Buffalo, NY (WKBW) - The Canal Side Community Alliance is calling on the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation to prioritize local businesses in the master plan of Canal Side. The alliance has been negotiating a community benefits agreement with the ECHDC and would like would like to see two-thirds of the retail space go to local businesses.
"Even when businesses are pro-active and want to get involved, its been a very difficult procedure for them," said Buffalo First Executive Director Sarah Bishop. "That's why we think a community benefits agreement is vital."
The alliance is comprised of 50 organizations who would also like the ECHDC to implement local and minority hiring standards for construction and permanent jobs, create affordable housing, and use green designs. The ECHDC says it continues to have discussions with local businesses and released this statement to Eyewitness News:
"The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is committed to providing opportunities for local business owners in Canal Side. In fact, we have already reached out to 150 local restaurateurs in order to gauge their interest in the project. We are committed to green design and operation, as indicated by our commitment to having development at Canal Side be LEED certified. Our discussions with the Canal Side Community Alliance are ongoing, in fact, we last met with them on Monday of this week."
The Empire State Development Corporation Board of Directors will meet tomorrow at 10 a.m. and are expected to vote on the modified general project plan. The meeting will be held on Perry Street in Buffalo and is open to the public.
