New York State Looking to Develop Last Piece of Canalside

The Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, lovingly known as The Aud by Western New Yorkers, closed its doors in 1996 and was demolished in 2009. Now, the last piece of the redevelopment of the area is about to get underway.

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Since The Aud went away, there has been a transformation of the old site into what we now know as Canalside.  Back in 1999, the Erie Canal Harbor redevelopment project was announced.  The project would be completed in phases, as parcels of land underneath the Buffalo Skyway would begin to be developed. The land where The Aud once stood was subdivided into historically aligned parcels from the 19th century.

Now, over 20 years later, New York State is requesting proposals to develop the last remaining parcel of land at Canalside, the North Aud Block.

On Wednesday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a request for proposals to redevelop the North Aud Block.  The state, which has already committed $10 Million to help transform the last remaining undeveloped parcel of land at Canalside, is envisioning the area will contain new retail, restaurants, office space, apartments, a hotel, and structured parking in several new buildings.

The project will aim to include elements of the area's original 19th-century street grid by extending Lloyd and Commerical Streets to their original lengths,  while simultaneously taking advantage of the site's 21st-century surroundings and infrastructure, blending the "old" of the historical Buffalo with the current "new" of the surrounding area.

The North Aud Block is the parcel of land between Main Street, Pearl Street, Lower Terrace Street, and the existing Canalside site where the Ice Rink is located.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said via a press release:

Canalside has become a destination location and catalyst for renewal of Buffalo's historic waterfront...Redeveloping the North Aud Block will help boost the economy, open new public spaces and make the Buffalo waterfront an even more popular place to live, work and play. The Erie Canal was a bold and audacious undertaking that no one thought was possible, and New York continues to build on our proud legacy with this transformative project

The redevelopment plan includes nearly 425,000 gross square feet in several buildings, an estimated 200 apartments, and up to 450 parking spaces.

Proposals are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 1.