Cultural Master Plan Presentation

CANALSIDE

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation CULTURAL MASTER PLAN, FINAL REPORT

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Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation

CULTURAL MASTER PLAN

CULTURAL STEERING ADVISORY GROUP

Guiding Vision“To transform the Canalside District into an indoor/outdoor space offering an arrayof appealing activities integrating museum and cultural experiences, recreationalactivities, a public market, waterside and special events, creating a portal to allresources of the region.”

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CULTURAL STEERING ADVISORY GROUPErie Canal Harbor Development Corporation

Peter B. Dow, Chair First Hand Learning

Cindy Abbott-Letro Buffalo Philharmonic OrchestraTed Bickford Descendent of George CoitMelissa Brown Buffalo and Erie County Historical SocietyKevin Cottrell Motherland ConnextionsDonna Fernandes Buffalo ZooDottie Gallagher-Cohen Visit Buffalo NiagaraDuncan Hay NPS, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor Paul Hogan Oshei FoundationMichael Kimmelberg Seneca NationJohn S. Montague Buffalo Maritime CenterAl Parker Tonawanda-Seneca NationDaryl Rasuli The Collective BuffaloChristopher Schoepflin USA NiagaraCatherine Schweitzer Baird Foundation

CULTURAL MASTER PLAN3

FINAL REPORTErie Canal Harbor Development Corporation

BackgroundAugust 10, 2010 Lord Cultural Resources and Ralph Applebaum Associates hired to

develop a comprehensive cultural plan

October 2010 Master Plan Vision Workshops

Nov ‘10 – Sept ‘11 Three, Staged Reports developed with Cultural Steering Advisory Group

February 2011 Summer 2011 Programming Application Received

February 2011 Long-Term Facilities at Canalside Application Received

October 24, 2011 Canalside Cultural Master Plan, Final Report submitted to ECHDC

November 2, 2011 Cultural Steering Advisory Group recommends ECHDC accept the Final Report as complete

November 13, 2011Final Report provided to ECHDC Board Members



Review and Public OutreachCompleted background market and demographics research of WNY

Reviewed existing Cultural and Arts instiution attendance figures

Reviewed responses to ECHDC and City’s public request for Waterfront Ideas

Conducted a 3-day Master Plan Workshop with nearly 130 attendees

Developed a set of Core Planning Principals to inform decisions made regarding a Phased Approach to integrating cultural institutions at Canalside



Phase 1 – Programs, Events and AmenitiesSummer 2011 - Successfully implemented many of the Final Report’s recommendations

Provided over $200,000 to nearly 40 Cultural Organizations

Started the Queen City Water Ferry

Attracted 400,000 visitors with over 300 events

Began telling the Story of Buffalo at Canalside

2012 Assisted Programming - Cultural Steering Advisory Group currently reviewing General, Story of Buffalo and Special Programming proposals for next year



Phase 2 – Primary Facilities at CanalsideECHDC Requested proposals for Long-Term Facilities at Canalside

Consultant Team reviewed and interviewed all respondents

Recommended Projects at Canalside:Phase 2A (2015)

Children’s Experience

“Buffalo Fed America” theme for potential Public MarketPhase 2B (2017)

Story of Buffalo Center



Phase 3 – Future Opportunities Outside CanalsideBuffalo River and/or Outer Harbor

Refered many proposals to the Buffalo River and Outer Harbor Committes

All Long-Term proposals were provided to the City of Buffalo BOA Consultants

DL&W Terminal



Why a Children’s ExperienceMass Market Appeal on a Year-Round Basis

High Levels of Repeat Visitation

Potential to Attract Commercial Opportunities

Adaptable to telling Story of Buffalo themes throughexhibits and indoor/outdoor programmming

Implementable Capital Cost

High Likelihood for Operational Sustainability

Positive Impact on Regional Tourism Industry

Creation of nearly40 Permanent and 250 Construction Jobs$1.0 million annual new visitor spending$15.0 million in total Economic Benefits



Implementation RecommendationsChildren’s Experience:

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation should initiate a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select a Museum Operator for a children’s museum/experience at Canalside.

Museum Operator to complete a Museum Master Plan and a Capital Campaign Feasibility Study. ECHDC shall contribute 1/3 of the cost.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation should commit $5.0 million toward the “core & shell” capital cost of the children’s museum/experience.

The selected Museum Operator shall be responsible for all fundraising, design, legal, and/or administration costs, as well as all staffing and other operating costs.



Implementation RecommendationsPublic Market Theme:

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporationshould use the “Buffalo Fed America” culturalcomponents as a basis for any Public Market’sbrand, thematic and design elements, anddifferentiation within the local and Regionalfood market.



Implementation RecommendationsStory of Buffalo Center:

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation should initiate a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a Buffalo Story Center Master Plan and Capital Campaign Feasibility Study.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation should commit appropriate funding.

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation should review options for establishing a 501(c)3, not-for-profit or partnering with an established not-for-profit, to manage the development of the Buffalo Story Center.



Requested Board Action

Authorize Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation to acceptthe Canalside Cultural Master Plan, Final Report as complete.

All of the Implementation Recommendations listed in the Final Reportwill require future Board approvals before they can initiated.Therefore, staff will use the Implementation Recommendations as aguide for future RFPs, studies and/or projects.


Documents

Cultural Master Plan Presentation