New York Secretary of State Rossana Rosado today announced her approval of the City of Buffalo’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), providing a step-by-step process by which Buffalo will advance waterfront planning from vision to implementation.

The City of Buffalo’s LWRP was prepared with the Department of State and supported by $84,000 in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Fund. The Department of State’s Office of Planning, Development and Community Infrastructure works in partnership with waterfront communities across the State through the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, focusing on protecting natural and cultural resources, expanding public access opportunities and strengthening the local economy.

“I congratulate the City of Buffalo for completing its Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, which is an important component of the City’s long-term revitalization,” Secretary of State Rosado said. “New York State looks forward to continuing to partner with Buffalo and transforming the City’s waterfront into a vibrant destination with public spaces and amenities for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

Buffalo’s vast waterfront resources have historically played a principal role in the City’s development and economic success. The LWRP ensures the long-term viability of these resources, specifically along the Niagara River, Lake Erie, Scajaquada Creek, Buffalo River, and Cazenovia Creek. The LWRP guides implementation of the City’s waterfront plans for the next 20-year and supports Buffalo as a destination for tourism and economic activity.

The Buffalo LWRP may be found here.

The City of Buffalo LWRP was adopted by the Buffalo Common Council on July 24, 2018. Completion of the LWRP is part of the Buffalo Green Code Unified Development Ordinance which also includes: Brownfield Opportunity Areas, Land Use Plan, Zoning/Unified Development Ordinance, Urban Renewal Plans, and a Consolidated Generic Environmental Impact Statement.

The Department of State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), funded under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund, provides matching grants on a competitive basis to eligible villages, towns, cities, and counties located along New York’s coasts or designated inland waterways for planning, design, and construction projects to revitalize communities and waterfronts. This program helps communities breathe new life into their waterfront and underused assets in ways that ensure successful and sustainable revitalization. To learn more about the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, visit here.