Some times, looking through old photos can remind you just how far Buffalo has come over that last 20 years. Improvement has been slow to be sure but, today it is hard remember the very sad state that some blocks in the city had sunk to by the 1980's. This image depicts what is now called Theater Place on the 600 block of Main Street. Back in the early eighties this entire block was on the verge of being torn down. Almost all of the buildings were either vacant or near vacant. Studio Arena Theater was one of the only viable enterprises on on the block. Back then Main was still very vibrant further south but this old stretch of wonderful buildings was relegated to the trash heap. A mere 30 years earlier it had been the heart of Buffalo's entertainment district. It was packed with restaurants and theaters. The sidewalks were mobbed with people. In 1950 no one could have conceived that the block would become virtually worthless in little more than a generation's time. Some of Buffalo's most magnificent buildings occupy the 600 block, the Market Arcade and Sheas Buffalo Theater being among Buffalo's most beloved. Starting in the late 1970's a major effort was put forward by farsighted people to save this block. As a means of mothballing some of the most endangered buildings (until funds were obtained for renovations) artists were hired to decorate new storefront barricades. The piano keys decorating these buildings formed a local landmark for several years.
Today it would be hard to imagine these buildings existing in this condition or even worse not existing at all. There was a time in Buffalo that it was actually thought to be a good and logical idea to demolish Sheas Buffalo. Anyone advocating such an idea now would be laughed out of town. Today the block is very pleasant. Five new buildings have been constructed in recent years. Almost all of the original buildings have been fully renovated and none are in a derelict state. This small strip houses 6 live theaters a movie theater complex, several restaurants and bars as well as CEPA Gallery. There is still much room for growth and improvement but, overall this part of Main Street has been a rousing success. To get to this point the City has invested millions of dollars in seed money. Without that money this block would surely no longer exist. Highly publicized failures of some city investment, namely the building that has housed several now defunct brew pub ventures, has garnered much scorn and ridicule of the way city officials have invested aid and development money. I can not say weather or not the city was diligent in its use of tax money in this instance but, I can say that no investment is 100% sure. Any private investor knows that there are risks that must be taken to realize gains. In the case of the 600 block the city has realized a tremendous return on its investment. With the (hopefully imminent) return of automobile traffic to Main Street I predict that an attractive block like this with its eclectic mix of uses and beautiful architecture will soar and will certainly become the destination place it was back in the 1950's.
Sheas sign image by Nathan Farnsworth