Buffalo Rising Online

WCP, glad that a bit of insomnia let me get an early peek at this very cool article. It's a bit poignant, though, as it brings to mind the lost potential of the H.O. Oats complex in Buffalo's own waterfront district. Those buildings could have been redeveloped as a stand-alone project, as in this Portland case, or incorporated into a casino project which respected and reused - rather than steamrollered - blocks of historically unique urban fabric.

Preservation is often equated with obstructionism, but what this Portland example shows clearly - along with countless examples here at home - is that preservationists seek a better way, and alternative to the "Oh, those old buildings? They're in the way. Knock 'em down!" mindset which has clearcut through too much of our unique older infrastructure. Perhaps because - like many west coast cities - Portland is largely a 20th-Century town, and buildings this old are a relative rarity, the prospect of their loss resonated more strongly. But whatever the driving force behind it, this exciting, cutting-edge effort on their part to reuse this complex is a great lesson to learn from - and emulate.

Why do we keep going back to this grain elevator rehab project? The HO complex stood abandoned for years. If someone wanted to preserve and covert it, I think it would have happened.

Same with the other grain elevetors. Although they are an important part of our history, right now they add no value whatsoever to revitalizing downtown.

There are no interested parties that want to rehab any of them. In my opinion, they add to the decay and pollution already on the waterfront and inhibit growth....... most sites/grain elevators should be demolished and cleaned up.

It's time to move on Buffalo. Clinging to our past only inhibits our progress. Its time to reinvent.

only when our downtown is developing and at capacity should these grain elevators come down. Why spend money taking down a piece of history to have a site no one is going to be interested in? These buildings are not the black eye people make them out to be. I say once downtown is 50% empty then lets think about the real need for the room to develop but for now they are fine being mothballed.

Part of their disuse here in a local perception that nothing can be done with them, they have no potential. What this and other articles are trying to get out are the options available for these sites. They could become richly unique places to live work and play if we wanted them to be. The problem is a collective fear of the past, that anything old and vacant should immediately be demolished, even without a plan.

I may not have liked the demolition of HO Oats but the site is being developed and a project that many think is positive for downtown. I am OK with that but taking buildings down, especially ones are HUGE public expense is a waste of money and less of what makes Buffalo unique.

Concrete Central is one of the largest masonry structures ever built, many other elevators and their features were invented here and then propagated around the globe. They were inspirations for architects like Le Corbu, Meis etc who loved their form - function connections helping to inspire modernism as a movement. These aren't just telescoping houses on the East Side but have connections that reach well beyond our own backyard.

If anyone wants to learn more I would recommend paging through Concrete Atlantis

Grain elevator reuse has been discussed in the Buffalo area for decades, yet there's been absolutely no action. In the 1970s, there was plenty of buzz in Buffalo about a grain elevator in Akron, Ohio that was converted to a hotel. "Why not Buffalo?" many asked? Today ... the Buffalo River is still lined with ten of abandoned elevators.

Most of Buffalo's grain elevators are in solidly industrial areas, many difficult to access. Their rugged surroundings aren't exactly the ideal environment for upscale hotels or apartment buildings. Sure, in the world of an armchair planner who regularly partakes of the loganberry-flavored Buffalo boosterist Kool-Aid, poor access and a location surrounded by heavy industry is no problem, but in the real world ... nope. Sorry.

Instead of focusing on individual elevators, there needs to be a plan that focuses on the Buffalo River and its banks. Current plans and zoning promote industrial development in the area. If you want to see non-industrial adaptive reuse of grain elevators, you need a plan, underlying zoning, and decision-making that supports the gradual elimination of industrial uses along the Buffalo River. In today's Buffalo, where any type of development, anywhere, is perceived as everything from "better than nothing" to "the salvation of the region", that's probably not going to happen.

Great for Portland. It won't get done here. I agree with jibbajabbah that it will take decades to get anything done with our "wonderfully historict" (errr. unattractive, obsolete, decrepit, piece of shit, concrete cylinders) grain elevators. Gaustad is right. Let them go! Nothing is giong to be done to reused them. Knock them down and use thel and for better things. New things.

While 'standard' reuse may not be in the cards, it's not hard to envision someone coming up with an energy producing way to use a large cylinder, located a few meters from a large lake. Trapping wind off the lake?, melting ice/freezing water?, difference in air temperature vs. lake temperature? With our luck, we'll tear them down, and the following week someone we'll say, " I could generate all the power you need, if only you had a big concrete cylinder to store 'x'". Some one needs to come up with that 'x'.

Buffalos key is to put as many of the turn of the century canals and slips back as possible. Temporary uses could just be for small boats...

but I tend to agree that at the very least the ADM/Great Northern is the waterfront prize for redevelopment and rehabilitation. I think that cutting out the interior silos, replacing them with support beams of some sort would make a great waterfront armory which could be used as a maritime museum or be big enough to display sail boats full mast during 4 seasons.

As far as the other grain silos....wheat for ethanol, soy for biodiesel or huge vats for algae which can then be harvested for biodiesel....there are uses and I dont think we need to have a discussion about getting rid of them until we have enough concentrated redevelopment to replace them.

Dan you are absolutely right but demolishing them to have yet more industrial wasteland with still poor connections and infrastructure isn't going to solve anything. We as a city, as you stated, need to fully re-work the zoning regulations around the Buffalo river to bring that land into a non-industrial use. It would be nice to think that maybe there will be a hustle and bustle on those shores again but it isn't going to happen via industry. Waiting and not changing anything for another 30 years would be insane. I don't blame the silo's, I blame the lack of connection and infrastructure that continues the lack of interest in all of our Riverfront properties.

The citys zoning laws have not been updated since 1950? WTF!?! I mean how much has this citys needs changed since 1950? Wheres the story about that little known fact about this backward city?

Here's another great reuse: "A stay in the Crowne Plaza at Quaker Square is truly a treat. This unique, full-service hotel is housed in the 19th century mill that was once home to the Quaker Oats Company. One of the most amazing features of this establishment is that the guest rooms are housed in a group of 36 round grain silos (which are included on the National Register of Historic Places). "

http://www.quakersquare.com/

Likewise, here's another small but nicely done (I've toured it) elevator/mill reuse project in a suburban village on the Erie Canal a few miles from My Fair City:

http://www.townofpittsford.com/home-history-articles-07_13_2005

As much as I love to motor a small boat around the old elevators on the Buffalo River and dream of what the hay-days must have been like, I must admit that most of the old elevators are not too suited for development. Even the historic Great Northern abuts the in-use ADM complex and wouldn't be too visitor friendly. The exception, however, could be the elevators that are on the outer harbor property across the shipping channel from General Mills. If access could be improved to the outer harbor those elevators could be rehabed if there were other attractions on the outer harbor land and on the city side.

The grain elevators should be considered part of the landscape and less like real estate. Obviously it would be difficult to turn these into lofts. And so, maybe we shouldn't worry about turning them into lofts. Maybe a more interesting and less common solution is required.

What about just lighting them up at night and letting nature takes its course with these magnificent hulking monuments. Make a huge swath of it and create an urban park with these manmade mountains as apart of the new environment.

Wizardofza hit the nail on the head.....

Montreal has a great waterfront and has included much of it's industrial landscape in it's public space including giant grain elevators. It defines as much of the character of montreal's waterfront neighborhoods as the old city and contributes to Montreal's appeal. There should be no rush in buffalo to dismantle them as they A. could become intregal elements of the landscape even if they are not economicaly productive B. could eventually become housing or hotel/ office whatever C. Could serve future industrail purpose which we may not even be aware of now, but they may function with great utility in the future. Who knows. As long as they are sturdy, to knock them down now would be incredibly short sighted.

Take a look at the price of scrap metal lately.... I can't believe they're still standing!

I have a set of friends who live out there.. and those progressive minded members of the populace are said to be soo progressive that they kill anything that doesn't look like it belongs on the side of a mountain.... its rather drab.

Secondly, I'd like to see how much of this project is financed "privately"... find me a business man or group of who drop $58 million for something that looks like that... I'm thinkin the states involved much more than we know and this is a sweetheart deal for a group of well connected developers... new york style