Help Build a World-Class Waterfront for Buffalo NY
The Issue
Hello, I have been an advocate for thirty years, dreaming of having a world-class waterfront for Buffalo, NY.
I need your help; there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a world-class waterfront for Buffalo. However, the politicians have cleaned up the waterfront only halfway and gone back to their ways of building industry on the waterfront that doesn't need the waterfront anymore. With your help, we can stop them in their tracks and build the waterfront that we dream of and you deserve. A waterfront with the new Buffalo Bills stadium with a retractable roof we dreamed of and was supposed to be built on the waterfront 50 years ago, if not for the pollution.
We have the opportunity now; we must stop the politicians from building the new Buffalo Bills stadium in nowhere land and fail location where they built it before.
You can download the 50-page PDF petition: Western New York Waterfront Redevelopment Master Plan Petition
The goal of the master plan is a world-class waterfront, an ambitious transformation of the 1250 acres into a northern waterfront paradise. To create 1,000 acres of green space designed in the spirit of Frederick Olmsted, who famously designed Central Park. In addition to this green oasis, there would be a significant multiple attractions development spanning 235 acres with a large harbor. Then, to top it off, the extension of the adjacent state park’s mile-long beach another mile into Lackawanna to become similar to California bay-style beaches – an even-grade sand beach westerly facing with beautiful sunsets.
The catalyst to start this significant waterfront redevelopment is Buffalo Bill’s new retractable roof stadium built in the 235-acre redeveloped family-friendly attraction section on Lackawanna’s waterfront, transforming the area into a robust stage for various significant spectator events ranging from sports, concerts, and festivals. Surrounded by the beauty of the waterfront, green spaces, and a world-class beach, this venue would provide much more than entertainment. It would result in substantial returns to our local economy and foster increased community engagement.
Sadly, local politicians only cleaned up the waterfront halfway and called it a day. They plan to leave pollution on the waterfront forever. This is extremely short-sighted; the area could have a gold mine if they cleaned up all the waterfront and placed a retractable Bills stadium on Lackawanna's waterfront. Buffalo would be a Florida-type tourist mega-attraction destination all along their waterfront, having multiple tourist attractions. This is how you develop a waterfront, not piecemeal to fit old politics.
Buffalo would then receive international praise for its grand world-class waterfront, where many of the 22 million tourists that visit Niagara Falls will even venture a 40-minute journey to Buffalo to see the world-class waterfront and attractions. We are talking about billions of dollars of additional revenue for Buffalo and the state yearly.
Buffalo was on the cusp of having a world-class destination when it became the city of electricity and light in the pan-American fair; instead, the steel plant came and destroyed the waterfront, polluted the land and lake, and killed the lake. The waterfront could have prospered, developed independently for its natural beauty. The Buffalo Bills dome stadium would have been built on the waterfront fifty years ago, with Niagara Falls so close to draw tourists to Buffalo and the upper Niagara River. Instead, they built the stadium far inland, far away from the pollution, in nowhere land, and it developed nothing. Now, the short-sighted politicians have convinced everyone to keep it there, where it can't maximize its fullest potential in additional development built on the waterfront.
It’s more than just reclaiming land; it’s about restoring the community’s access to nature and creating spaces where families can create memories together. In cities across America with restored waterfront access, we see revitalization of neighborhoods and increased tourism.
Well-designed waterfronts can significantly contribute to local economies while enhancing social interaction among residents. Moreover, making these spaces accessible can promote physical activity and improve community mental health. Waterfronts are crucial urban spaces that should be accessible to everyone, fostering community engagement and promoting healthier lifestyles.
It is heartbreaking that a city’s entire two-mile waterfront has been inaccessible to the public for an astonishing 123 years. A population of 20,000 residents has never had the chance to stand on their shoreline, witness breathtaking sunsets, feel the sun’s warmth on their faces, or listen to the soothing sound of waves accompanied by seagulls.
Hello, my name is John Nowak, and for the past 33 years, I have been campaigning to restore public access to the city of Lackawanna’s waterfront, which spans over 1250 acres. I have dedicated my life to this cause and recently compiled a comprehensive “Western New York Waterfront Redevelopment Master Plan Petition” that outlines the vision.
On October 19, 2023, I traveled to Albany. With a sense of symbolic significance, I hand-delivered the Waterfront Redevelopment Master Plan petition to all the honorable Senate and Assembly’s 218 office mail bins. Since the legislative body was not in session and would not receive the petition timely, I also sent it as a PDF to all honorable Senate and Assembly members from October 20 to 23.
Moreover, this development could contribute significantly towards promoting healthier lifestyles among residents by providing ample outdoor space for recreational activities. According to studies, access to public parks and recreational facilities has been linked with reduced obesity rates and improved mental health in communities.
The state representatives need encouragement to enact a moratorium to stop the Buffalo Bill’s new stadium construction, send a commission to the area to look carefully into the master plan details, report back with their findings to the New York Senate and Assembly, and then make an informed decision about whether proceeding with the current construction or relocating the stadium to Lackawanna’s waterfront would be in the best interest of both our region and New York State as a whole.
The master plan includes the signature “Peace Horizons Bridge,” to replace the current Peace Bridge crossing the mouth of the mighty Niagara River connecting the USA to Canada, which could serve as an international symbol of revitalization, elevating the cleaning and renewal of our waterfronts as bright shining stars, boosting the local economy and inspiring other cities worldwide.
We need your support now more than ever in this endeavor. By signing this petition, you are not only supporting the restoration of our city’s waterfront but also contributing towards an initiative that will enhance community spirit and boost economic growth.
Your voice matters! Let’s ensure it reaches those who can bring about this change – our elected state officials who need to hear loud and clear that we want access restored to the waterfront!
Please sign this petition today – let’s restore public access to the waterfront after 123 long years!
Sincerely
John J. Nowak.
16
The Issue
Hello, I have been an advocate for thirty years, dreaming of having a world-class waterfront for Buffalo, NY.
I need your help; there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a world-class waterfront for Buffalo. However, the politicians have cleaned up the waterfront only halfway and gone back to their ways of building industry on the waterfront that doesn't need the waterfront anymore. With your help, we can stop them in their tracks and build the waterfront that we dream of and you deserve. A waterfront with the new Buffalo Bills stadium with a retractable roof we dreamed of and was supposed to be built on the waterfront 50 years ago, if not for the pollution.
We have the opportunity now; we must stop the politicians from building the new Buffalo Bills stadium in nowhere land and fail location where they built it before.
You can download the 50-page PDF petition: Western New York Waterfront Redevelopment Master Plan Petition
The goal of the master plan is a world-class waterfront, an ambitious transformation of the 1250 acres into a northern waterfront paradise. To create 1,000 acres of green space designed in the spirit of Frederick Olmsted, who famously designed Central Park. In addition to this green oasis, there would be a significant multiple attractions development spanning 235 acres with a large harbor. Then, to top it off, the extension of the adjacent state park’s mile-long beach another mile into Lackawanna to become similar to California bay-style beaches – an even-grade sand beach westerly facing with beautiful sunsets.
The catalyst to start this significant waterfront redevelopment is Buffalo Bill’s new retractable roof stadium built in the 235-acre redeveloped family-friendly attraction section on Lackawanna’s waterfront, transforming the area into a robust stage for various significant spectator events ranging from sports, concerts, and festivals. Surrounded by the beauty of the waterfront, green spaces, and a world-class beach, this venue would provide much more than entertainment. It would result in substantial returns to our local economy and foster increased community engagement.
Sadly, local politicians only cleaned up the waterfront halfway and called it a day. They plan to leave pollution on the waterfront forever. This is extremely short-sighted; the area could have a gold mine if they cleaned up all the waterfront and placed a retractable Bills stadium on Lackawanna's waterfront. Buffalo would be a Florida-type tourist mega-attraction destination all along their waterfront, having multiple tourist attractions. This is how you develop a waterfront, not piecemeal to fit old politics.
Buffalo would then receive international praise for its grand world-class waterfront, where many of the 22 million tourists that visit Niagara Falls will even venture a 40-minute journey to Buffalo to see the world-class waterfront and attractions. We are talking about billions of dollars of additional revenue for Buffalo and the state yearly.
Buffalo was on the cusp of having a world-class destination when it became the city of electricity and light in the pan-American fair; instead, the steel plant came and destroyed the waterfront, polluted the land and lake, and killed the lake. The waterfront could have prospered, developed independently for its natural beauty. The Buffalo Bills dome stadium would have been built on the waterfront fifty years ago, with Niagara Falls so close to draw tourists to Buffalo and the upper Niagara River. Instead, they built the stadium far inland, far away from the pollution, in nowhere land, and it developed nothing. Now, the short-sighted politicians have convinced everyone to keep it there, where it can't maximize its fullest potential in additional development built on the waterfront.
It’s more than just reclaiming land; it’s about restoring the community’s access to nature and creating spaces where families can create memories together. In cities across America with restored waterfront access, we see revitalization of neighborhoods and increased tourism.
Well-designed waterfronts can significantly contribute to local economies while enhancing social interaction among residents. Moreover, making these spaces accessible can promote physical activity and improve community mental health. Waterfronts are crucial urban spaces that should be accessible to everyone, fostering community engagement and promoting healthier lifestyles.
It is heartbreaking that a city’s entire two-mile waterfront has been inaccessible to the public for an astonishing 123 years. A population of 20,000 residents has never had the chance to stand on their shoreline, witness breathtaking sunsets, feel the sun’s warmth on their faces, or listen to the soothing sound of waves accompanied by seagulls.
Hello, my name is John Nowak, and for the past 33 years, I have been campaigning to restore public access to the city of Lackawanna’s waterfront, which spans over 1250 acres. I have dedicated my life to this cause and recently compiled a comprehensive “Western New York Waterfront Redevelopment Master Plan Petition” that outlines the vision.
On October 19, 2023, I traveled to Albany. With a sense of symbolic significance, I hand-delivered the Waterfront Redevelopment Master Plan petition to all the honorable Senate and Assembly’s 218 office mail bins. Since the legislative body was not in session and would not receive the petition timely, I also sent it as a PDF to all honorable Senate and Assembly members from October 20 to 23.
Moreover, this development could contribute significantly towards promoting healthier lifestyles among residents by providing ample outdoor space for recreational activities. According to studies, access to public parks and recreational facilities has been linked with reduced obesity rates and improved mental health in communities.
The state representatives need encouragement to enact a moratorium to stop the Buffalo Bill’s new stadium construction, send a commission to the area to look carefully into the master plan details, report back with their findings to the New York Senate and Assembly, and then make an informed decision about whether proceeding with the current construction or relocating the stadium to Lackawanna’s waterfront would be in the best interest of both our region and New York State as a whole.
The master plan includes the signature “Peace Horizons Bridge,” to replace the current Peace Bridge crossing the mouth of the mighty Niagara River connecting the USA to Canada, which could serve as an international symbol of revitalization, elevating the cleaning and renewal of our waterfronts as bright shining stars, boosting the local economy and inspiring other cities worldwide.
We need your support now more than ever in this endeavor. By signing this petition, you are not only supporting the restoration of our city’s waterfront but also contributing towards an initiative that will enhance community spirit and boost economic growth.
Your voice matters! Let’s ensure it reaches those who can bring about this change – our elected state officials who need to hear loud and clear that we want access restored to the waterfront!
Please sign this petition today – let’s restore public access to the waterfront after 123 long years!
Sincerely
John J. Nowak.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on October 30, 2023