In response to a recent Donn Esmonde Buffalo News piece, which commented on the latest Canal Side plan I emailed to him the following:
DE says: ” [the plan will be successful]…if the historic site looks like an 1850s canal village instead of Ye Olde Canal Mall ” (end)
My comment: “Is there a difference? History is created it is not recreated. Look for this history themed shopping park to be quite silly when complete. Maybe it will be good enough to make a few Niagara Falls visitors think that the Gap store was actually there back in 1885. Perhaps they can sell Gap fashions based on the historic theme. Of course now we have to focus on the problem of the modern Buffalo News building. It will need to be clad in a new history themed facade. Why not take the theme right inside and decorate all the computers to look like old time typewriters too. And what of those WWII ships at the Navel Park. Maybe they should be rigged up with some sailing masts so that we can pretend they are from 1865. They certainly are disrespectful of the canal theme park.”
“The one thing we should remember is that every bit of history in this part of town was stripped away and the city continues the stripping away right up Main Street. Too bad we don’t have as much passion for the real history in Buffalo as we have for the re-created history.” (end)
My comment was in response to the basic design dictates of the Canal Side plan, which reportedly requires all development in the area to have a historic architectural theme. First let me back up and say that I think the latest plan is by far the best put forth in the Canal Side Bass Pro saga. The addition of more canals will add immeasurable attraction to the site as an urban destination. The best-laid plans however, can fail on the detail level. If poorly executed any plan will quickly devolve to banality. This plan looks like it has a high probability to be something special except for the arbitrary requirement that it be constructed to imitate a historic environment. Without a shovel in the ground this plan has been limited in its ability to result in an exciting and unique urban environment. It will be restricted to pretending history has happened within the walls of new buildings. The best we can hope for is that these “historic-y” buildings are rendered with quality of detail and pay attention to what makes actual historic urban environments so good (contrary to popular belief historic cladding does not guaranty high quality design). What we must hope does not happen is that this place is filled with the cheap idea of history and architecture that is much more common today. You have likely seen what I am talking about at any number of outlet shopping centers.
I would not be so upset about the “historic-y”-ness of Canal Side if we were not continuing to allow real historic buildings to rot and be demolished. For some reason we love a new “historic” building however poorly executed while looking with derision on the irreplaceable building with actual history and the highest quality of craft. St Vincent’s Orphanage sits rotting now absent its beautiful eaves, a historic and intact urban street wall is threatened on Main Street near Allen because one of its buildings has been neglected for decades, the Grey Stone continues to languish and dozens of beautiful Catholic churches are endangered as the diocese begins a massive de-accession of its architectural heritage. This is just the tip of the iceberg as Buffalo continues to shun its very real historic gift. With this in mind it is worth repeating the last paragraph of my email to Mr. Esmonde:
“The one thing we should remember is that every bit of history in this part of town was stripped away and the city continues the stripping away right up Main Street. Too bad we don’t have as much passion for the real history in Buffalo as we have for the re-created history.” Check it out. The building highlighted here (no longer in existence) will soon be replaced by a new “historic” look building. History… BAD, “historic-y”… GOOD?
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