Buffalo Coming Back?

[Kerry]

Saw this article today.  Buffalo is usually mentioned in the context of "Well, at least we aren't Buffalo", but maybe that is no longer a good thing.

https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2020/03/10/how-brutalist-building-reviving-mid-sized-city?fbclid=IwAR1A99JCfsRZc9DzrpZFokJoAtyJuC59P6CrKa8_4pSe58G0v0yasiQ7KvM

[Peter Griffin]

Cool story, cool project, but this isn't even built yet

[Kerry]

Cool story, cool project, but this isn't even built yet

Tenants started moving in last month.

https://www.wkbw.com/news/wny-development/seneca-one-developer-in-talks-with-several-companies-as-building-prepares-for-first-tenants

[thelakelander]

Cool story. I assume this tower was completely empty? Sounds like a larger version of what's going on with the Old Independent Life Building.

[I-10east]

That Buffalo skyscraper is not too bad (aesthetically) for a brutalist high rise. Brutalist architecture (IMO) is the worst that I can think of. Jax's A&T Building is definitely not easy on the eyes, even though that giant radar tower on top make it look pretty cool.

[Kerry]

That Buffalo skyscraper is not too bad (aesthetically) for a brutalist high rise. Brutalist architecture (IMO) is the worst that I can think of.

I can certainly agree with you on that.  One of the worst things about brutalism is that they usually located them in the center of large windswept concrete plazas that make retrofitting into something pedestrian friendly almost impossible.

[Adam White]

I'm not entirely convinced that building is brutalist. Not that it makes any difference, of course.

[acme54321]

I'm not entirely convinced that building is brutalist. Not that it makes any difference, of course.

I was thinking the same but close enough.

[Adam White]

I'm not entirely convinced that building is brutalist. Not that it makes any difference, of course.

I was thinking the same but close enough.

Looks like international style to me. I'm not architect, though. It does appear made of concrete, but the style isn't really brutalist.

[bl8jaxnative]

What's interesting about Buffalo is that it's it has some similarities to Jacksonville in terms of income, race, college education, etc.

As for the project, it'll be interesting to see what comes of it.  It's common for developers to have big plans that never get rolling.  And the buyer's property company has quite a few properties that they've owned for decades and done nothing with.  Don't be surprised if this doesn't pan out and in a decade it's still sitting empty.

[Adam White]

What's interesting about Buffalo is that it's it has some similarities to Jacksonville in terms of income, race, college education, etc.

As for the project, it'll be interesting to see what comes of it.  It's common for developers to have big plans that never get rolling.  And the buyer's property company has quite a few properties that they've owned for decades and done nothing with.  Don't be surprised if this doesn't pan out and in a decade it's still sitting empty.

My dad is from Buffalo. I haven't been there since the 80s, but I remember it being a really, really depressing (and depressed) city. Terrible place. I still have some cousins there and they've mentioned it's "rising" (the city's new strapline is "Buffalo Rising"). Seems to be having a bit of a rebirth, even if it's happening incrementally.

[thelakelander]

The majority of my family that moved north during the Great Migration, moved to Buffalo and Rochester. I haven't been there in 10 years, but it was more vibrant downtown in 2009 than downtown Jax is right now. Like most rust belt cities, it did have some neighborhoods that had seen better days.