http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-12-14-buffalo_N.htm

 

I thought of Detroit in the article when it was saying that Central Terminal is too big, too decrepit and too far from downtown to be easily revived.  The building is periodically opened for tours, I would love to get one someday.

I think the buffalo central terminal and MCS are complete opposites.  On one hand BCT is controlled by dedicated preservationists with little money.  MCS is controlled by a billionaire who refuses to give it up even after numerous proposals float along to get that building renovated.  Despite that BCT is in much better shape, I still think MCS will be restored/renovated first.

This has to do with Buffalo so I thought I would throw it in here. 

 

Check out this blog for some interior pictures of the vacant Hotel Lafayette.  Hopefully there will be a huge redevelopment of the hotel soon.

 

http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/04/monday-mystery-solved-the-hotel-lafayette.html#SlideFrame_0

Today, when it comes to architectural tourism west of the Eastern Seaboard, "our only competition is Chicago," Garrett boasts.

 

:whip:

The circa 1896, 5-story building at 346 Connecticut St. could be turned into a year-round market and lofts.  It would include 16 loft-style apartments ranging from 1,150 to 1,300 square feet.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/04/16/1021887/market-lofts-planned-for-west.html

Some more potentially good news for Buffalo.  The Buffalo Maritime Center is being evicted from its current home but wants to use part of the 1915 Col. Ward Pumping Station.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/04/16/1021797/maritime-center-looks-to-relocate.html

The historic Olympia Towers Office building which dates to 1902 will be auctioned off becase of foreclosure.  It was one of the first YMCA complexes in the country to include residences.  The starting price will be $1 million.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/04/22/1027321/olympic-towers-heading-to-online.html

Interesting stuff. Sounds like I need to get to Buffalo soon.

Another Buffalo News article.  This one is about how people need to be held accountable of keeping up the historic builings they own.  It lists several houses and buildings that are in very bad shape.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/04/25/1030532/preservation-promises-just-empty.html

The Bosche Building at 918 Main and 916 Main are going to be redeveloped.  The 4 story building will have commercial space on the ground floor and 13 apartments above.  In 2004 the city tried having the building demolished.  It has a growing hole in the roof, many are worried it will collapse.  The building is a former carriage factory, built in the 1880s.

 

Check out the article for pictures of the buildings.

http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/04/greenleaf-seeking-to-tackle-summit-building.html

 

Also, a developer wants to turn the Calumet Building on Chippewa Street into restaurants and office space.

 

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wned/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1641504/WNED-AM.970.NEWS/Developer.Plans.to.Revitalize.Calumet.Building

Wow lots of historic buildings in Buffalo.  Definitively worth a vist.

Restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House has entered its final phase.  It will be completed in time for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Annual Conference to be held in Buffalo in October 2011.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/05/04/1039572/martin-house-work-in-final-phase.html

This article points out the similarities between Buffalo and Cincinnati's train stations.  Then tells about the success of Cincinnati's.

 

http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/05/train-station-reuse--cincinnati-style.html#SlideFrame_0

The AM&A Warehouse Lofts are set to open.  The building was vacant for more then a decade and considered an eyesore.  The building now consists of 48 apartments and 15,000 square-feet of Class A office space.  Developer Rocco Termini also plans renovations of the Hotel Lafayette and AM&A's Department Store.

 

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/05/10/daily19.html

This article includes a video that shows the inside of the AM&A Warehouse Lofts.  Man would I love to live there!

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/05/14/1049847/from-warehouse-to-apartment-house.html

An historic building is being renovated and turned into a jazz history museum in downtown Buffalo.

 

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/05/24/daily27.html

The decaying Bosche Building and an adjacent vacant building are to be turned into a mixed-use complex that would include loft apartments.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/06/05/1071891/plans-set-for-main-street-building.html

An in-depth look at the Genessee Gateway Project, rehab and pieceing together of 5 buildings.

 

http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/06/hard-hat-tour-genesee-gateway.html

Work could begin this summer on the Horsefeathers building.  The 114-year-old building is to be turned into an indoor farmers market, food production center and apartments.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/06/15/1082965/developer-gets-ok-to-develop-horsefeathers.html

I love when articles don't include pictures of the buildings... :whip:

Some more renovations coming.  This article includes pictures, a rendering and even a video of the Allentown Lofts.

 

*Work on 249 North is expected to begin in the fall.

*At the end of August work will begin on convering the Lake Hotel into 8 apartments.

 

http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/07/three-projects-to-keep-kissling-busy.html

The former Buffalo Psychiatric Center may soon be open for tours.  By next year $10 million will have been spent stabilizing the buildings to keep from further deterioration.  A possible plan for consists of a small-scale hotel and architecture center.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article100582.ece

And another

 

A series of long-vacant building at Main and W. Ferry may be turned into the HQ for HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equal Inc.) and 10 residential units.  The plan will also include demolishing a 2-story building that is described as an eyesore.

 

http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2010/08/09/daily29.html

An historic building in Buffalo's Cobblestone District may be demolished (there is a picture in the article).  The 3-story building was a blacksmith shop and before that a brass foundry.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/downtown/article175841.ece

Here is an article on The Hotel Lafayette, currently being turned into a mix of banquet and restaurant space, a boutique hotel and apartments.  It shows new and old pictures and gives its history.

 

http://www.buffalorising.com/2010/09/the-hotel-lafayette-part-one.html#SlideFrame_0

 

Preservations are trying to save the 1870s Brown and McCutcheon Building from being demolished.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/columns/donn-esmonde/article178036.ece

Regarding the Brown & McCutcheon Building, at least the local newspaper IS supporting its survivial and preservation. I've lived in some places where the local newspaper whined endlessly about the "obstructionist" attitudes of local historic preservationists who, the newspaper felt, were blocking "progress". In one specific instance, a circa 1880 Hotel, (The St. James, in St. Joseph, MO which made an appearance in the 1973 movie, Paper Moon) was ridiculed as an "eyesore" (I HATE that blasted word!) and the sneaky, neglectful owner (who had ignored basic building maintenance for decades) was even praised for doing a shady, 11th hour,  "lateral sale" to an adjacent business owner buddy to stop the unique Hotel from from being saved. Preservationists had raised enough funds to buy the Hotel but their offer was ignored. The new owner immediately obtained a demolition permit and hired a demo-salvage company to demolish it-it was gone in under 2 weeks. The newspaper backed the new owner 100% because he stated he badly needed the Hotel land to expand his business facilities. The paper went on to ridicule local preservationists for having a "candlelight vigil" next to the site after demolition. The business owner finally did make good on his expansion promise, but five years passed after the demolition and the former hotel site was by then a blighted weed and trash strewn mess.

 

It seems the problem in Buffalo is with City Hall and supposedly its lack of a clear historic preservation odinance. Even with a comprehensive ordinance, it is only as good as its enforcement, City bureaucrats sometimes look the other way and play politics, especially when prominent business and land owners are involved, to the detriment of preservationists. I have experienced this selective type of ordinance enforcement first hand as well. Historic Preservation is a pretty tough game.

Andy Guy (Great Lakes Guy) posted a link to a pretty spectacular video put together in preparation of the 2011 National Preservation Conference to be held in Buffalo.

 

http://greatlakesguy.blogspot.com/2010/11/buffalo-matters.html

2 landmark Buffalo churches will receive state money for repairs and restoration.  The churches are Trinity Episcopal on Delaware Avenue and Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/buffalo/article257240.ece

More on the Statler, not good news though.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/business/article279626.ece

Darryl Carr wants 110-120 South Park Avenue demolished.  The excellent article posted below gives history on the structures.

 

http://www.buffalorising.com/2011/01/preservation-ready-110-20-south-park-avenue.html#SlideFrame_0

Looks like they are trying on Central Terminal:

 

http://buffalocentralterminal.org/

The iconic Trico Products building, on the National Register of Historic Places could be demolished.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/buffalo-news-editorials/article758949.ece

The iconic Trico Products building, on the National Register of Historic Places could be demolished.

 

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial-page/buffalo-news-editorials/article758949.ece

 

I hope that building doesn't get demolished, I think Buffalo Medical Campus could find a use for it.