Urgent: Letters of support are needed!
The Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo is working with The Bicycle Pedaling History Museum in Orchard Park, NY to relocate the world’s largest collection of bicycling heritage to Downtown Buffalo’s Inner Harbor and re-establish it on the original footprint of the George N. Pierce & Company bicycle manufacturing building that will evoke the look and feel of what was once within this historic street grid of the Erie Canal Harbor.
Establishing this vision and implementing it in Downtown Buffalo, NY is a step to provide our city with a one of a kind cultural tourism destination focused upon the bicycle and its place in our history and development not only in Buffalo but America. Currently, the museum exhibits a collection of over 500 historic bicycles and thousands of pieces of bicycling memorabilia, ephemera, advertising, photographs, posters and original manufacturer’s catalogs.
The museum’s presentation offers a chronological and comprehensive history profiling the bicycle as the catalyst leading to all of man’s personal transportation of today and dispelling today’s common thoughts of it as just a children’s recreational pastime.
As a step in making this vision a reality we are looking to apply to the New York State Department of Transportation’s Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP). TEP is a reimbursable grant program with one of its eligibility criteria being the establishment of transportation related museums. For this application we need letters of support. Attached is a sample letter for your use, a picture of the original building we are looking to evoke and a map identifying the location under which the original foundations may still exist.
We need all letters of support mailed no later then June 25th –the grant deadline is June 30th.
Pedaling History Bicycle Museum Attn: Carl & Clarice Burgwardt 3943 N. Buffalo Rd. Orchard Park, NY 14127RE: Pedaling History Bicycle Museum Inner Harbor Relocation
Dear Carl and Clary,
I, (Your name/ organization), am writing this letter of support for the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum’s application to the New York State Department of Transportation for the Transportation Enhancements Program (TEP).This program offers an opportunity to relocate the Pedaling History Bicycle Museum, the world’s largest collection of bicycle antiquities, to the Erie Canal Harbor. The implementation of this project is an exciting development that will celebrate our bicycling heritage on the original footprint of the George N. Pierce & Company bicycle manufacturing building.
The ability to showcase Buffalo’s bicycle heritage and enhance cultural tourism for our city is an avenue of exciting prospect.
Sincerely,
(Your name/ organization)
Thank you Buffalo Rising for your continued support!
Wow! I have always thought that they belonged in Buffalo, but this plan is even greater than I had envisioned. My letter is on its way.
Thank you BRO and all at the Museum.
I had the time last Thursday to pick up a few wrenches and help out over at Buffalo Blue Bicycles...Colvin Ave. old Police bldg....this is a totally grass roots initiative and an excellent way to meet some cool people and learn a few things about peddling and bicycles...
Letter is on its way to the PO right now...Thanks Justin...see you tomorrow night...
umm...wheres the map
Can we get a 5 story brick building built on the site and perhaps rent the non-museum space as office?
Yup, our letters are on their way too.
Hey Mike Miller, has the Central Terminal thought of partnering with WNYRHS to apply for a TEP grant to move the Rail History Muesum to the Central Terminal. If there are TEP grant funds to move a Bicycle Museum downtown why wouldnt their be funds to move the rail museum to the Central Terminal.
I just wanted to take this oportunity to thank the moderators for banning my other computer from posting comments due to my pro casino stance. By doing so you lose all credibility as a place for open dialoge and render yourself unworthy of my readership.
Sally, I just checked with the contributors at BRO and no one banned your computer or took any comment down. I also don't see any trace of a comment being blocked. You are welcome to send the comment directly to me and I would be more than happy to post it for you. As you may not read this comment anyways, this is probably a futile attempt to on my behalf. queenseyes@buffalorising.com
I heard about this bicycle museum concept and think it's a great idea. Like any great idea, however, it needs to be integrated into an overall, cohesive vision.
I'm very compelled by what Providence, San Antonio, Ottawa and now Rochester have accomplished in developing downtown waterway commerce. Canals, cafes, restaurants, boat rides, skating in the winter, and with this new museum concept- a canalside bikepath leading from the museum to the yet to be developed greenways along the Niagara River and Erie Basin. Has anyone brought this up?
This project is consistent with the Master Plan for the Inner Harbor which provides a vision stating that the “Erie Canal Harbor will be a dynamic year-round site that celebrates Buffalo's local history and role in our nation's growth and development.”
For access for the full master plan go to this link: http://www.nylovesbiz.com/popup/features.asp?id=15
This is a good idea and hope it works out. I'm not sure where it would be built but hope it's near the bike path.
I sent a letter on behalf of the Preservation Coalition of Erie County and urge all historians, architecture buffs, and preservationists to do the same.
Cynthia,
What do you think of publishing a top 10 list, top 25 list and maybe a top 100 list annually of the Preservation Coalition's most endangered buildings.
Like the Statler, such a list could be used regionally, nationally and internationally to find a buyer or a developer. The county and the various IDAs are great at shovel ready sites and Class A space but I dont think they give enough attention and value to our older buildings.
As I read the story, the guy who bought the Statler fell in love with the building immediately and liked the age and architecture of the building and a Top 10, Top 25 or Top 100 would really help to identify architecturally significant or period buildings for intersted developers.
Also Cynthia is the Preservation Coalition endorsing returning the original street grid of our city on future construction.
mark warford is wrong when he infers that Rochester has been successful in developing downtown waterfront commerce. high falls has bars but not much else .