The Connecting Terminal Grain Elevator (CTGE) along the Buffalo River has gotten a haircut. Property owner New York Power Authority has been stabilizing the structure including asbestos remediation and roof work. As can be seen from the striking aerial image taken by ace photographer James Cavanaugh (Facebook, web), the roof over the western portion of the complex has been removed exposing the silos.
The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is working to add lighting to the elevator. Some background on the elevator complex courtesy of an ECHDC request for proposals:
The CTGE is located at 32 Fuhrman Boulevard. The CTGE is made up of two structures, the original 1915 terminal grain elevator and the 1954 terminal grain elevator, added to increase capacity. The 1915 grain elevator is a concrete structure built to replace a wooden grain silo at the same location that burned down in 1914. The 1915 concrete silos are 223 feet long x 66 feet wide in total. The main concrete silos are comprised of a plan grid of equally spaced silos that are 3 silos by 10 silos. These silos have a 21‐foot diameter and the walls are 8‐inches thick. There are also 18 interstitial silos and 22 outer perimeter silos. The silos measure 93 feet high.
The 1954 grain elevator is a concrete grain silo built adjacent to the 1915 grain elevator in order to add capacity. The structure was built in line and to the south of the original structure and is comprised of 2 rows of 5 concrete silos. As opposed to the plan layout of the 1915 structure, the 1954 structure does not have any interstitial space or any added exterior silos. These silos have a 32‐foot diameter with 8‐inch thick walls.
A bridge crossing to the outer harbor may impact the CTGE if a foot of Main Street connection is selected. From ECHDC:
ECHDC is in the process of studying and designing the Buffalo Harbor Bridge. The purpose of the project is to directly and efficiently connect Buffalo’s downtown to the Outer Harbor area with a multi‐modal (pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorized traffic) route over the Buffalo River. The present routes between Buffalo’s downtown and the Outer Harbor do not provide for adequate multi‐modal access. Recent and proposed development along the Inner Harbor area as well as the improvements along the Outer Harbor where multiuse paths and trails have been constructed, have increased the demand for direct and efficient connection between the Inner and Outer Harbor areas. One of the Preferred Alternatives for the Buffalo Harbor Bridge is at the foot of Main Street, which calls for two design alternatives that will connect to Kelly Island, and then either cut directly through the CTGE and remove 1 or 2 silos, or the bridge would go around the CTGE.
Entry image and above courtesy of James Cananaugh