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For Immediate Release:
February 16, 2010
Contact:
Matt Davison (ECHDC) |
mdavison@empire.state.ny.us | (716) 846-8258
ECHDC APPROVES PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF CANAL SIDE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE COMPONENTS
Agreement to exclusively utilize local union workforce
projected to reduce overall project costs by more than $2.3 million
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) board of
directors today approved a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the
Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, as well as the
Building and Construction Trades Council of Buffalo, NY and
Vicinity, AFL-CIO, for public infrastructure work related to the
proposed Canal Side inner harbor project. In addition, the harbor
corporation authorized contract amendments for additional
architectural design, strategic planning and legal services
associated with the waterfront redevelopment effort.
The authorized PLA between ECHDC and local trades is a formal
post-bid contract that encompasses various Canal Side project
components, such as the public canal environments, associated public
facilities and potential parking garage structures. Subsequent
private development associated with the project will not be subject
to the agreement.
“Undertaking a PLA for the initial phase of Canal Side
infrastructure work made good business sense based on a number of
factors, including our aggressive construction schedule, the need to
minimize work site delays and the potential cost savings associated
with the agreement,” said ECHDC President Thomas Dee. “Having done
our due diligence and formally analyzing the public benefits of such
an arrangement, we feel confident in our partnership with local
labor and look forward to getting this project built.”
Under the terms of the PLA, the trades are established as the
collective bargaining representatives for workers, with all
contractor and subcontractor groups required to endorse the
agreement in order to perform Canal Side public infrastructure work.
In exchange for this requirement and the adherence to certain
dispute resolution services and labor rules, the project will be
devoid of construction site jurisdictional hindrances and potential
lockouts or strikes. The PLA is also expected to induce bidding
competition through the presence of a single collective bargaining
mechanism, while reducing potential costs by roughly $2.3 million
via the streamlined process.
“This PLA is really about two things: providing good construction
jobs to local working men and women; and moving this project forward
for the betterment of Western New York,” said Buffalo Building
Trades Council President Paul Brown. “While we wish that all the
Canal Side construction work was going to union shops, the trades
recognize the need for compromise and we remain pleased that such a
large portion of the project is included in the public
infrastructure package.”
In other activity, ECHDC amended a contract with Ehrenkrantz,
Eckstut & Kuhn Architects for the amount of $1.03 million. This
adjustment will cover a number of additional services provided by
the firm, including: further project “master architect”
responsibilities; design integrity assistance; and work related to
cost estimation, civil and traffic engineering, water features, wind
buffering, sustainability, parking, lighting, landscaping, signage
and graphic creation, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, vertical
transportation and code requirements and specifications.
A contract was also updated with Phillips Lytle LLP to provide an
additional $350,000 for professional counsel concerning upcoming
waterfront site acquisitions, real estate negotiations and remaining
environmental review issues. Both amendments will be paid for using
proceeds from the New York Power Authority agreement.
“These are prudent amendments to ensure that we retain the proper
services needed to complete the many detailed facets of the Canal
Side design and mandatory environmental review process,” said Dee.
“ECHDC continues to advance the inner harbor project and looks
forward to this upcoming spring and summer when we’ll be able to
initiate even more site construction than just the utility work that
is already underway.”
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is a subsidiary agency of
Empire State Development Corporation (ESD). Its vision is to
revitalize Western New York's waterfront and restore economic growth
to Buffalo based on the region's legacy of pride, urban significance
and natural beauty. ESD is the New York's chief economic development
agency and also oversees the marketing of "I Love NY," the state's
iconic tourism brand. For more information, please visit
www.eriecanalharbor.com
or www.nylovesbiz.com.
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