Community Impact
Waves of Change
Spearheading Buffalo���s Waterfront Transformation
Have you visited Buffalo���s waterfront recently? Perhaps you
attended one of the concerts, a cultural event, a lighting demonstration at the historic grain elevators, or just a family picnic on
the Central Wharf. Whatever took you there, you likely noticed
that things are changing���dramatically.
The catalyst for much of that change is the Erie Canal
Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC), a subsidiary of
Empire State Development created to spearhead Buffalo���s waterfront redevelopment effort.
And the driving force and visionary behind the ECHDC
is its president, Thomas P. Dee, EMBA ���96. Since 2009,
Dee has worked tirelessly to advance the four guiding
principles of the organization: accessibility (public
access, things to do), diverse use (neighborhood,
mixed use, cultural), design (urban, green and
sustainable, four seasons) and financial payback
(economic growth, increased tax revenue and opportunity for local businesses and jobs).
Photo courtesy of
Erie Canal Harbor
Development Corp.
14 Buffalo Business Spring 2013
