BUFFALO DREAMS
It’s true. I’ve had three dreams of Buffalo within the past couple of weeks. And it’s clear to me why. One, I write for Buffalo Rising. Two, I now attend school in Buffalo (commuting from Toronto). And three, I simply love the city. Of the dreams that I had, one I find particularly intriguing. Here is what I remember:
While the location of the dream is not fictitious, the imageries of it most certainly are…and are most certainly fascinating. In this dream, I was standing in what was considered the “gateway” or entrance to the city. I guess that could be several places, but to me, I consider the most prominent gateway, the area just off the Peace Bridge (Front Park).
However, in my dream, there was no bridge. But there was a grand plaza, sweeping and magnificent in scope, creating an unmistakable feel that one has just entered the city. And while it was completely concrete, it did not have any sense of austerity, isolation and coldness. Rather, it all felt so majestic – a feeling of “ahhhh….I’ve arrived in Buffalo.” There were lots of columns too, Greek looking columns, and a prominently displayed sign indicating that one has just entered the city. It all felt so bold, and magnificent.
Then I looked in one direction, and saw a stream of people de-boarding from an Amtrak train which had just pulled into the station. They were all headed toward this grand plaza. In analyzing the dream, it seemed obvious that I must have been thinking of the Exchange Street station, though unlike the current sad state of this structure, the station’s imagery in my dream included long rows of grass in between which passengers walked along a white sidewalk.
It would be easy to just shrug the dream off as nothing more than strange brew. But as I thought about it, I realized perhaps there is a message in my nocturnal fantasy – a message about what our city can look like. No, I’m not suggesting that a beaux art style entrance plaza be constructed at the foot of the Peace Bridge, but I do know that Front Park is or will be undergoing renovations to restore it its original beauty. That would certainly make a grand impression to visitors who enter via Fort Erie. And if the signature bridge is ever built, imagine what a stunning vista the bridge and park duet would create? Imagine the impression it would create for first time visitors to the city.
But what to make of my dreams’Amtrak station? Perhaps that is reflection of my wishful thinking. In addition to my fantasy of a dramatic entrance for automobile traffic, I would equally like to see such an eye catching gateway symbol for those who travel into Buffalo by train. Certainly that was the intention and purpose of the Central Terminal when it was the way to come into the city. Sadly, with the station’s demise, today’s train travelers into Buffalo are met by what must be the most (or one of the most) forgetful, forlorn and non-descript looking train stations in the country…only serving to create a negative first impression of the city for those few bodies who even take the train into downtown. Contrast this to my dream, where I saw streams of people getting off the train – a throwback to the heyday of the Central Terminal - and stepping onto grassy walkways that took them into the city.
I know that part of the Bass Pro project is to include a new multi-modal transportation centre with (what I assume) will be a finer, more dignified and impressive train depot. If for any reason, that is enough for me, to see this entire project built. Buffalo is again becoming a beautiful city. It deserves grand entrances that reflect this renewed beauty.
Peace Bridge Statistics:
- 6.5 million+ cars cross the bridge each year
- 1.5 million+ commercial vehicles cross the bridge each year
The following photo (taken this afternoon) is the impression that many visitors are greeted with after driving through Front Park. As the rest of the city starts to see a turn-around it is surely time to work on the lasting impressions that they see as the enter and leave the city.
It's great that they are finally paying some attention to Front Park. However, without the bridge to complete that majestic picture, it will continue to remain just a dream. Does anyone have any idea at all what the actual status of the bridge project is at this point? It feels like ages that I heard or read anything about a new bridge. I saw a bumper sticker on someone's car promoting the signature bridge. The sticker looked like it was from 1990.
Have you ever seen the old Peace Bridge postcard from within Front Park with the entrance gracefully entering the city through flowers beds and grand Olmsted design. If not let me know I will email it to you. It truly was the window to the world and the grand face of welcoming to Buffalo.
Another note is that with the North entrance (the city's approved alternative) front park will be ignored as an entrance. Instead they will demolish their way through the neighborhood to the north of the park to Niagara Street, trying to cram all the infrastructure. So What could again be a grand entrance will be a nice park, with a disassociated PB plaza to the north probably with some wall or fence in between the two.
The stats are a little off: 2005 saw 5,599,640 car crossings and 1.289.253 truck crossings. Use of the Peace Bridge has been dropping for several years.
last I heard was that construction was to start late 07 or early 08 with bridge finished by 2011 at the soonest.
The last of the Environmental impact statements approved by both the US and Canada are to be signed off late 06 to early 07
From what I read Olmsted designed front park because of the view it had of the river. Just like most of the gems given to Buffalo, this view was ruined with the construction of the 190. When designed front park overlooked the canal and then the river. It must have been a majestic view. What I would like to see is Front park connected with the water once again. If there was some way to run the 190 under front park from Porter to the bridge plaza, LaSalle and Front park could become one. Niagara from Massachusetts Ave to Niagara square would become Buffalo's GOLDEN TWO MILE. :) Just imagine high rise development all along Niagara from Downtown to the Peace Bridge. Just imagine the view from a 14 story condo! A great park system at your feet, endless expanses of water beyond and an iconic bridge to the right.
After this, run light rail on the Canadian side to the Peace Bridge and form the Peace Bridge to Downtown run a subway line connecting with the current Metro. Furthermore, place the above ground portion of the Metro underground and make a connector hub where the Aud stands today. From the new hub run two lines splitting at the "Larkin District", one line going south and another going west to Rochester via the Central Terminal and the Airport. Connect Buffalo with Rochester and Toronto. Please notice I do not have a line to the Falls. With the pending screw up, we should ignore that city as much as possible. Besides the light rail would go to the Canadian side of the Falls and we all know that side is better! :)
Buffalo would be able to attract day trip visitors from two metro areas. The theme song to be "Saturday In the Park" by Chicago. A waterfront concert venue could be built on the south side of LaSalle. The west coast has the Gorge and Red Rocks and the East coast could have this. Buffalo could start a music festival incorporating the best Canadian and American artists during the summer months. Give Ani a call, she knows how to get shit done! Once a year Buffalo hosts 100,000 people enjoying the wonderful summer breeze off the lake. Days spent in the Museums and nights on the lake watching the sunset and notes of music wash over the city. The guests of the city rest comfortably in our newly refurbished Statler and Lafayette Hotel amongst others.
Ah to dream.....
From what I read Olmsted designed front park because of the view it had of the river. Just like most of the gems given to Buffalo, this view was ruined with the construction of the 190. When designed front park overlooked the canal and then the river. It must have been a majestic view. What I would like to see is Front park connected with the water once again. If there was some way to run the 190 under front park from Porter to the bridge plaza, LaSalle and Front park could become one. Niagara from Massachusetts Ave to Niagara square would become Buffalo's GOLDEN TWO MILE. :) Just imagine high rise development all along Niagara from Downtown to the Peace Bridge. Just imagine the view from a 14 story condo! A great park system at your feet, endless expanses of water beyond and an iconic bridge to the right.
After this, run light rail on the Canadian side to the Peace Bridge and form the Peace Bridge to Downtown run a subway line connecting with the current Metro. Furthermore, place the above ground portion of the Metro underground and make a connector hub where the Aud stands today. From the new hub run two lines splitting at the "Larkin District", one line going south and another going west to Rochester via the Central Terminal and the Airport. Connect Buffalo with Rochester and Toronto. Please notice I do not have a line to the Falls. With the pending screw up, we should ignore that city as much as possible. Besides the light rail would go to the Canadian side of the Falls and we all know that side is better! :)
Buffalo would be able to attract day trip visitors from two metro areas. The theme song to be "Saturday In the Park" by Chicago. A waterfront concert venue could be built on the south side of LaSalle. The west coast has the Gorge and Red Rocks and the East coast could have this. Buffalo could start a music festival incorporating the best Canadian and American artists during the summer months. Give Ani a call, she knows how to get shit done! Once a year Buffalo hosts 100,000 people enjoying the wonderful summer breeze off the lake. Days spent in the Museums and nights on the lake watching the sunset and notes of music wash over the city. The guests of the city rest cormfortable in our newly refurbished Statler and Layfette Hotel amongst others.
Ah to dream.....