City March 14, 2011 10:11 AM

Then and Now: Scientol-o-rific

STEEL 48

This beauty at the corner of Main and Virginia had sunk to a very sad state by the early 80's as seen in this 'before' image. It was built in the mid 1890s as the Catholic Institute Public Library. The Institute was established in the 1860s as the first Catholic Library in the country. It was open to people of all denominations. By the late 1970's funds were scarce for running the institute and the building was closed. I believe it sat mostly empty for several years. If memory serves me it may have had some rooming house tenants in the first floor from time to time. I don't remember any demolition talk but, by the looks of its low point, that would not have been out of the question.

The buildings directly across Virginia Street were very directly threatened by demolition, especially after a devastating fire, but have recently been renovated and rebranded as Granite Works. In early 2000, the Church of Scientology was kicked out of its long time downtown home to make room for a new parking garage. The Church decided to stay in a central location and bought the Catholic Institute building for their new headquarters. After a major and spectacular renovation the building was reopened in 2003 as the Main Church of Scientology in Buffalo. This amazing building, plus the renovated Granite Works buildings, now create a wonderful gateway to Allentown at this intersection. Sure beats a couple new parking lots doesn't it?

[Update] as a commenter below notes, it seems I gave a bit too much credit to the Scientologists for this renovation. The building was (at least partially ) restored by Wrenkroy Development back in 1993. It was then occupied by some departments of Roswell Park Institute for 5 years during the hospital's reconstruction project. I assume that soon after the Roswell group left the Scientologitsts took over the building and modified it for their purposes.

View image

Comments

48 Comments

SadLlama

March 14, 2011 9:39 AM

Can't wait for all the Tom Cruise and space alien comments!

Score: 3 ( 11 votes )

oldwaiter

March 15, 2011 12:16 PM

All you ever needed to know about Scientology at Operation Clambake:
www.xenu.net

The Paul Haggis article is fantastic.

replied to SadLlama

Score: 1 ( 3 votes )

JSmith

March 14, 2011 9:50 AM

Thanks so much for this "Then and Now" series. The "before" pictures should stand as a stark reminder to anyone who dismisses a building as "an ugly heap" or "beyond repair".

What's past may be prologue, but it doesn't have to be destiny.

Score: 5 ( 13 votes )

godismakebelieve

March 14, 2011 12:17 PM

Your sarcasm aside, there is a big difference between this building and some of the others facing demolition. Even the before photos show that it was not "beyond repair" or an "ugly heap." Some of us can make the distinction between a beautiful building that looks ugly/needs repair and a useless building that is completely rotted to it's core (e.g. grain elevators).

This one was worth saving because it's on Main Street, was not completely destroyed, and had easy access, etc.

Pick your battles wisely, preservationists! You'll be taken more seriously and ultimately have more success. Many of you do really good work, but the most zealous of you ruin it for the rest.

replied to JSmith

Score: 0 ( 14 votes )

JSmith

March 14, 2011 12:41 PM

I'm not being sarcastic at all. I'm saying that if you look at the "before" pictures like this one, or the Granite Works buildings one block north, or the photo recently posted on the building on Pearl Street, you can see what people were reacting too when they called for their demolition. And we can look at buildings in similar states today (like the ones on Michigan that are at risk of demolition) and realize that they too could have a bright future.

I find these old photos fascinating because it's often very hard for me looking at filthy, decrepit, and boarded-up buildings to imagine what they eventually would become. Granite Works is a great example, as is the Genesee Gateway project.

replied to godismakebelieve

Score: 4 ( 4 votes )

oldwaiter

March 15, 2011 1:52 PM

They do a great job with building---look at this place in Clearwater, Florida---The Super Power Building:
http://www.xenu.net/archive/spb/

replied to JSmith

Score: 2 ( 2 votes )

brownteeth

March 16, 2011 7:20 AM

I almost thought those were real pictures until I saw the room with the weird 360 degree table thing behind glass.

replied to oldwaiter

Score: 1 ( 1 votes )

Jesse

March 14, 2011 10:21 AM

Given who's there now, I'd take a parking lot.

Score: 1 ( 19 votes )

godismakebelieve

March 14, 2011 12:12 PM

Their level of craziness has nothing to do with the success they had in restoring this building.

Live and let live, folks.

replied to Jesse

Score: 6 ( 12 votes )

Frostbelt

March 14, 2011 11:02 AM

I would also rather have a parking lot than have a Church Of Scientology.

They say XENU froze beings from his planet and these "spirits" attached onto our human bodies. Scientologists supposedly cure you off these "thetans" and after you spend enough money... you learn OT3 - Xenu and his intergalactic bullshit.

Score: 1 ( 15 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 11:29 AM

You mean because other religions are so much more plausible in their world views?

I knew this post would bring out the haters but it really is not about the user. I don't understand the venom expressed here. This user has made this part of the city substantially better and what they believe harms no one from what I can tell.

replied to Frostbelt

Score: 5 ( 17 votes )

NBuffguy

March 14, 2011 12:09 PM

Part of what makes the church so contraversial, I believe, is their outspoken opposition to psychiatry. Here's a link to an article about Elli Perkins, who was a senior auditor at the Church of Schientology in Buffalo until she was murdered by her own son, who suffered from mental illness but was denied proper medical care because of the church's beliefs. It makes it less easy to say that they harm no one. But then again, the traidtional Christian belief system has taken its share of innocent victims through out history as well as most of the world's major religions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Elli_Perkins

replied to STEEL

Score: 5 ( 7 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 12:15 PM

Exactly - let the religion without sin and seemingly outrageous beliefs cast the first stone.

replied to NBuffguy

Score: 0 ( 10 votes )

Billo

March 14, 2011 12:49 PM

Steel, given the example provided by NBuffguy, you probably want to walk back your previous assertion that "what they believe harms no one." Perhaps there are other organised religions that are equally bats, but that doesn't give Scientology an excuse for their behavior. From what I can tell they are one of the worst.

That said, I have no problem with their being downtown and if their presense improves the look and feel of that block than I'm OK with it, generally. This is a free country, Scientology has a right to exist and if people want to spend their own money and be brainwashed, who am I to judge.

replied to STEEL

Score: 4 ( 8 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 1:16 PM

I have nothing against this or any other religion as long as they keep to themselves. IN my opinion they all have outrageous belief systems,(and some very good and useful beliefs) many have been involved in the development of wars and hatred of others and all have had some belief or other that has caused the death of one or another person. The Scientologists are not the only group with odd medical beliefs. The First Church of Christ Scientist (completely unrelated to the scientologists by the way)also believe in self healing and do not use western science based medicine. Many people of all faiths are led into goofy beliefs that science based medicine is dangerous and that goofy phonied up medicine is good. Catholics do not believe in abortion even if the mother will die giving birth. That is pretty nutty to me.

One guy says the whole universe appeared in 7 days another says aliens are at the heart of everything. So what? There are people in this country who happen to be Christians who don't vaccinate their kids because someone told them vaccines are bad. A psychotic Scientologis going berzerk is not the norm nor is wacky Christians protesting at soldier's funerals.

replied to Billo

Score: 2 ( 8 votes )

matt.dudek

March 14, 2011 1:00 PM

Steel, this is a great post and the renovation is great.

The problem with Scientology, or at least the biggest in my opinion, is that you explicitly have to pay to play. You can't just got and buy their Bible and interpret it as you like. You have to pay for treatment, and pay for access, and only after you've been "cleansed" enough can more of the story be revealed to you.

This is just as disgusting as the Catholic Church requiring indulgences. Or tricking widows to buy their loved ones out of purgatory.

The Church of Scientology represents a practice of religion we have criticized for centuries in Western Culture because of how it preys on being when they are seeking solace and refuge in their beliefs. They're snake oil salesman. Or even if we assume their cure is real, then let's liken them to big pharma companies bilking the sick out of money so they can grow fat and rich. It makes me sick.

replied to STEEL

Score: 0 ( 8 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 1:21 PM

You are right, There certainly are no snake oil salesmen in the Christian religion.

replied to matt.dudek

Score: 2 ( 12 votes )

jattea

March 14, 2011 1:01 PM

You're saying we shouldn't judge a building based on the tenant? Taking it to the extreme, what if it was the Ku Klux Klan that bought and rehabbed the building? We shouldn't care?

replied to STEEL

Score: 0 ( 10 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 1:20 PM

Are they as bad as the Clan? Is taht what you are saying?

I don't remember hearing anything about this being a hate group. Sure, not all uses are equal and desirable but I also noted that they harm no one and they also improved the city.

I don't think you can attribute either of these positives to the Clan so why bring them up?

replied to jattea

Score: -4 ( 12 votes )

jattea

March 14, 2011 1:36 PM

I bring them up to illustrate that it's ridiculous to ignore a building's tenant when evaluating the building's impact on the community. The Klan reference was an extreme example (as indicated) of why this ought to be the case. And I imagine that plenty of people would argue against your assertion that Scientology hurts no one. Lisa McPherson for one... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_McPherson)

replied to STEEL

Score: 1 ( 9 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 1:41 PM

When you equate the Scientologists with the Clan you argument loses all merit. Name he any religion without a blemish.

replied to jattea

Score: -4 ( 14 votes )

jattea

March 14, 2011 3:14 PM

I never "equated" Scientology with the Klan. Do you not understand the concept of an alternate example to illustrate a point?

replied to STEEL

Score: 2 ( 8 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 3:40 PM

Your "alternate example" is the definition of equating.

My quote "This user [Scientology] has made this part of the city substantially better and what they believe harms no one from what I can tell."

Your alternate example is of a group that does do substantial harm and which has not saved any building. I guess I don't understand the relevance on the "example".

I never said I was in favor of all groups and certainly don't profess any support of disgusting groups like the Clan (a Christian organization by the way) so what is your point? That the Clan is really really bad and....?

replied to jattea

Score: 0 ( 8 votes )

bhorvath

March 15, 2011 1:39 PM

Steele you need to realize that when you comment too much it becomes easier for readers to realize your hypocrosy -

You equating the Gauranty Building to a run down falling apart cooperage or livery or grain elevator is exactly the same as this guy equating scientology to the kkk. It is. It is 100% the same, with no exception in each logic.

replied to STEEL

Score: 2 ( 4 votes )

benfranklin

March 14, 2011 1:51 PM

...at least first floor retail would be an option (...aisle 1, pointy hats...aisle 2 white sheets, scissors, ...aisle 3, templates for eye holes, aisle 4 ... gas, wood...better stop there.).

I'm not in favor of a 'whacko' box being added to the building permit application. You want to improve our city, I'll lend you a hammer...might hold off on the rope though.

replied to jattea

Score: 0 ( 4 votes )

davvid

March 15, 2011 1:31 PM

This is a very important point. We cannot separate architecture from its cultural context. The furry of comments about Scientology is providing the context that STEEL left out of this article. It really isn't enough to say "Gee, that sure is a lovely building". Some architecture can be discussed in terms of semiotics. What does this bright shining building with a cross on it in a struggling city express about Scientology? One observation is that it has more crosses on it now than it did when the Catholic church owned it.

replied to jattea

Score: 0 ( 0 votes )

Daniel Sack

March 14, 2011 11:13 AM

Unfortunately our scientologists gladly relinquished their former home in a wonderful building on West Huron that was demolished for a parking garage. The hearings were very contentious. The scientologists at first fought against demolishing their building but when the City offered them this building they gave up all their arguments about saving wonderful old buildings. Former councilmember Marc Coppola promised there would be retail tenants on the first level of the parking garage. Of course that never happened.

Score: 3 ( 5 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 11:21 AM

So the Scientoloigists are now responsible since they were forced out of their building. The way I remember it they were not given a choice.

replied to Daniel Sack

Score: -3 ( 7 votes )

sbrof

March 14, 2011 11:17 AM

This building will outlast Scientology, thankfully because of their investment. They were welcomed neighbors, even if a little creepy as they approached you to ask for a stress test.

Score: 5 ( 9 votes )

celia.white

March 14, 2011 11:21 AM

I worked in this building around 1998, when it was in use by Roswell Park, and the exterior had already been renovated (the yellow facade you see now, minus the cross. The Scientologists needn't be given all the credit....

Score: 5 ( 9 votes )

LouisTully

March 14, 2011 11:50 AM

Awesome reno. Nutso religion.

Score: 5 ( 13 votes )

fill

March 15, 2011 10:14 PM

It is worse than a nutso religion...........It is one of the most dangerous cults in America. Read "The Complex" by John Duignan. It is truly disturbing. As far as their presence on Main and Virginia, having them run out and try to talk you into taking their "personality test" as you're walking by is beyond offensive.

replied to LouisTully

Score: 0 ( 2 votes )

Daniel Sack

March 14, 2011 1:29 PM

Steel - It depends on the definition of "not given a choice". The Squire House was "not given a choice" and demolition had begun. The buildings on the north-west corner of Main and Virginia were "not given a choice" by Masiello, but a TRO prevailed. Commercial Slip's exploding stones "not given a choice" by New York State, but there it is.

The scientologists would leave that building too if the City wanted a parking garage there. The take-away from the West Huron challenge is to not work with the scientologists to save a good building. Of course the same problem exists with Buffalo's Catholic diocese.

Score: 1 ( 3 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 1:40 PM

If the Scientologists had instigated the demo I would be looking less favorably on their choice but to blame them because the city put a target on their building is complaining for complaining's sake. From what I remember they did put up a good fight along with others.

Score: -3 ( 5 votes )

Daniel Sack

March 14, 2011 2:25 PM

I was in the Council chambers fighting to save the building with the Scientologists. I was led to believe by the Scientologists that they were in the fight not simply to save their headquarters but to save a terrific building. Once they had an offer for another building they didn't care anymore about saving anything. You were there and remember differently?

Score: 1 ( 9 votes )

STEEL

March 14, 2011 2:39 PM

As I said. They did not ask the city to put a target on their backs.

replied to Daniel Sack

Score: -3 ( 9 votes )

Urban Cowboy

March 14, 2011 2:30 PM

This whole post(Steel) should be deleted. Not because of the Scientology part but just cause these comments are embarrassing(see burbs are not Buffalo above me).

There is such thing as class, and you my friend(burbsnotbuffalo) have none. You represent the city and the region poorly.

"Scientol-o-rific" in the title was unnecessary. If you removed it, there would have been fewer of these comments.

With that said the building is beautiful.

Score: 2 ( 8 votes )

Mike Duff

March 14, 2011 5:42 PM

I am appalled that the anti-catholic and anti-religion comments are allowed to stand, but comments are edited if there is a mention of race or homosexuality in the comment.

Religion is still a protected class under EEO and the courts. Discrimination against a religion is just as bad as discrimination against a person based on race, country of origin, age, or mental and physical handicaps.

I wonder if a similar generalization about Judaism would be edited or allowed to stay on here all day?

Score: -2 ( 16 votes )

godismakebelieve

March 15, 2011 11:38 AM

Um, isn't it the Christians/Catholics that rail against homosexuals and anybody who doesn't fit their morality mold? If you're so in favor of equal protection, then why are you so exclusive?

replied to Mike Duff

Score: 0 ( 8 votes )

Mike Duff

March 15, 2011 12:25 PM

Most religions have beliefs that opposes homosexuality, and more specifically male homosexuality. This includes Judaism, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, and even most Buddhist practices. There are many subsets of those religions that have reconciled doctrine with practices of their followers too.

They have a right to worship and believe in the practices and doctrines of their particular religion. They have equal protection under the law, just as all protected classes do.

Just because you don't agree with them does not give you the right to make the comments you made. All Catholics are not child molesters as you contended. Making broad generalizations based on the negative aspects of a minority of members is very dangerous.

replied to godismakebelieve

Score: -1 ( 7 votes )

osirisascending

March 15, 2011 7:55 AM

FOOLISH, PUNY, HUMANS!!!

YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YOU DISMISS!!!

ALL HAIL XENU!!!

Sorry... Couldn't resist.

On a completely unrelated note, Tom Cruise was funny as hell in "Tropic Thunder".

Score: 1 ( 7 votes )

Sweet Lincolns Mullet

March 15, 2011 5:54 PM

Religion is for the feeble minded trying to define meaning and purpose in their paltry and servile lives. They need someone or an entity to tell them how to live as they are too timid and daunted by death. All religions are cults

Score: -5 ( 7 votes )

qbert

March 16, 2011 5:29 AM

I've heard similar things said about homosexuality. It is a character weakness of feeble minded people who lack will power and control. It is a fetish or sexual perversion just like pedophilia or partner swapping. Some have claimed that gay men are child molesters and use boy scout leaders and priests as examples. The man in Alden who molested his foster children was gay so this proves the point. All of this is said as an example and is not what I personally believe. I do attend church regularly because of my faith and my community but I also believe in respect and tolerance for all. It pains me to read a comment like yours because it is filled with hateful ignorance.

replied to Sweet Lincolns Mullet

Score: 1 ( 5 votes )

NBuffguy

March 16, 2011 1:14 PM

I agree with you. But I thought I read that the guy in Alden was charged with possessing child pornography on his computer, and that he was specifically not charged with molesting his own foster children...just for the record. If he is guilty, then he did a terrible thing, but there is a difference.

replied to qbert

Score: 0 ( 0 votes )

brownteeth

March 16, 2011 8:17 AM

How many Catholic Churches in his city have either been abandoned or demolished? Most if not all are very beautiful buildings by anyone’s standards. So even though the Scientologists practice a bizarre religion they are doing more to save the architecture in this city just by keeping the power and heat on let alone rehabbing any part of this building. I realize they do not deserve all the credit for renovations here but for whatever reason they obtained this building and keep it occupied it deserves some credit. Sometimes the end justifies the means. So say what you want about their religious beliefs but they are still protecting our architecture more than probably any other religious group in this city, not to mention our own city government.

Score: -1 ( 3 votes )

Mike Duff

March 16, 2011 9:35 AM

I know there are many churches that have been abandoned and abused, but they are the exception and not the rule. There are hundreds of beautiful churches in the area that are beautiful inside and outside, they are well cared for and looked after.

replied to brownteeth

Score: 1 ( 3 votes )

Frostbelt

March 16, 2011 10:15 AM

Tis' a beautiful building inhabited with evil, idiotic space people

Score: -1 ( 5 votes )

STEEL

March 16, 2011 10:31 AM

It is amazing to me how people need to hate on others. What is the purpose of that? Lets take a vote. Should I delete all the comments or just the ones denigrating the religion of the other guy?

Score: -1 ( 3 votes )