BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – A proposed ferris wheel along the Buffalo River next to Buffalo Riverworks was given the green light by the city’s planning board.
The project, called “Ferris Wheel at Stonehedge”, would allow up to 72 people to get a unique view of Downtown Buffalo from the Buffalo River.
“We’re pretty confident it will be a really unique project for the City of Buffalo,” Riverworks General Manager Bill Casale told the city’s planning board on Monday evening. “It was originally going to go on the wharf on the waterfront but was recommended by engineers to move it to a different location, which is this location due to very structural and major concerns on the wharf area.”
The actual ferris wheel will sit atop the ruins of an old silo operation.
“Given Riverworks and all that’s developed on that plot of land, I think it’s compatible and adds another piece of excitement on that stretch of the river,” Buffalo Planning Board Member Cynthia Schwartz said.
The planning board unanimously voted that the project is consistent with the waterfront’s revitalization plan and overall coastal review management plan for that section of the river.
Next, the project will go in front of the city’s zoning board of appeals on March 17.
“This is not a cut-and-dry project,” Casale said. “We had to check the boxes that were asked and none of them were ‘Are you putting a ferris wheel on your site?’ We have a couple of hurdles there to get through and are hopeful we will meet their guidelines.”
Contractors are ready to erect the ferris wheel once supplies arrive from Italy. Casale said he hopes the ferris wheel will be up and running by late-Spring or early-Summer.
Ganson Street in Downtown Buffalo is quickly becoming an entertainment area in the district. Buffalo Riverworks is a growing events venue that also reused old silos by painting them to look like Labatt Blue beer cans.
What’s his future vision for that area?
“Anything and everything,” Casale said. “We have 11 acres here on the site. We have an adventure park. We have hockey rinks. We’re just trying to create a fun environment for not only the City of Buffalo, but trying to get people out of the region to spend one or two or three days here in Western New York. There’s a lot more to do than just Niagara Falls and Canalside. We’re hoping to be a piece of that.”
The cost of the project was not disclosed and while Casale’s team is still finalizing their plans, he said admission onto the ferris wheel would cost roughly $5 to $15.
The Link LonkMarch 09, 2021 at 06:14AM
https://www.radio.com/wben/news/local/ferris-wheel-by-buffalo-riverworks-inches-closer-to-reality
Ferris Wheel by Buffalo Riverworks inches closer to reality - Talk Radio 1210 WPHT
https://news.google.com/search?q=Wheel&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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