While it would be great to see someone take a chance on this building, is it more reasonable to expect changes closer to Canal Side first and then radiate outward? There are plenty of boarded up/abandoned buildings close to the demo ball in close proximity to the recently opened Harborfront. I recently explored the area around the Canal and would love to see this area revitalized and on the tax rolls. I took some images of the area in question: http://bflotees.blogspot.com/2008/05/buffalo-t-shirts-waterfront-pics.html In any event, I agree that there should be efforts to save these historic structures from the wrecking ball. With all the revitalization going on downtown, we are in a much better spot to choose what plans go forward as spec'd and which ones need to be re-examined to incorporate existing historic structures.

I've often wondered about the feasibility of actually moving buildings like these. Buffalo has a ton scattered throughout neighborhoods where they will likely be eventually demoed. How cool would it be if we could transport a cluster of these buildings to the Inner Harbor. It would give a new life to these endangered structures. Perhaps there are some national grant programs that could fund the effort?

Yeah, they could move them brick by brick...

How old exactly are the buildings? Don't some cities/places have regulations/laws stating that buildings built before a certain date must go through extremely intensive review before they can be demoed or whatever?

My guess is that there wouldn't be a lot of grant money out there to move buildings. The creation of a district of these buildings would be seen as falsifying history, sort of a Genessee Country Village of sorts. While it would create a coherent district I'm not sure any of the non-profits or government entitites with grants would support the move. They tend to prefer the buildings be preserved in situ and compatible, not neccisarily fake historic, infill be constructed. The continuum of a changing landscape is more valued than a cobbled neighborhood.

And even those two criteria often are not enough to stop someone from demolishing something. Look at the Watson and franklin street buildings. Both in historic preservation districts. Both gone. There are probably another dozen buildings like them just waiting for the wrecking crews.

There are no real laws protecting any historic building. Everything in the end is up to the owner.. no matter how many people sign a petition or fight to stop it. (see the Atwater err Pano's new parking lot...)