Buffalo Rising Online

This is really great news. Any investment in the Central Teminal is a good thing. I can't wait to see the progress when I attend that model-train show in a few weeks.

Thanks Dak, the train show will be great! We have over 100 vendors signed up so far. Stop by and say hello... I'll be at the CTRC merchandise booth.

Great news Mike. I'm incredibly impressed at the great work you and the others at CTRC and Broadway Fillmore Alive are doing. This is sure to shed some positive light on the East Side and dispell some preconceived notions.

Thanks BuffaloRox! This will be a much needed shot in the arm for the neighborhood, as well as going a long way to enhance the appearance of the terminal and the drive up to it!

This is absolutely wonderful but Does this include the Central Terminal parking lots or just the Paderewski approach?

If it includes the parking...thats really great and I think it will increase attendance to Central Terminal events.

An idea....with regard to the Central Terminal Parking Lot....has anyone ever thought of working together with the NFTA to creating a park&ride. The NFTA has recently announced a significant increase in bus traffic between the downtown and airport corridor and it would be really great if the Central Terminal was a stop on this expanded service......it would certainly be a step forward in paving the way for a light rail extension if these things were already in place.

A Park&Ride at the Central Terminal would not just open the door to a light rail extension but it could also help make the case that the rail and bus station planned for downtown should be done at the Central Terminal.

This is an idea that Franczyk, Gladys and the CTRC could approach the NFTA. With major expansions at the airport and nearing 6million passengers a year....and major expansions at the Galleria and ECC...the downtown/airport Corridor and the Central Terminal are becoming increasingly visable and important underused and undeveloped assets.

The perfect one stop shop for a multi use building. - offices in the tower. - shops & show space on main floor. - condos / apartments in long building. - open air market on loading platforms. Every step that is taken now is one less step to has to take in the future - WELL DONE EVERYONE!!! ALLONS!!!

Zombo they need more time and money before they can rent out the tower or put offices and shops on the main floor and the loading platforms have been disconnected from the terminals. Though I agree with everything you said.

The next step should be to work with the NFTA for a Park&Ride facility that could use the parking lot and work together with Gladys to get both local airport corridor buses and inter-urban buses like Greyhound to stop and the Central Terminal until a light rail connection can be extended.

It has always been my hope that the Central Terminal could be reopened with passenger traffic once again and that the tower and retail space could be a Logistics Center. Once it can be occupied year round there is the UB COE for GEM, there are the growing Buffalo Logistics Companies like Roar and Speed, and a host of logistics, trade and customs organizations/companies that could be approached to colocate at the Central Terminal.

This new roadway and parking means they can put more focus on plumbing, wiring, utilities, clearing debree and other stabilization. So its a big step...and in my opinion it would be another big step to work with Gladys and see if there is any joint partnership such as a Park&Ride that they can team with the NFTA.

The Terminal is one of the crown jewels of Buffalo !

It would be nice if the prez found the money to demolish the many dilapidated houses in the Valley. He never sets foot in this nieghborhood, which is where Larkin is located. Take care of the neighborhoods before paving a road to no where.

.What valley is Skunk referring to?

The Larkin Factory and the Martin House Complex are no where near the Central Terminal?

If they are refering to the houses surrounding the Central Terminal, then I think that the zoning for the Central Terminal should be changed to allow a high density office and light industrial park for the logistics industry. The location is perfect for Packaging, Distribution, Warehouses, Transportation, Import/Export, Trade, Customs, Supply Chain Management, etc.

L: no, the repaving is just on the city-owned approach ramp. We own the plaza parking ramp. We are currently researching the costs and structural issues surrounding the resurfacing of the parking plaza.

We have deliberately prohibited parking on the plaza past the main entrance for years, due to concerns about some of the concrete supports on the parking ramp below. While it is still structurally sound, we do not want to risk any further damage. Remember, this building had not seem any regular maintenance in decades. Even the railroad companies that owned it didn't have the money to maintain it properly.

I know you don't like to hear this, but we are just not ready for park & rides or light rail stops just yet. One step at a time.

And to Skunk: there are so many houses in the neighborhood that are on the demo list that the city just can't afford to tear them all down during one calendar year.

Dave Franczyk IS visible in the neighborhood. He's frequently at the market, the terminal, Mickey's, whereever something positive is going on. He's also recently been interviewed by Luke Moretti of WIVB News about some of the not so positive things that are going on. From what I've seen in the past three years, I wouldn't say that he was hiding at all.

As evidenced in the past: as the Central Terminal goes, so goes the neighborhood. This time, we're hoping to be the beacon of change, instead of a fate of further decay.

The Terminal would also be a great addition to a the Rails to Trails initiative turning old rail beds into off road routes for walking, biking, running. The New York West Shore and Buffalo lines runs down to Exchange and the other way, past the Galleria, the Buffalo Airport and on to Batavia.

Let's include all types of transportation as the Terminal is reborn.

MAC, in theory, it would make a good bike/walking route, however the path would have to cross an active CSX freight line that runs directly behind the building. We'd like to keep the railbed open for future use in possible light rail epxansion to the airport.

The Valley is where the Larkin building is located. For those aware of how Buffalonians identify neighborhoods by parish, St. Stephen's church, which houses the national shrine to St. Jude is located on Elk St. It is called that because the only way to get there was via a bridge. South Park, Elk St., Seneca, etc.. The VCA runs a very successful daycare center at the Larkin Building. Dave is NEVER in the Valley. It is unfortunate this area was taken away from Rich Fontana due to redistricting.

Skunk what Larkin Building? Do you mean the Larkin@Exchange? What does that have to do with the Central Terminal.

Mike I was hoping that the parking lots were included in with the Paderewski drive paving. A Park&Ride facility at the Central Terminal would have been a huge step forward but perhaps its worth opening a discussion between Franczyk and the NFTA with that as a future goal. Franczyk might be able to come up with some more city funds to pave it (which would prevent any future degradation) and maybe a lease could be arranged with the NFTA for a Park&Ride.

Mike I know you said your not ready for a Park&Ride but it wouldnt hurt to open a dialogue and have it as a future goal for 07 or 08 or 09.

As an EMT who frequently posts at the Terminal, and a devout fan of the Central Terminal since I was a kid, I was glad to see this paving project was undertaken on the approach. It is nice to see something of substance occurring in this desolate neighborhood. Perhaps now, maybe you could land someone like the new owner of the Statler and interest him into the Central Terminal. I would like to see the CRTC push the City of Buffalo with regards to the Railway Express Agency and demolish of that property. If the old REA building was torn down the property would not look as bad. Now don't get me wrong, I love the old Service Docks at the REA but that building needs to go. Also, the CRTC should look into either getting title to the rear portion of the Baggage Building on Curtiss Street or having that as well torn down. Lastly, the CRTC should look into what could be done to illuminate the building along the lines of the BPC Towers. I think that would be awesome to see. The Central Terminal and City Hall, our Art Deco gems, originally designed for there tower lights to be seen up to 15 miles away. Let's see what we can do.

Well, Jason I couldnt disagree more. Id like all the buildings to be kept and redeveloped.

CSX still has the right of way and trains still pass thru the facility which is why the WNYRHS cannot use the terminals for their museum....and why the terminals arent connected to the concourse so there is always the potential that those buildings could be re-used by a freigh facility.

Jason in case you didnt know the Seneca Rail Yards are being rebuilt because Buffalo is now the auxilliary location for the Port of NY/NJ. They only handle security issues now....all their goods heading west will be sent to Buffalo for customs and logistics. That increase in rail traffic bodes well for the Central Terminal if they market it as a logistics center.

The Tower, Baggage Building, the REA could all easily find re-use and considering the number of demolitions and empty land surrounding the Central Terminal...the whole area could easily be redeveloped as a high density logistics park with warehouse, assembly, distribution customs companies, etc.

Dont be so quick to demolish...its easier to find re-use than it is to convince a company to build new and deal with CSX right of ways and permits and such.

Jason, the city also owns the two story building that's attached to the baggage building. We've seen some development interest in that building and we're trying to obtain it from the city. It's redevelopment may happen within the next couple years. That may just be the spark to either renovate or demolish the REA building. As far as I know, that was never included in the adaptive reuse study and I'm not sure if it's structurally sound.

As far as lighting goes, being posted at the terminal, I'm sure you know that the top of the tower and exterior clocks are lit up at night. To illuminate the building entirely would be cost prohibitive for us. The money would be better spent on more urgent projects elsewhere.

Mike...are you saying that your willing to demolish the Baggage Building?

I would certainly hope that you would be trying to save these buildings and redevelop them...and even encourage a high density urban office park to be developed around the Central Terminal.

$100 billion in goods travelling between the US&Canada thru Buffalo and another $100 billion in goods travelling between Chicago and NYC thru Buffalo......to the point where the Seneca Rail Yards are being rebuilt for the Port of NY/NJ.

Mike are you telling Jason and us that there are no logistics related companies in Buffalo that would find value in colocating around the Central Terminal

logistics related: -warehouses, supply chain management, inventory control -packaging -distribution -transportation (rail, bus, truck, highway) all have access to the central terminal -customs and security -international trade

The CTRC has made great strides in saving the Concourse but your comments hint that you do not have the same concerns for the Tower, the Baggage Terminal, the Boarding Terminals and the REA building. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE!

L/Louis/Jerry/whomever you are commenting as today:

"your comments hint that you do not have the same concerns for the Tower, the Baggage Terminal, the Boarding Terminals and the REA building."

Where did you get that idea?? If you re-read my comment, I clearly state that we do not own the attached two story or the detached REA Building. The two story is most probably structurally sound. Neither have been evaluated as far as I know. We do not own the train concourse either, Amtrak does. And, it's not in great shape either. Their fates are not in our hands any longer. We have enough to deal with as it is.

But for you to insinuate that I am "hinting" that I don't have the same concerns for the tower and the baggage building just convinces me that you've never been on the property and seen the tower's sealed windows, working clock and fixed roofs. And, just whre do you think the concourse IS that it couldn't be affected by the tower and the baggage building? It IS part of both sections and right smack in the middle.

We can't afford to be fixated on one use. We are not lobbyists, are not allowed to be and can't get distracted from the huge job we have at hand. As I've told you numerous times before, we don't have a paid staff of 100 people who can chase down every idea that comes along, no matter how likely or unlikely. We have to concentrate on maintaining a 500,000 sq. ft. monster. We'd gladly accept your sweat equity and your ideas, if you'd like to volunteer to follow up on them.

Sorry, if this seems a bit terse, but I work hard for the terminal and don't like misconceptions about the project. Come down, I'll take you on a tour and then you can see what lies ahead for yourself. A little reality goes a long way...

Sorry folks, I get a little frustrated sometimes...

On a lighter note, the Paderewski approach (read: NOT the parking plaza) now has a shiny new coat of pavement!!

Fantastic Mike! I remember being in the building back in 1990 and the baggage claim ceiling still being relatively intact - sad that is all gone. But no sense in crying over spilt milk (or fallen ceilings) - you guys are doing a fantastic job - keep up the good work and when you ever start offering spaces for offices, please keep Red Scream Films LLC in mind.

Thanks David! Will do...

It's done! Check out the photos here:

http://www.broadwayfillmorealive.org/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1157118546&archive=&start_from=&ucat=6&