In the fall of 1999, the opportunity arose to consolidate the expanding activities of the center when the college designated the Maritime Center as a "college priority" with the goal of establishing the center at the college's waterfront property, located on the Black Rock Canal at the foot of Porter Avenue adjacent to the college's Great Lakes Field Station.
With an initial grant from the Hahn Foundation, a master plan for the site was developed with the idea of creating a maritime community to embrace and include the Buffalo State College Great Lakes Field Station, the Maritime Center, the West Side Rowing Club, the Buffalo Yacht Club and the Marine and Naval Reserve. The cooperation of these maritime related groups offering logical and beneficial contribution the the city's waterfront development.
With funds from individual donors and local foundations, architectural plans for a new Maritime Center have been completed, and Phase I: the Maritime Center Teaching Pavilion has been constructed.
Unfortunately, Phase II and Phase III at the Porter Avenue site have been temporarily stalled by the unresolved "land swap" involving Buffalo State College, Erie County, and the National Guard regarding land ceded to the County for the now completed the Frank Lloyd Wright Rowing Boathouse.
Despite the delays to the center's ultimate waterfront building plans, the 18,000 square foot interim site allows the Maritime Center to bring all of its operations and historic boats under one roof for the first time.
Theoffice, library, museum display and workshop have been built and are now in full operation. The site is more easily accessible that the cramped site on the main campus and offers the center greater flexibility in the operations of its programs.
Visitors are welcome and encourage to get involved.
