Buffalo Rising: Regional Archives

Regional May 24, 2012 12:00 AM

Summer Programming on the Buffalo River/Ohio Street Corridor Announced

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The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) on Wednesday joined with Congressman Brian Higgins, Margaret Overdorf of the Valley Community Association, Tod Kniazuk of the Western New York Arts Services Initiative (ASI), entrepreneur Mark Goldman and representatives from Neto Hatinakwe Onkwehowe and the Hispanic Youth Music Project to launch the first season of summer programming along the Buffalo River and Ohio Street corridor. The venture is based on the model that has been successful in activating the Canalside district on the Inner Harbor, using a variety of events to attract crowds to a previously underutilized part of the city, with the ultimate goal of attracting private investment.
There will be more than 130 events this season, which begins Memorial Day Weekend with an event on the Buffalo River presented by Neto Hatinakwe Onkwehowe, and will continue through October with performances by the Hispanic Youth Music Project. The programming is

Regional May 23, 2012 11:01 AM

Demolition of Bethlehem Steel Administration Building Halted

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This post originally appeared on Views of Buffalo
The Bethlehem Steel Administration building got a temporary reprieve from demolition yesterday as preservationists have been publically advocating for the reuse of the historic structure. During the City Hall meeting in Lackawanna this past Tuesday, concerned citizens and preservationists were stonewalled during the meeting. The demolition of the building was not on the official agenda and as a result the group was told anyone

Regional May 23, 2012 12:00 AM

Niagara Falls Adds Waterfront Recreation Options

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Elected leaders and the public gathered near the base of the North Grand Island Bridge to celebrate the completion of LaSalle Waterfront Park on Monday. Its development has been community driven for several years. A series of public meetings and design workshops that has resulted in not just another amenity in the LaSalle community, but a significant waterfront asset for WNY. Phase one improvements created a new public park on a unique waterfront site that previously housed the members-only Century Club. The Century Club was demolished

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Regional May 21, 2012 11:30 AM

Bethlehem Steel: Disposable Architecture or Iconic Landmark?

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That's the ultimate question of the Bethlehem Steel Administration building and unfortunately it looks as if the question has already been answered by the City of Lackawanna officials and the owners. Thankfully, there are still people who don't want to see this Beaux-Arts beauty sent to the landfill like so many great buildings before it. The reason for the demolition has been said to be due to the deteriorated state of the building which poses an immediate safety concern. It's been largely open to the elements and deteriorating for the better part of thirty years, so why is now the time for it

Continue reading Bethlehem Steel: Disposable Architecture or Iconic Landmark?.

Regional May 21, 2012 12:15 AM

Preservation Award Winner: Mark Sommer

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Preservation Buffalo Niagara is recognizing outstanding preservation projects and those contributing to preservation efforts at its annual awards ceremony May 30, 11:30 AM in the Statler's Golden Ballroom. Award categories were established to acknowledge distinguished contributions to our community through preservation activity. Recipients will be recognized in several areas including: preservation craft; rehabilitation/adaptive use; stewardship; neighborhood conservation; planning/reconstruction; and

Regional May 17, 2012 4:25 PM

PBN Calls for Postponement of Bethlehem Building Demo

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Preservation Buffalo Niagara is calling on its membership, as well as the rest of the Western New York community, to advocate for the retention of the Bethlehem Steel Administration Building. Although a significant amount of community support has been generated to save this National Register Eligible building, a local news outlet has reported that the City of Lackawanna has continued to pressure the current building owner, Gateway Trade Center, to move ahead with the emergency demolition order planned for tomorrow, May 18th. It is Preservation Buffalo Niagara's hope that the City of Lackawanna

Regional May 17, 2012 3:30 PM

Countywide Land Bank Approved

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Today, Mayor Byron W. Brown was joined by Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz to applaud Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Empire State Development Corp. for approving a recently filed joint application to form one of the first land banks in New York State.

"With the announcement today, the Governor has added a significant weapon to Buffalo's arsenal for ridding the City of vacant and abandoned property," said Mayor Brown. "Further, the City of Buffalo looks forward to working with Erie County, the cities of Lackawanna and Tonawanda as well as all of the other towns and villages

Regional May 17, 2012 12:01 AM

Painting for Preservation Not Resting on its Laurels, Heading to Chicago Next

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Local artists and others gathered for a Painting for Preservation event at 53 Laurel Street on April 28 to bring attention to a building at risk of demolition. The attractive building dates to ca. 1907 and is a carefully designed brick and stone double residence. Laurel Street is an intact street with lively and responsible residents, looked just off the Michigan Street corridor.
Painting for Preservation seeks to bring together artists of all media in support of historic distressed properties

Continue reading Painting for Preservation Not Resting on its Laurels, Heading to Chicago Next.

Regional May 16, 2012 2:40 PM

Wrecking WNY: Bethlehem Office Building

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Demolition crews this week are preparing the Bethlehem Steel North Office Building in Lackawanna for its demise. Constructed in 1901, the Beaux Arts style building is located on Hamburg Turnpike (Route 5) at the northeast corner of the sprawling 1300-acre former steel plant complex.

The building, like the city it is located in, has clearly seen better days

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Regional May 14, 2012 9:48 AM

Help us preserve and protect...

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When I read Steel's posts on sprawl, I am always left to wonder what the best ways to preserve our natural resources might be. Of course sensitive zoning is one way to make sure that vital land is protected, but there are other proactive ways of safeguarding pristine wilderness so that clear-cutting woodlands doesn't lead to over-developed land. Some say that building 'up' the city with taller buildings offers people desirable residences that would draw them back into the urban core. Others note

Regional May 14, 2012 12:00 AM

Remington Lofts Nearly Complete in North Tonawanda

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Kissling Interests' Remington Lofts on the Canal development is just about finished. The $25 million effort transformed the Remington Rand plant into a mix of 79 upscale lofts and commercial space overlooking the Erie Canal. It is Kissling's first local project outside of Buffalo.
On April 26, the Urban Land Institute's Young Leaders Group of Western New York (ULI YLG of WNY) toured the complex and heard from those involved with the project.
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Regional May 13, 2012 9:20 AM

Modern Recycling and MAP to Provide Healthy Local Food

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By Michele Schmidt
Thanks to connections made through the 2012 Green Drinks Earth Week Happy Hour, 25 families from throughout Buffalo will benefit from fresh, local produce this spring. Prior to the Happy Hour event, Modern Recycling announced that for each pound of perishable food items donated at the event, Modern would match that donation by donating an equal amount of tomatoes from their greenhouse to Massachusetts Avenue Project's Mobile Market. Read on to learn more...
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Regional May 9, 2012 11:22 AM

The Bills are Favorites in 8 Games Next Year

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Cantor Gaming, one of the fastest growing sportsbooks in Nevada, has released lines on every 2012-13 NFL game (except Week 17). The Bills are favored in 8 of the 15 games and underdogs in the other 7.
In their 8 road games, the Bills are only favored in 2 - at Cleveland and at Indianapolis - and in those games, the Bills are only 1 point favorites. In the 5 AFC East games with lines, the Bills are underdogs in 4 (at the Jets, at Miami and home and away vs. New England).

Week 1: Buffalo Bills (+5.5) at NY Jets Week

Regional May 9, 2012 12:01 AM

Studio Arena Theatre Coming Back to Life

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After a foreclosure sale of the building at 710 Main Street (formerly Studio Arena Theatre) and with the support of five local banks who contributed their mortgage debt on the building to 710 Main Street Inc. , a new non-profit organization now owns the building. 710 Main Street Inc. has entered into a management and programming agreement with Shea's Performing Arts Center.
Bank of America, First Niagara Bank, HSBC Bank, Key Bank, and M&T Bank, who previously held the mortgages to the building, have come together in support of this venture to ensure

Regional May 8, 2012 12:01 AM

Preservation Award Winner: Roycroft Campus Master Plan & Roycroft Powerhouse

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Preservation Buffalo Niagara is recognizing outstanding preservation projects and those contributing to preservation efforts at its annual awards ceremony May 30, 11:30 AM in the Statler's Golden Ballroom. Award categories were established to acknowledge distinguished contributions to our community through preservation activity. Recipients will be recognized in several areas including: preservation craft; rehabilitation/adaptive use; stewardship; neighborhood conservation; planning/reconstruction; and preservation journalism. Buffalo Rising will profile this year's winners leading

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Regional April 27, 2012 7:20 AM

Encouraging Social and Economic Growth in Kenmore's Delaware Avenue Business District

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UB Law School's Regional Economic Development class is bringing fresh economic development ideas to neighborhoods that need a boost. The course lets students attempt to identify a real need in the community, apply the theory learned in the classroom and then design a plan that would address this need. The following is a summary of a project completed by Michael Herberger, Ryan McCarthy, Jacob McNamara with simulations by Elnaz Haj Abotalebi. It is one of five reports completed

Regional April 26, 2012 12:39 AM

Celebrate Wright on the Lake with the Graycliff Gala

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For the third consecutive year, the Graycliff Conservancy will present the Graycliff Gala on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. However, for the first time, it will take place at the Larkin Center of Commerce, 701 Seneca Street, near downtown Buffalo.

Graycliff is an architectural jewel set on a scenic 8.4 acre estate overlooking Lake Erie, with sweeping views of Canada beyond. The complex, with three

Regional April 25, 2012 7:00 AM

What Would Olmsted Think of Niagara Falls Now?

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By Michele Schmidt
Fredrick Law Olmsted, considered the father of American Landscape Architecture and the landscape architect behind the 1,200-acre Olmsted Park system in Buffalo, turns 190-years old on Thursday. Having studied historic landscapers, I was surprised that I had never heard about Olmsted's involvement with Niagara Falls. So it occurred to me, what would Olmsted think of Niagara Falls now?
First, a brief history on Olmsted and his Niagara Falls connection. During the time of Olmsted's visit to Niagara Falls, only a small

Regional April 24, 2012 12:20 AM

Preservation Award Winner: Hedstrom Caretaker's Cottages

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Preservation Buffalo Niagara is recognizing outstanding preservation projects and those contributing to preservation efforts at its annual awards ceremony May 30, 11:30 AM in the Statler's Golden Ballroom. Award categories were established to acknowledge distinguished contributions to our community through preservation activity. Recipients will be recognized in several areas including: preservation craft; rehabilitation/adaptive use; stewardship; neighborhood conservation; planning/reconstruction; and

Continue reading Preservation Award Winner: Hedstrom Caretaker's Cottages.

Regional April 20, 2012 12:30 AM

Dining Out For Life Set For April 24- Dine Out to Fight AIDS

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Purchase a great meal for a great cause on Tuesday, April 24 when nearly 100 restaurants in Erie, Niagara, and Chautauqua counties participate in the tenth annual Dining Out For Life community fund-raiser.
Choose a restaurant, make reservations and enjoy dinner there. The restaurants will contribute 25 percent or more of that day's food sales to Evergreen Health Services of WNY (new name of AIDS Community Services). The agency is dedicated to stopping

Continue reading Dining Out For Life Set For April 24- Dine Out to Fight AIDS.