Buffalo Rising Online

Simpson needs to do more than expand the Center for Excellence in Life Sciences downtown and relocate portions of programs such as law or performing arts to have a presence downtown.....HE NEEDS TO GET THE LIGHT RAIL EXTENDED TO UB AMHERST CAMPUS!

Following on kahawa's comment: in the recent podcast interview about BNMC's plans for these properties, UB skated pretty deftly around their intentions regarding the Trico building. Regarding potential environmental issues for the building, I've heard all kinds of rumors that are all over the map. It would be great to get some specific facts about that, and some specifics about intentions. It would be a divisive and sad end to waste this proud part of Buffalo's industrial history and architecture, unless the community is satisfied that there is simply no alternative and the decision was arrived at in good faith.

I really hope the city doesn’t mess this up some how. UB, Roswell and the rest of the Medical Campus can be an instrumental part in bring THOUSANDS of high paying jobs and well educated people into the city over the next few years. I'm hoping for the best!

One well-placed UB source who I spoke with in person last month denied any knowledge of demolition plans. But I still have my suspicions. At any rate, remediation also has to be done if you demolish. So if you have to remediate either way, it is nuts to tear down a newly-clean building.

Frankster's last sentences imply the same cost level of remediation is needed for demolition and human use. I don't know whether that's true.

So if you have to remediate either way, it is nuts to tear down a newly-clean building.

It also seems to assume the end product of a rehabbed factory will be as good for the end purpose as would a new building. I don't know if that's true either, and it might be too early for anybody to know that yet.

In the big picture, BNMC/UB should be encouraged to make the best choice that they conclude maximizes chances of success for their life sciences mission, using whatever funds they have. The life sciences research field has a lot of potential as Andrew's comment says, but it's also extremely competitive with many cities across the U.S. and the world having this as a prime focus. Use the dollars in ways that make the best long term impacts to the mission. If reusing the factory will help toward that end, then great. But if it doesn't, that's fine too.

So far you have to admit that UB has a pretty good track record in the medical corridor (recently). The two new buildings are great and add a lot to the city. Even if the Trico building were to be demolished, I'm sure that UB will have a plan to rebuild rather than let is sit vacant. Simpson has been a much better President than Griener and seems like he'll get things rolling.

chris69- Once the restructuring of North and South Campus is complete, you may see the architecture school dt. I highly doubt that the Law School will move DT in the near future. A few years ago they proposed putting the law school in the Family Court building recently built but nothing ever came out of it. While it would be nice, it would be foolish to hold your breath waiting for it.

The light rail will never get expanded to North thanks to the Amherst board and its residents. There is no way they would ever sanction that.

way O/T but did anyone read about the study claiming that Buffalo would benefit greatly (i.e. thousands of jobs) by turning itself into a progressive community with a focus towards alternative energy? Haven't been on in a bit, didn't know if it was up. Very interesting.

If UB wants it Amherst won't have a choice but to say yes.. They rely too much on the money brought in from residents, students, faculty and their families to even consider going against the will of UB. If they did. it would also be regional political suicide. No one would support Amherst's decision to go against UB since UB is so important regionally. I would like to see the County step in and put some pressure to make it happen.

I also agree that Simpson is light years ahead of promoting and growing UB's reputation than Greiner's grandest dreams could have done. All we are left with in a mediocre football team and a bunch of cheap ass student housing on north for his duration.

As for Trico.. it all comes down to the level of contamination of the structure whether they decided to keep, renovate or demolish. If the pollution isn't horrid than I would be willing to bet money the structures would be kept. If it is really bad.. then anything is game. It would be a shame to loose such a HUGE building because odds are anything built (even thought it could be a nicer better building) probably wouldn't be able to compare in density.

Chris69, the plan for the M Wile building is multi-disciplinary. There are going to be many departments that deal with similar issues or problems working together to educate, problem solve and deliver services. You wont see any wholesale movement of schools but you will see the expanded prescence from a wide range of disciplines moving into the new downtown campus. This i feel is better than uprooting a whole school because it would expose a wider range of students and faculty to downtown. Sure Law / Architecture students probably already go and use downtown. They learn from our architecture or the judicial system. But being able to bring people who are not educationally or typically city minded would reap more rewards. Plus the wider the range of disciplines that need to us Downtown means the wider the UB support would be for a stronger (necessary) link between all three campuses. Shibley is a smart man who is heading up the UB 2020 master planning process. I think assuming the sky doesn't fall on his head there are going to be a lot of changes going on in downtown and UB. Right now the pawns are still being positioned...

All we are left with in a mediocre football team and a bunch of cheap ass student housing on north for his duration.

Typically fair minded statement.

Oh yeah, and regarding the topic here - the BNMC in the city - this endeavor was envisioned and started while Greiner was in charge. But hey why not broadly condemn him anyway? Clever, relevant, AND classy!

By the way, students seem to like the housing a lot, based on the huge demand for it. But why should they matter?

From the 12+ people I knew or dated who lived in these apartments, I agree that student demand is high for apartment style units, especially those on campus. (the "University Commons" projects on Maple can't seem to fill up, and are riddled with construction problems and student complaints) Many of the people I knew didn't like the quality of the options they had. The rest were just apathetic towards them. Few people actually liked the buildings of apartments. They just like the freedoms they provide being out of the dorm system.

And while Greiner was in power when the Center of Excellence started its process it was largely pushed onto UB and Greiner from the state level. I can't think of one thing that UB did that time to facilitate its growth. To Greiner it was just two buildings.. to Simpson it is the start of a new third downtown campus.

SteveP, I dont expect anything from UB to move downtown but it severely handicaps the students when they are studying a subject and they have absolutely no exposure to the real world. UB needs a presence in downtown Buffalo for degree programs whose jobs are concentrated downtown such as:

Performing Arts (theater, music, etc). I dont see them moving the performing arts downtown but it would be wise if UB performed shows downtown instead of on the Amherst Campus and even had a theater in the theater district.

Law & Government. I dont see them moving the law school downtown but it would be wise for them to have a presence downtown where kids could get jobs in social services, government and downtown law firms.

Journalism & Media (Radio, TV, Print, documentaries, etc). Another program which wont move downtown but considering all the employers downtown, its stupid not to have a presence so students can interact with local employers.

and Im sure there are other ideas also. The point is light rail needs to be extended to Amherst and UB needs to have a presence downtown in many programs so both the University and the students can be integrated into our local economy more than just binge alcohol drinking.

wait you mean like the pfiefer theatre? which was where the Town Ballroom is now which was sold under the Greiner Admin. Or the requirements that students in Law actually go to real public court cases downtown. oh wait Greiner had a legal and functional court built on North Campus so they wouldn't have to go downtown... Or the architecture school that Greiner tried to move to North campus in about 2001-2002.

Sbrof - It is obvious that you do not like President Greiner and that you have complaints with most things that took place during his tenure. As news, he is no longer the President of UB and has nothing to do with the project that we are discussing here. You may think that Amherst is held captive by UB; however you obviously do not know the whole story there. The Town of Amherst has told UB no on quite a few projects and expansion plans along the Audubon Parkway, Forest Road, Sweet Home, Maple Road, Millersport, and Campbell Blvds. Look through the archives at UB or check with the Amherst Bee for information. The push for housing on campus was partially driven by Amherst residents backlash against students in their neighborhoods, it was required for the expansion of UB. As far as the subway / metro is concerned, it is the residents of Amherst and Tonawanda who fought it and won by protesting to their local government officials. UB officials have pushed for expansion of the subways to replace the inter-campus bus system that has been in place since the 70s. They funded research and feasibility studies for several different mass transit models between campuses and other points, and they continue to do so. The Pfeifer Theater was closed when the Center for the Arts opened, this wasn't done to spite the city, it was done because the Center for the Arts replaced the Pfeifer with superior facilities, increased seating, and expanded functionality.

Take off your 'poor city' glasses for a minute and look at the things that UB has done for this region, which includes the "mediocre football program" that received national sports coverage, the UB Basketball games that will be broadcast on ESPN 6 times this season, and a host of other Division I sports programs that have received national press. BTW, that the mediocre football program was just eliminated from a bowl bid; and their center will be playing in the Hula Bowl in a couple weeks. This same program also has 3 players who made it to the NFL over the past few years. I am not an expert on football, or UB football for that matter, but it sounds to me like this mediocre team is doing pretty well. In fact their entire Athletic program has improved dramatically over the past decade, despite a lack of support in UB's academic community.

Just like Buffalo, the UB's faculty and Alumni are often the most severe critics. For some reason they prefer to dwell on decision of the past and the negative of the situation instead of recognizing all the accomplishments and benefits. It is easier to point a finger than to lend a hand, it is obvious to me that you are in this camp when it comes to most projects in the city, unless they conform with your rigid standards of architectural significance and design.

Another point is UB's return to Division I sports was a long term plan initiated by Greiner's predecessor and also strongly backed by his successor. Hardly some single-handed scheme Greiner carried out. Motivations were to provide new ways of raising UB's name recognition nationally and to provide students a range of high level athletic opportunties. Not just football and basketball, although those get most attention. And guess what? Many students enjoy having D-I teams to root for. Not everyone's a hipster too-cool for that.

And again, on-campus apartments that UB built are very popular. The knee jerk anti-Amherst attitude among too much of the BR comment crowd might lead people unfamiliar to infer that UB somehow forces students to live on or near the North Campus. Far from it. Demand exceeds supply.

Now today sbrof blames Greiner for the Pfeifer Theater having been replaced by the Center for the Arts ?. Ha. Really something to blame anybody for, huh? Click that link to see about various kinds of performance training facilities provided by the CFA as urbanesque mentioned.

The claim in sbrof's earlier earlier comment that President Simpson plans to start "a new third downtown campus" depends on one's definition of "campus". The C in BNMC is for campus, so yes ok count it as the third campus if you'd like. And the plan all along has been for BNMC to grow - as Greiner himself said in its early years - so buildings will be added. But nothing's been said or hinted by Simpson about any 3rd campus being anything near the size of the current two UB campuses, so people shouldn't get exaggerated expectations. BNMC will hopefully become a successful growing research campus, with UB naturally continuing to have a leading role.