- Commercial Slip
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Buffalo's Erie Canal Commercial Slip
Spring 2008.Buffalo, New York's Commercial Slip is a recently re-excavated and restored portion of the western terminus of the Erie Canal.
The Slip was a remnant of Little Buffalo Creek, which flowed into the Buffalo River just before the larger stream entered Lake Erie. The Commercial Slip formed one boundary of Buffalo's infamous Canal District, and was filled in when the district was marked for urban renewal in the 1950s. By that time, the New York State Thruway and the Skyway had been built over the Canal district, and the Commercial Slip was buried and forgotten.
In the late 1990s, public authorities began showing an interest in reviving Buffalo’s Erie Canal heritage. Initially, plans called for re-creating some buried elements of the Canal. However a public outcry, with pressure from citizens’ groups and the local media, convinced the planners to excavate and restore actual portions of the district, including the Commercial Slip.
Today, the Slip is a vibrant focal point on Buffalo’s waterfront, offering a look back into the City’s storied Canal Street days.
Recently, plans were made for Canal Side, an area next to the slip, and will be completed sometime in the future.
External links
Categories:- Erie Canal
- Buildings and structures in Buffalo, New York
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