Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) issued a letter to Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris and President Jim Hagale calling on the company to make a final decision about building a store within Buffalo’s Canal Side waterfront development project in the next two weeks.

“Waterfront development in Buffalo and Western New York is well underway and it is because after decades of talk and plans we have moved into action,” said Congressman Higgins.  “Great progress is visible, construction trucks and people are working, the public excitement is building and well over a hundred million dollars is available for economic development at the Inner Harbor alone. Bass Pro should certainly want to be a part of it and today we are calling on them to make that commitment.”

The idea of a Bass Pro store in Buffalo was first mentioned in 2001 and in 2004 the company announced the “Aud” site as its location choice.  Congressman Higgins noted the substantial waterfront progress which has taken place along the Inner Harbor in the years since that announcement including:

2005

§        NYPA Agrees to Settlement to Provides $279 Million for Waterfront Development

§        Higgins Calls for the Creation of Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation

2006

§        The NYPA Agreement is Formally Approved

2007

§        $2 Million Announced to Start Engineering Process for Harbor Bridge linking Inner and Outer Harbors

2008

§        The Erie Canal Commercial Slip Opens to the public

2009

§        Buffalo Memorial Auditorium is demolished to clear the way for Canal Side Development

§        Construction Begins on the Historic Cobblestone Streets

§         $17.6 Million in Federal Funds awarded to Hamburg Drain Project to keep Inner Harbor water clean

2010

§        Renegotiated NYPA Settlement Agreement delivering $55 Million in Net New Funds Finalized

§        City & ECHDC Reach Land Transfer Agreement for Webster Block

A number of other projects along the Outer Harbor and the Buffalo River are also underway.

Higgins said, “Initiation of the Bass Pro discussions pre-dated my service in Congress but became something I was open to consider as a small component of the overall Canal Side project.  My focus has been and continues to be improvements to the public space and with that, I believe, private investment follows.  I have consistently said that with or without Bass Pro, Buffalo has a waterfront to develop, and I have worked very hard to take the vision we have and turn it into reality.”

“Too often people sit back and wait for progress to materialize,” Higgins added.  “We aren’t as patient.  The people of Western New York have waited too long to witness what is happening along the water’s edge today.  Finally the improvements are tangible and now the stage is set for more great things moving forward. We aren’t about to let anything slow down the momentum.”