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Buffalo, New York - Inner Harbor and Buffalo River
In 1825, the Erie Canal was completed, effectively connecting the upper Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, with its terminus in Buffalo located at the junction of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, and the Buffalo River. Due to the barrier of Niagara Falls, for well over a century all Great Lakes vessels could go no further East than Buffalo, where cargo was transferred to Erie Canal barges, and later to railroad cars. In the early 1900s Buffalo had the 6th busiest harbor in the world, and thru the late 20th century was the 2nd busiest railroad junction in the USA.
With the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the expansion of the Welland Canal (11 miles from Buffalo) in the late 1950s, lake freighters and other boats no longer needed to stop and transfer cargo in Buffalo, and today very few commercial vessels stop in Buffalo. Much of the former slips and harbors are abandoned, but in the last few years there has been new development occurring, and for the first time in over 50 years the area's population has stabilized and businesses are growing. The Commercial Slip, which was the terminus of the Erie Canal, where it met the Hamburg Canal. The original canal walls can be seen in the image, and were excavated during the creation of a new park and public space (Canalside) recently opened in the former industrial area. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/965/4...78972661_c.jpgIMG_0883 by bpawlik, on Flickr The Canalside area includes a naval park, museums, several restaurants, boat slips, tour boats, and is a popular summer concert and festival location. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/976/4...52333f9b_c.jpgIMG_0876 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/894/2...294cfcd1_c.jpgIMG_0920 by bpawlik, on Flickr Viewed from Canalside, the original Buffalo Lighthouse can be seen at the entrance, with Lake Erie and the Niagara River in the background. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1745/...73dfb523_c.jpgIMG_0924 by bpawlik, on Flickr Along the Buffalo River (which zig-zags for several navigable miles East into the City of Buffalo) is the last operating fireboat in the harbor, which also performs as an ice breaker during the winter months. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/965/4...1f741a0e_c.jpgIMG_0889 by bpawlik, on Flickr The development of the grain elevator in Buffalo in the early 1800s allowed rapid loading, unloading, and storage of grain from the midwest US and were a boom the the development of Buffalo and its waterways. At one time there were over 50 grain elevators in operation along the Buffalo River, which at one time inspired architects such as Le Corbusier in the development of modernism styles. Today, there are less than 20 elevators remaining, and fewer used for their original purpose. Elevator converted to sports and entertainment complex. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/878/2...2cab8024_c.jpgIMG_0892 by bpawlik, on Flickr Along "Elevator Alley" with structures over 20 stories in height, and over 400 meters in length. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/956/2...4bc5031f_c.jpgIMG_0903 by bpawlik, on Flickr Abandoned elevator. Though many are unused, there are only 2 remaining elevators not under private ownership. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/967/2...3a62f4cd_c.jpgIMG_0909 by bpawlik, on Flickr The structures along the elevators were used to unload the lake boats. Boats up to 300 meters in length would navigate the river. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1743/...8c629b65_c.jpgIMG_0910 by bpawlik, on Flickr Since 2013 there has been a great effort to perform habitat recovery, and cleanup through dredging years of toxic sediment. There have been a number of new developments along the river since then, including parks, boat slips, apartments, entertainment venues, and many more activities both new and making use of the existing structures. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/886/2...345165f7_c.jpgIMG_0902 by bpawlik, on Flickr Heading back toward the Commercial Slip, viewing nearby Downtown Buffalo. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1731/...a984a83b_c.jpgIMG_0914 by bpawlik, on Flickr Heading out toward Lake Erie past the lighthouse, sailboats are docked along the City Ship Canal, which runs parallel to the Buffalo River, and was also home to several grain elevators. This canal today is primarily recreational, unlike the Buffalo River which still maintains some industry. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/901/2...98358bf0_c.jpgIMG_0933 by bpawlik, on Flickr View of City Hall and Downtown Buffalo at the junction of Lake Erie, Niagara River, Buffalo River, City Ship Canal, and former Erie Canal - often referred to as the Inner Harbor. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/947/2...6913b204_c.jpgIMG_0927 by bpawlik, on Flickr Last picture - sunset taken yesterday a few miles North along the Niagara River, near Riverside Park in Buffalo - looking West viewing Strawberry Island, Grand Island, and Fort Erie, Canada in the distance. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1746/...19a9e928_c.jpgIMG_1241 by bpawlik, on Flickr |
Good to see more activity along the Buffalo waterfront!
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Nice pictures! It's good to finally see someone taking pictures from ON the water.
I have yet to really explore Elevator Alley. Maybe this is the year that I do it. Where is that orange residential building on the Buffalo River? I was completely unaware that there was development going on around there. |
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Nice!
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Some older pictures of the area:
Skating and curling on the frozen canals at Canalside last winter: https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4661/...25e9c791_c.jpgIMG_20180114_160811704 by bpawlik, on Flickr Erie Basin Marina, part of the Inner Harbor area: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5455/...4d72196b_c.jpg100_1119 by bpawlik, on Flickr |
Cleanup of the Buffalo River, including dredging of contaminated silt, began in earnest about 6 years ago. Nearby cleanup of the banks, new park land (by both public and private owners), and habitat restoration have drawn people and development to the once polluted river. Many industries remain along the river utilizing rail and boat traffic including General Mills, with the sweet smell of Cheerios always in the air, but residential and recreational use has been increasing with much more on the way.
Old First Ward homes, along the winding river and grain elevators. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1751/...b4479011_c.jpgIMG_0901 by bpawlik, on Flickr Popular home for Canada geese. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1745/...c60eee9b_c.jpgIMG_0897 by bpawlik, on Flickr Riverworks is a converted grain elevator site, and includes multiple open-air hockey rinks, bars, restaurants, breweries, climbing walls, and boat docks. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1733/...f6fac18b_c.jpgIMG_0890 by bpawlik, on Flickr Kayaking and boating have been growing in popularity, with new boat houses and launches in development. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1754/...c016544d_c.jpgIMG_0899 by bpawlik, on Flickr New apartments, park, and event space. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1751/...064599eb_c.jpgIMG_0893 by bpawlik, on Flickr |
Very interesting.
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The Buffalo River area has taken on a whole new life since the conversion of the abandoned grain silos into the Riverworks complex, just over 3 years ago. In the midst of the industrial area known as Kelly Island, between the Buffalo River and City Ship Canal, the complex is in use 365 days a year and still expanding.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/4...c2f6bfeb_c.jpgIMG_1304 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/920/4...604333f6_c.jpgIMG_1307 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm1.staticflickr.com/917/4...3d7df6d3_c.jpgIMG_1305 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1826/...8e580f1c_c.jpgIMG_20180120_121543675_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/...c8e96fab_c.jpgIMG_20180120_120121768_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr The Buffalo River does ice over in the winter, but the Buffalo fireboat acts as an icebreaker to prevent ice jam flooding. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/4...648ecab3_c.jpgIMG_20180120_122852882_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr Broken up ice flowing alongside Riverworks. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/842/4...7f4d2bba_c.jpgIMG_20180120_120104751_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr |
Good stuff, happy to see Buffalo making progress.
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I took a few pictures when I was out last weekend of the area near (and on) the Michigan Avenue lift bridge (over the Buffalo River, where the Cobblestone District meets Kelly Island) and a couple from the Outer Harbor.
Why downtown smells like Cheerios; https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ab7d8b31_b.jpg IMG_0862 by bpawlik, on Flickr Looking back toward Cobblestone. Former warehouses were converted to apartments, offices, and breweries; Buffalo Creek Casino has expanded, and many older Buffalo bars originally supported by factory and dock workers are now part of an expanding entertainment district. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a4d8e8f6_b.jpg IMG_0868 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8e527b27_b.jpg IMG_0856 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ccd3a5f0_b.jpg IMG_0894 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...63aa309e_b.jpg IMG_0879 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...21dc5c3a_b.jpg IMG_0896 by bpawlik, on Flickr Looking up river from the bridge, with Riverworks on the right, and in the far background the Ohio Street lift bridge. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c0925c48_b.jpg IMG_0860 by bpawlik, on Flickr I also took a short drive over to the Outer Harbor, which is across the Buffalo River and City Ship Canal from Canalside, on the shore of Lake Erie. Pictures taken from Wilkeson Point: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8937d828_b.jpg IMG_0845 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fdc4c1d2_b.jpg IMG_0832 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9d395c4c_b.jpg IMG_0837 by bpawlik, on Flickr Downtown: Rivers and Harbors: Medical Center: Mid Main Street: Allentown: Delaware District: Elmwood Village: Lower West Side: Parkside: Central Park: North Park: University Heights: West Side: Black Rock: Riverside: Larkinville: Kaisertown: Lovejoy: South Buffalo All My Buffalo Neighborhood Flickr Albums |
Looks similar to Baltimore. Is it still an economically depressed, crime-ridden, bleak city as per its reputation?
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In the Metro area, crime is below the national average with Amherst among the top 1 or 2 safest places in the US. In the City itself, its violent crime rate has dropped (it was in the worst 10 cities a few years ago) but is still above the national average at around 22nd worst of the top 100 cities, between Houston and Philadelphia (or about half the rate of St. Louis or Baltimore). In relative terms, the city is doing much better than most of its Rust Belt counterparts, but still lags nationally. There are still bleak parts of the city, but a large part of it has become brighter and more dynamic in just the past few years. I tried to capture some of this in the other photo threads. |
Don’t bother with ukw, he’s a known troll
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^ Don't want to create conflict and don't even know the guy, but people who attack other members should be banned or disciplined by the admin -- sorry for the aside.
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This year's Music Is Art Festival was held on both sides of the Buffalo River, at Riverworks on Kelly Island, and across at River Fest Park. It is hard to really capture the scale in photos, as the grain mills in the area dwarf everything around them. There were 21 live stages alone throughout the area. In addition, the area includes active factories and active railroads. All of the residential and recreational areas and public access did not exist 5 years ago, as this was formerly fully industrial, vacant, or polluted.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...59c7868a_b.jpg IMG_20190907_132612297_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e231abef_b.jpg IMG_20190907_132323295_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...899c1184_b.jpg IMG_20190907_132158020 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...30b51956_b.jpg IMG_20190907_125730863_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...47aaff5e_b.jpg IMG_20190907_125840051_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...f0e89895_b.jpg IMG_20190907_125925745 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7ae57608_b.jpg IMG_20190907_125950572_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6a6ccf0e_b.jpg IMG_20190907_130026137_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...06c01400_b.jpg IMG_20190907_130335814_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7a5a2dbb_b.jpg IMG_20190907_130409085_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a0c01870_b.jpg IMG_20190907_131220595_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...fee465ed_b.jpg IMG_20190907_131314491 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...cd92f766_b.jpg IMG_20190907_131539939_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b6d000f2_b.jpg IMG_20190907_131651026 by bpawlik, on Flickr https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...da3a1f05_b.jpg IMG_20190907_131824535_HDR by bpawlik, on Flickr My current Buffalo neighborhood threads Summer 2019 Bike and Hike Tour: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=240069 |
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