Buffalo Rising Online

Jul 22nd, 9:20am By RaChaCha

In a recent comment, StephenJames716 asked about progress at the Richardson-Olmsted Complex. Although a walk around the grounds reveals some stabilization efforts underway (more information, below), it hardly gives a sense of the frenzied activity going on behind the scenes in planning some significant upcoming steps. Monica Pellegrino-Faix, project coordinator for the Richardson Center Corporation (RCC), which is overseeing the complex, has these updates:

Planning and stabilization efforts are moving forward for both the complex and the Architecture and Visitors Center. Chan Krieger Sieniewicz, an urban planning and architecture firm, is leading the master planning team. The team consists of local and national firms assisting with all the aspects of the plan: urban planning, market analysis and economic modeling, landscape, EIS permitting, historic preservation, community outreach, and cost estimating. The team started work in April, a process that will take a year to complete. Chan Krieger Sieniewicz will present initial concepts for the reuse of the Richardson Olmsted Complex at the next public meeting (details below).

As part of the master planning process, a Community Advisory Group has been formed and includes representatives from the adjacent neighborhoods, business districts, cultural institutions, Buffalo Psychiatric Center, Buffalo State College and the historic preservation community. They will present an update on their work and will help to lead the community visioning session at the next public meeting. The Community Advisory Group has been charged with three main tasks:

1. Advise the RCC Board regarding community values related to the Richardson-Olmsted Complex master plan.

2. Facilitate the process of broad public engagement throughout the planning process. This includes convening four large public meetings as well as routine Advisory Group meetings.

3. Review the Master Plan products as they are produced, accounting for public comments received to date.

As for the Historic Structures Report, progress has been tremendous on that and the Cultural Landscape Report—they are in the final draft stage and nearly complete. When final, the reports will be posted on www.Richardson-Olmsted.com in the Documents section. Firms Goody Clancy and Heritage Landscapes will be at the public meeting to provide an overview of their findings and final recommendations. These reports will provide a comprehensive history, document existing conditions, and make recommendations for treatment options of the buildings and grounds—providing a guide for stabilization and adaptive reuse. Both reports will recommend rehabilitation as the historic preservation treatment option for the buildings and grounds.

And we have some exciting news about the Architecture and Visitors Center: a national museum firm has been selected to develop a concept plan for this critical element in the redevelopment of the Complex. The contract is being finalized and the firm will be announced at the public meeting.

Finally, stabilization efforts are continuing, with work being carried out by crews from the Dormitory Authority. The structural shoring of Building 43, the former female kitchen north of the towers administration building, is nearly complete and the roof will be covered soon. The structural shoring of the connector between buildings 39-40 is underway; it is taking longer than expected because safety issues require close attention and some plan modifications. Also, a preliminary design of the electrical system has been prepared.

In addition, the date has been set for the next public meeting: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 6PM, at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.

Monica invites everyone to attend the public meeting for updates, and to participate in the community visioning session. Those in attendance will have a chance to discuss ideas presented by the master plan team. You will be able to articulate your vision and goals for the master plan, and describe any community issues that you feel need to be addressed.

Get connected: www.Richardson-Olmsted.com. Click “Documents” for a link to proceedings of previous public meetings, or click “Contact Us” for contact information for Monica. Also, the website will soon have a “community section” for materials related to the public meeting and an opportunity to comment.

Photo credit: Brian Faix