CANAL STORIES: FROM ALBANY, BUFFALO, PROVIDENCE & BEYOND
For Immediate Release
Contact: BJ Costello (518) 496-1330
The Albany Waterway Inc. is hosting a panel discussion and community forum on the economic
benefits, cultural attractions, and civic pride created by urban canals in Buffalo, Providence,
across Canada and beyond. It will take place on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the New York State
Museum.
The presentations are meant to provide takeaways from successful canal projects outside the
Capital Region and to spur ideas, excitement, and discussions about envisioning a transformative
canal project for downtown Albany. The canal project is a re-imagining of Albany’s rich historic,
social and economic connections to the Hudson River and Erie Canal that helped make the
Empire State the most prosperous in the nation and Albany one of the nation’s largest cities.
A group of committed, civic-minded volunteers want to restore the vibrant riverfront and
dynamic downtown that 19 th -century Albany enjoyed and 21 st -century Albany deserves. The
canal project coincides with statewide bicentennial celebrations in 2025 being planned for the
200 th anniversary of the 1825 completion of the Erie Canal between Buffalo and Albany.
“We have presented our vision for a canal that will bring the Hudson River into downtown
Albany to hundreds of local residents, elected officials, and business leaders and the idea has
generated tremendous interest,” said BJ Costello, Chair of Albany Waterway Inc.
“Now, we want to learn how other cities across the U.S. and Canada transformed their
downtowns with canals that created jobs and turned urban decay into bustling water attractions
with tour boats, kayaks, and paddle boards, along with new investment in restaurants, bars, and
boutiques,” Costello said. “The time is right for the creation of Albany’s downtown canal.”
Panelists will include:
Anthony Masiello, former New York State senator and Mayor of Buffalo who will detail
the economic impact of Buffalo’s Canalside, which reclaimed an industrial wasteland
with $300 million in new development. Canalside has become the city’s biggest attraction
with more than 1,000 annual events, including concerts and fairs in the summer, and ice
skating and hockey on an adjacent rink in the winter.
Ken Orenstein, former Executive Director of the Providence Foundation, who will
speak to the positive changes to that capital city by the restoration of a river and the
relocation of an interstate highway and Amtrack rail lines to inspire an urban oasis that
attracts tens of thousands to the city, benefitting the economic, social and environmental
needs of its residents.
Dan Rubinstein, a writer and stand-up paddleboarder based in Ottawa, Canada who
traversed hundreds of miles on his paddleboard across Canada and to New York City and
back by way of canals and rivers. He is writing a book about his waterborne adventure
and will share the profound bond he formed with canals and urban waterways.
Len Tantillo, acclaimed maritime artist and award-winning painter of historical scenes, who
is also a board member of Albany Waterway Inc., will offer a visual representation to create
“a Venice for Albany.”
Professors Denis Foley and F. Andrew Wolfe will discuss their archaeological dig and
exciting discoveries at the site of original Erie Canal Lock 1 along the proposed northern end
of the canal project in the warehouse district in North Albany.
The event will be moderated by Paul Grondahl, author, Times Union columnist and Opalka
Endowed Director of the New York State Writers Institute at the University at Albany. It will
include a panel discussion and audience Q&A.
[EVENT DETAILS]
What: Canal Stories from Albany, Buffalo, Providence and beyond.
When: Saturday, Nov. 18 from 1-3 p.m.
Where: NYS Museum, Huxley Theatre, 222 Madison Ave., Albany (Empire State Plaza)
What: Panel discussion, illustrated presentations and audience Q&A
The event is free and open to the public.