Waterfront Planning in a Shrinking City

Bruce Fisher writes about what to do when a large big box retailer pulls out of a waterfront development project. This has been a shock to Buffalo's planning and development community - providing for lots of discussion and questions (be sure to read the comments).

Fisher points out that the Buffalo area is shrinking and therefore whatever is done needs to be quite different from what's done in growing regions. In this context Fisher's suggestion that funds be spent to clean up the water, increase public access and encourage local initiatives rather than subsidizing big box retail and parking.

He writes, "Numbers matter. The distinctive challenges of the Great Lakes communities begin with a recognition of what we are. That doesn't mean throwing up our hands in despair-but it does mean figuring out whether we are after visitors or whether we are after a sustainable context for the people who live here."

Thanks to Andy Nash