Future Of Canal District Undetermined: Geologist Challenges Findings
Eric Ortner
North Buffalo Rocket / West Side TimesMarch 2000: A lot has happened in recent weeks in regard to the Canal District's, or the Inner Harbor Project's future. First and foremost, there is a lawsuit pending between the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), and the Preservation Coalition of Erie County. The root of the lawsuit stems from the ESDC and the City of Buffalo's decision to rebury the unearthed commercial slip. Their plan calls for a replica slip to be built near the site of the original. This was after an archeologist working for the ESDC determined that the stone which comprises the original canal would deteriorate if left exposed.
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Caption: Illustration of the Commercial Slip based on a period photograph taken sometime between 1855 and 1862. Illustration: Eric Ortner |
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The Preservation Coalition, lead by Tim Tielman, filed the lawsuit challenging the Inner Harbor Project's Environmental Impact Study. The coalition claims ESDC did not take into consideration all the alternatives for the placement of piers. The Judge that is overseeing the case, William Skretny, has heard both sides of the lawsuit now. Final arguments from the adversaries are due in written form on March 16. Tim Tielman said, "The decision he makes is not whether it's their plan or our plan, but whether the Environmental Impact Study was properly conducted."
Although the issue is not widely publicized, it is a serious concern. On December 4, 1999, there was a well attended summit which discussed Downtown Buffalo. After a vote at the end of the meeting, it was determined that the number one concern for downtown was with regard to the Inner Harbor Project. Those who participated in the summit believed that the Inner Harbor Project should be reconsidered. Most did not agree with the City's proposal to cover up the original Erie Canal Commercial Slip and construct a replica. Furthermore, people felt that the Inner Harbor should be renamed the Canal District.
One of Dale Zuchlewski's last public acts as Councilmember for the North District office was to call a public hearing on the matter. On December 14, in Council Chambers, a great deal of outrage over the decision to rebury the commercial slip was further voiced. Some literature on Dug's Dive, written by Dave Baker, was distributed at the hearing. Dug's Dive was supposedly a saloon owned by the former slave William Douglas. Dave Baker has suggested that Dug's Dive was part of the Underground Railroad. The basement of this structure will be destroyed if the Inner Harbor Project goes forward. However, at the hearing, there was a great deal of debate over the validity of the Dug's Dive story. Tim Tielman said at a public lecture on March 11, "The truth is, we don't know what's there, and we'll never find out if the Inner Harbor Project continues."
In response to all of these concerns, the Masiello Administration has formed the Inner Harbor Task Force for Historic Interpretation. The task force consists of local preservationists, heritage experts, civic leaders and elected officials. Mayor Anthony Masiello commented, "I am pleased that these individuals have volunteered their time to participate in this important effort. I am confident their work will help fulfill our collective desire to see this area of our city, one of the most important historical regions, presented in a fashion that celebrates its history…"
However, this is only part of Mayor Masiello's initial proposal to create a Blue Ribbon Panel to examine the Commercial Slip. The creation of that panel has been repeatedly bumped back. Peter Cutler, from the Mayor's office said, "There are two panels, one is really the Blue Ribbon Panel, which will look solely at the commercial slip, and we're not going to announce that 'til April."
Although opposition to Inner Harbor Project is included on the Task Force for Historic Interpretation, the Preservation Coalition is not satisfied with the panel. Tim Tielman explained, "The difference there is they are talking about ways to interpret the site, and certainly that is something historians are very qualified to do. But we feel that it's ignoring the essence of historic preservation. That is to experience historic preservation for the mass general public, not for an elite group of researchers."
Another person who spoke at the lecture on March 11, that took place in the Central Branch Library, was Dr. Rossman F. Giese, Jr. Dr. Giese is a professor in the Department of Geology who has studied the limestone which lines the walls of the Erie Canal Commercial Slip. Dr. Giese explained, "The excavators for the Canal were digging into it (the Onondaga Limestone), so they had a lot of it, and this is what they used." He continued, "Why would you think these rocks are unstable? Are these rocks porous? No! They're not fractured at all. The same rock is at the Kensington Expressway… which has been exposed for at least three decades."
In his slide show presentation he displayed a rock that was part of the canal. It was covered in rust. Dr. Giese stated, "Somebody had a piece of iron on this limestone. The iron is gone but the stone is still here. I'd say the limestone is stronger than the iron." He continued, "They talk about making a replica slip with steel, clearly the stone lasts longer than steel." In conclusion, Dr. Giese said, "Just uncover the rocks. You don't need any technology. If you wanted to coat them with epoxy, I think it would be a crime, they're strong enough without it."
