there a plan but it's important to hear from the public about what it wants.
