Elements of Urbanism: Buffalo
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-6442-p1130087.JPG)
A look at New York's second largest city and a statistical comparison with the NFL's second smallest market.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/888
Lake, the text is cut off of the right side.
Great article though!
I was listening on AM 1010 sports radio the other day, and this lady who was a Bills fan called, and Rick Ballou said "You made the right move living here in beautiful Jacksonville instead of Buffalo"; She agreed. :)
Seriously, whaen I think of BUF, I think of the Niagra Falls, those famous wings, and die-hard sports fans; BUF is a place I'll like to check out, but never would live.
Quote from: I-10east on September 12, 2008, 12:09:35 PM
I was listening on AM 1010 sports radio the other day, and this lady who was a Bills fan called, and Rick Ballou said "You made the right move living here in beautiful Jacksonville instead of Buffalo"; She agreed. :)
Seriously, whaen I think of BUF, I think of the Niagra Falls, those famous wings, and die-hard sports fans; BUF is a place I'll like to check out, but never would live.
The falls are not really buffalo, everyone I've met from there absolutely loves it there, but for the most part like buffalo is like jax, the urban center is an old decaying urban wasteland and the 'burbs are where it's happening
Buffalo looks like a dump to me, i dont like north east decay
Buffalo, like the rest of Upstate New York, has serious economic problems that it has to overcome. However, like all cities, there some decent areas that remain in the urban core. Elmwood was quite impressive. Hopefully, the can center their revitalization efforts around their strong points and build up from that. Although our economy is in much better shape, we should do the same to restore energy to some of our burnt out core areas.
Great photos. Thanks for posting them. I havent been there since I was a kid. Niagara Falls are not far from there so I think it is fair to say that is a part of Buffalo. This water power is also the reason why the city initially prospered - cheap electrical generation in the early days of electricity.
BTW, this is a great shot and one of the best municipal buildings in America IMO:
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-6431-p1130121.JPG)
That building makes me want a hot dog real bad.
(http://www.stuffmagazine.com/articles/images/Original/Vacation/audrey_europe.jpg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFXjLFlGm0k
I would kill for a courthouse that looked like that. :D
^ Who would you kill? ;)
I really love that building too. You said its municipal, is it a courthouse?
It is the City Hall only, from what I can find on the net. Here are some more photos of this great building:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/BuffaloCityHallfrom_streeetlevel.jpg/800px-BuffaloCityHallfrom_streeetlevel.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/02/Buffalo_City_Hall_looking_on_Niagara_Square.jpg/447px-Buffalo_City_Hall_looking_on_Niagara_Square.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/Buffalo_City_Hall.jpg/398px-Buffalo_City_Hall.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/Buffalocityhall-reliefs.jpg/800px-Buffalocityhall-reliefs.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a2/Buffalocityhall-reliefsdetail.jpg/800px-Buffalocityhall-reliefsdetail.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f4/Buffalo_City_Hall_steps.jpg/800px-Buffalo_City_Hall_steps.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a9/Buffalocityhall-dodgemural.jpg/800px-Buffalocityhall-dodgemural.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/35/Buffalocityhall-dodgemural2.jpg/800px-Buffalocityhall-dodgemural2.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/DSCN4468_buffaloclevelandstatue_e.jpg/321px-DSCN4468_buffaloclevelandstatue_e.jpg)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/DSCN4470_buffalofillmorestatue_e.jpg/412px-DSCN4470_buffalofillmorestatue_e.jpg)
Its city hall. Klutho proposed a similar structure for Jacksonville's city hall that was never built. We posted the old rendering a long time ago, but I can't find it right now. Whenever I come across it, I'll add it to this thread.
Here is a picture of it with some other Klutho proposals that never were adopted. I know you had a better version of this though showing just the City Hall proposal:
(http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/general/n032566.jpg)
Have some friends that live in Buffalo, unfortunately the city itself is dying a slow death over the decades. burbs are still doing somewhat well.
Thanks for the info guys.
Looks like an awefully large building for a city the size of Buffalo. Jax could go for that much square footage to consolidate everything though.
Buffalo had 573,076 residents when the building was under construction in 1930. The city peaked with 580,132 residents. Today, Buffalo is down to 272,632 and continuing to lose residents. So that city hall was definately built for a larger progressive community.
Buffalo City Hall history: http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/home/leadership/mayor/cityhallhistory#prelude
Quote from: thelakelander on September 12, 2008, 06:04:41 PM
Buffalo had 573,076 residents when the building was under construction in 1930. The city peaked with 580,132 residents. Today, Buffalo is down to 272,632 and continuing to lose residents. So that city hall was definately built for a larger progressive community.
Buffalo City Hall history: http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/home/leadership/mayor/cityhallhistory#prelude
I love that "built for a larger progressive community." To quote quark yet again what exactly does that mean. It was built for a larger city whether it was particularly progressive I don't know.
Though I will say it is a spectacular building, and I wish we had it in jax. I always look at the old Jax city hall and just shake my head what a beautiful building
QuoteDefinition of Progress
headway; forward movement; development; advancement
http://www.english-test.net/toeic/vocabulary/words/065/toeic-definitions.php#progress
During the era the Buffalo City Hall was constructed, the city had grown a healthy 13.1%, adding 66,301 residents over a ten year period. It also was a large port city, due to its location at the mouth of the Erie Canal. It was the largest grain-milling center in America, had one of the largest steel mills in the country, was a major railroad hub, ethnically diverse, and the 13th largest American city, in terms of population. What if it wasn't progressive during that era, then what was it?
Quote from: thelakelander on September 12, 2008, 06:25:13 PM
QuoteDefinition of Progress
headway; forward movement; development; advancement
http://www.english-test.net/toeic/vocabulary/words/065/toeic-definitions.php#progress
During the era the Buffalo City Hall was constructed, the city had grown a healthy 13.1%, adding 66,301 residents over a ten year period. It also was a large port city, due to its location at the mouth of the Erie Canal. It was the largest grain-milling center in America, had one of the largest steel mills in the country, was a major railroad hub, ethnically diverse, and the 13th largest American city, in terms of population. What if it wasn't progressive during that era, then what was it?
A typical aggressive capitalistic town, with people trying to make as much money as possible. I'm sorry if I misinterperted your comments, I thought when you used the term progressive, I thought you meant it in the modern terms.
Sorry, but I did not mean progressive in terms of how we define the term from a political viewpoint.
Quote from: thelakelander on September 12, 2008, 06:39:54 PM
Sorry, but I did not mean progressive in terms of how we define the term from a political viewpoint.
Again my apologies
Buffalo looks like a city that is very similar to Jax with the river splitting it up. My guess is that it is also spread out. How well used is their train system, seems like if one works in Buffalo, it would work in Jax.
Buffalo sits on Lake Erie. There is a river just south of downtown, but most of the city lies to the north of it. Buffalo has a single 6.4-mile light rail line (opened in 1985) that runs from downtown to University at Buffalo.
(http://www.hatch.ca/Infrastructure/images/buffaloMetro.jpg)
(http://www.nfta.com/metro/graphics/route_maps/rail.gif)
In downtown, 1.2 miles of the line run on an at-grade pedestrian mall. There is no charge to ride the downtown section (7 stations). The rest (5.2 miles) acts as a subway, running under Main Street. A one-way ticket costs $1.50 for the subway section. The entire line has 15 stations and carries 23,200 riders a day. By comparison, our skyway is 2.5 miles, carrying less than 3,000 riders a day.
(http://www.citizenstransit.org/cobblestone/cobblestoneloopminimap.gif)
There's also a proposal to expand the line to the south to connect with a casino under construction and to create land for transit oriented development.
Who wouldnt trade our Skyway for their light rail line? :(
This one is rare compatriot River, a one-of-a-kind system in Buffalo, trade? I WOULDN'T!
While the Skyway is flawed in many ways, BUFFALO shot itself in the foot by digging an un-needed SUBWAY for streetcars. Far worse then JACKSONVILLE they have the distinct record of spending the most money per mile in the history of Light Rail! So guess where the locals got the numbers to stack LRT up to BRT? Oh yeah, Buffalo... Gee, see how much better BRT is? Don't you feel better already? They did EVERYTHING backwards, worse then JTA's worst nightmares... Like a one lane Buckman Bridge to hell. Building Subway in the Burbs and surface LRT downtown where street congestion is worse, is bass-ackward.
We really need streetcar, and a economy model to finish the Skyway. In the end I think our Skyway will become our own SUBWAY. A trunk line unhindered by traffic. The streetcar, LRT, BRT, Bus, Waterway, and Commuter Rail will feed the Skyway.
Buffalo's transit motto could be "Where a Streetcar cost more then heavy rail!" Only in Buffalo.
OCKLAWAHA
whats the dynamic like with Rochester? A similar-sized city with a stronger economy just an hour away...is there much cross-traffic between the cities?
QuoteThanks for the info guys.
Looks like an awefully large building for a city the size of Buffalo. Jax could go for that much square footage to consolidate everything though.
But Jason, we'd screw it up. First to make sure it was not steel, we'd have gate cpncrete construction throughout. Then it would only be 2 floors high and 15 square blocks in size. Not to mention the trailers we'd push into the parking lot when oversight discovered we left out 3 departments when they tore down the St. James building... Just us, being us I guess.
I'm still trying to figure out a way to steel frame a cage that would hold double wide portables, stacked one over the other, perhaps 40 floors high. Now THAT would be a classic Jacksonville building!OCKLAWAHA
BUFFALO CENTRAL TERMINAL - ...and we thought the Prime Osbourne was a lost cause!
(http://homepage.eircom.net/~ator/spencertunickbuffalo/CT_existing_w.jpg)
(http://www.buffalonet.org/Before-After/CentralTermnal1951-1995.jpg)
(http://broadwayfillmorealive.org/2.0/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/bct.jpg)
(http://www.kaz-photos.com/blog/uploaded_images/P3244516-737350.jpg)
If you're blue and you don't know where to go to
why don't you go where fashion sits,
Puttin' on the ritz.
Different types who wear a day coat, pants with stripes
and cutaway coat, perfect fits,
Puttin' on the ritz.
Dressed up like a million dollar trouper
Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper)
Come let's mix where Rockefellers walk with sticks
or "umberellas" in their mitts,
Puttin' on the ritz.
Have you seen the well-to-do up and down Park Avenue
On that famous thoroughfare with their noses in the air
High hats and Arrow collars white spats and lots of dollars
Spending every dime for a wonderful time
Commodore Vanderbilt of the once mighty New York Central Railroad might have built this Buffalo terminal with pocket change. No expense was spared and on his famous "Water Level Route" up the hudson - across the Erie Canal zone and hence Buffalo and hugging a lake shore for a sprint into Chicago. On seeing the ledgers for the new and better passenger trains he had placed in service between New York City and Chicago, via Buffalo, his face darkened. It is said that he threw down the detailed papers and slammed his fist into the desk as he thundered "THE PUBLIC BE DAMNED!"
Little did anyone know, he had just set the pace for the next 50 years of passenger railroading. Freight railroading would follow close on it's heels and soon the whole house would come crashing down. Amtrak was formed to "rescue" the railroads from the passenger trains. Meanwhile, the industry as a whole was regulated to a near standstill. By the 1970's Vanderbilt himself long gone, the mighty NEW YORK CENTRAL SYSTEM folded into the PENNSY and proceeded to write the book on how to fail, under the new elite robber barrons of the PENN CENTRAL.
Finally two Southern companies, bought what was left of the PC, then operating as CONRAIL, and oddly they divided it between themselves under the banner "New York Central" and "Pennsylvania". Nothing got the owners names until everything had been remarked for the NYC or PENNSY. Once that was done, the CSX of Jacksonville and the Norfolk Southern took over nearly all mainline railroading east of the Mississippi.
For more then 100 years the railroads of the Northeast and North Central USA were nicknamed "The BIG TIME RAILROADS". Railroaders from New York didn't endear themselves to others when they refered to any other operations as "mom and pop railroading". On the day that two "mom and pop" companies from Dixie went North to rescue what was left of The Big Time Boys, I've heard it said, Vanderbilt rolled over in his grave... TWICE!
Today Buffalo Central Terminal sits as a mute testament of an era, and a city, which lost it's way.
OCKLAWAHA
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Buffalo_Central_Terminal_1.jpg/744px-Buffalo_Central_Terminal_1.jpg)
What happened to Buffalo's old station is tragic. Its a great large terminal that unfortunately is isolated from the downtown area. I know the commuter rail consultants had some negative things to say about the Prime Osborn not being in the heart of downtown, but at least its there.
Anyway, here is a link to the site of a group working to restore Buffalo Central Terminal: http://buffalocentralterminal.org/
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on September 13, 2008, 03:01:40 AM
whats the dynamic like with Rochester? A similar-sized city with a stronger economy just an hour away...is there much cross-traffic between the cities?
Although also negatively affected by the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the interstate system, Rochester appears to be in much better shape. During my trip there, there did not seem to be significant cross-traffic between the cities, but Rochester seems to have benefited from a number of corporations that still call the city home. Out of the NY cities, Rochester had the most in common with Jacksonville. A river cutting the city in half, a good corporate presence, a struggling retail presence in the downtown core and some vibrant residential areas adjacent to downtown. The largest difference was the importance of the city's location in today's economy. Jax sits at the junction of I-95 and I-10, with a growing port and serving as the rail hub of the country's 4th largest state. Rochester seemed to be quite isolated. In a few weeks, we'll have a photo tour of Rochester up as well.
The Regional Foods keep Western New Yorkers there.Beef-on-Weck,Sahlens hot dogs,Zwiegles White Hots,Anchor Bar "Original" wings.(If you haven't eaten in WNY you don't know how good and generous portions are) Most have traveled south and wondered where all the local Delicacies are made.They also wonder why Floridians like "Chain" restaurants so much.A common mis-conception caused by over development.I have to remind Northerners that after Daytona beach, the State is refered to as Lorida..the transplant state. ;)
Just finished reading a book called "the forsaken: an american tragedy in Stalins russia" One of the figures in the book is a gentleman name Thomas Sgovio. A very remarkable man that survived 16 years in the soviet Gulag. He was also a very talented artist, he came from buffalo. Heres a link to some of his art.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p4m7N2cIXU
The song is very touching if you research his story
I used to live in Buffalo, and the story brings back fond memories. I have a Buffalo photo page that includes a much broader array of neighborhoods (including suburbs):
http://atlantaphotos.fotopic.net/c534496.html
I also created this (now way out of date) web page:
http://members.tripod.com/~lewyn/afg.html
Generally I liked Buffalo. It is not as compact as Providence or most northern cities, but is definitely LESS spread out than Jacksonville.
Its downtown is very weak; since I haven't lived there since 1999, its hard to compare- but I can say comparing 1999 Buffalo to 2008 Jax, the downtown was definitely weaker residentially, but I think was more of a commercial center than downtown Jax is. Law firms, etc. are more likely to be downtown in Buffalo, and the downtown is more compact than ours- there is nothing like the South Bank or the North part of Riverside that has a lot of commercial stuff but isn't really within walking distance of downtown. Although the expressway in Buffalo is a nuisance, it cuts off Buffalo from its dead riverfront, while our bridge to Riverside is much worse because it cuts off downtown from a thriving commercial area.
Non-downtown areas of Buffalo are significantly less awful than Jax- more likely to be sidewalks, commercial streets, both in "outer city" and in suburbs, a narrower and quieter (not very much narrower in suburbs, mind you- just that they are more likely to be moderately monstrous like Baymeadows than super monstrous like Southside or Phillips). Also, suburbs are a bit less cul-de-saccy than Jax's- not that they are a pure grid, but there are still more intersections and thus more ways to get around than Jax's.
Downside of Buffalo compared to Jax: less growth, more decaying "bad" neighborhoods. Upper class areas within city limits are mostly just a couple of strips three or four blocks wide- one area centered around Elmwood Avenue, another centered around Delaware Park in the north.
But Buffalo is certainly a bit better off than Detroit or Cleveland: at least the upper class areas do exist, and when I lived there about 1/3 of my law firm's lawyers lived within city limits (though almost none downtown). By comparison, when I was at a law firm in Cleveland only 4 or 5 lawyers out of 60 lived within the Cleveland city limits.
The light rail system is not great but is still far less inadequate than Skyway- it least it goes outside downtown!
Buffalo is one of America's most under rated cities. It has a poor reputation around the country if it has one at all. That reputation is not entirely undeserved. 50 years of economic decline and the collapse of American industry have left a lot of problems for the city. In the US we like to start fresh, throw out the old and used up leaving all the problems behind for someone else to clean up. Buffalo has been left behind to clean up the mess.
Even so Buffalo is an amazing city that needs to be cherished. It is an important part of our American heritage that can never be replaced. The streets are packed with incredible architecture and dense and attractive neighborhoods are plentiful. The images at the start of this thread do not do the city justice. If you love cities don't write off Buffalo!
Here are some more pictures Buffalo - Queen City of the Lakes. Sorry that there are so many pictures here. I did not have time to go through and edit. If anyone is interested in seeing more I will post another group.
From the porthole windows at the top of the Guaranty Building
(http://img142.exs.cx/img142/1556/slide44oo.jpg) (http://img142.exs.cx/img142/8479/chguar24cn.jpg)
(http://img142.exs.cx/img142/6470/021800161vq.jpg)
Guaranty from City Hall
(http://img142.exs.cx/img142/5695/guarnty58jg.jpg)
HSBC from City Hall
(http://img53.exs.cx/img53/2807/125254418yl.jpg)
Hospital district from City Hall
(http://img53.exs.cx/img53/7296/125255410we.jpg)
Liberty Building from City Hall
(http://img142.exs.cx/img142/3433/072201170qq.jpg)
Liberty building from ??
(http://img184.exs.cx/img184/7307/16102d7tl.jpg)
Shoreline Apartments from City Hall
(http://img221.exs.cx/img221/9323/shoreline3cv.jpg)
County Court from nearby rooftop
(http://img142.exs.cx/img142/1654/poldcountyhall6kj.jpg)
(http://img142.exs.cx/img142/4348/countyhall2it.jpg)
General View from Holling Place Lofts
(http://img185.exs.cx/img185/9467/urnsm9iq.jpg)
(http://img185.exs.cx/img185/3857/rand1sm2ub.jpg)
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(http://img160.exs.cx/img160/4908/dometowerssm7zb8py.jpg)
(http://img185.exs.cx/img185/3686/electricsm4rf.jpg)
View from Buffalo General Hospital
(http://img22.exs.cx/img22/100/skylinecopy.jpg)
(http://img80.exs.cx/img80/8471/sculpture.jpg)
View from HSBC Center
(http://img97.exs.cx/img97/1470/mainstreet1.jpg)
(http://img184.exs.cx/img184/2286/nitebflo016ye.jpg)
From Skyway
(http://img56.exs.cx/img56/5731/skyway7fa.jpg)
View from hotel room (taken from digital video)
(http://img99.exs.cx/img99/9079/downtown12ki.jpg) (http://img99.exs.cx/img99/3576/dwontown24ie.jpg)
(http://img99.exs.cx/img99/2023/downtown36ki.jpg)
View form Key center
(http://img184.exs.cx/img184/9025/bffestival2zg.jpg)
View from Hospital district
(http://img142.exs.cx/img142/754/downtown25es.jpg)
View toward Hospital district
(http://img142.exs.cx/img142/9305/072201191yk.jpg)
Here are some great aireal shots of Buffalo picked off the new Windows Local Live site. Also go here http://www.buffalorising.com/city/archives/2006/01/fly_over_buffal.php (http://www.buffalorising.com/city/archives/2006/01/fly_over_buffal.php) if you want to see these in a slide show with music Enjoy:
(http://static.flickr.com/38/84264356_b08509e008.jpg?v=0)
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(http://flickr.com/photos/54981105@N00/84264874/)
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Take a walk with me through olde Buffalo Towne
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/buffalo60/houses.jpg)
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(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/buffalo60/IMG_0544.jpg)
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/buffalo60/lindwoodnorth.jpg)
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/buffalo60/clevedel2.jpg)
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/buffalo60/2east2vl.jpg)
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/buffalo60/4westvillage.jpg)
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/buffalo60/westvillage7.jpg)
(http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g315/buffalo60/westvillage6.jpg)
Great shots. Buffalo has to be one of America's most architectural rich urban centers. Thanks for sharing.
Very Nice. I will have to add it to my list of places to visit.
I really liked my walk through olde Buffalo Towne
Fantastic photos, city definitly appears to be an masterpiece in unique design
Thank You for compiling these wonderful shots.
As someone who travels to J'Ville every 6 weeks to visit a Customer, I have had excellent rates on flights from J'Ville thru Baltimore for $65 each way.
Niagara Falls is 16 miles from downtown Buffalo (straight up river).
Come visit us! Might be a nice way to beat the heat in the summertime, and there is a tremendous amount to do in Buffalo in the summertime; many major festivals/events/public concerts all summer long
ECONOMICS 101- BUFFALO
REDUCE TAXES AND LOCAL GOVT WASTE
Lower taxes for business = greater profits
Greater profits = business interests
New companies = new jobs
New jobs = more revenue and spurred growth and developement
more revenue, growth and developement = greater economy
hmmm, is it that hard or are there just a lot of lazy crooks with high taxes??
SPEAK UP BUFFALO
LETS GO BUFFALO!!!!
BRING BUSINESS BACK HOME... ::) ;)
Interesting article in USA Today (12/14/09) re: Buffalo's "re-making" itself and architectural gems.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-12-14-buffalo_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip
Buffalo charges ahead into past
By Rick Hampson, USA TODAY
BUFFALO â€" This onetime "Queen City of the Lakes," now known mostly for the snowy "lake effect," wants to use its fine old buildings to improve its image. Problem is, it has old buildings in two different conditions.
• The Darwin Martin House (1906) is one of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's master works. When a two-decade, $50 million restoration-reconstruction is finished in 2011, it's likely to be among the most-visited Wright tourist sites in the nation.
• The Central Railroad Terminal (1929) is dark, empty and long stripped of its exquisite interior details â€" railings, signs, light fixtures. Its 17-story office tower rises incongruously in a neighborhood of small, shabby houses. Last year, the place was a setting for the TV show Ghost Hunters.
The two landmarks' contrasting prospects illustrate a question facing Buffalo and other cities that want to hitch their reputations to vintage architecture: Can an aging cityscape, often a public relations liability, be an asset?
Buffalo is known mostly for physical deterioration â€" closed factories, empty homes (about 15,000) and vacant lots (also about 15,000). Civic boosters believe, however, that the city can use its treasury of 19th- and early 20th-century buildings to attract tourists, residents and businesses, and to generally polish its chilly, gritty, Rust Belt reputation.
PHOTOS: Queen City's architectural landmarks
HAVE HEART: 'For a big city, it's very small'
It's an alluring idea for other old industrial cities. A few, such as Pittsburgh, are succeeding; most, like Detroit, have far to go. Peter Brink, a vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, says Buffalo has potential to be a model for the latter.
If so, the city might begin to reverse its epic demographic and economic plunge.
The population has fallen from 580,000 in 1950 to about 270,000 today. Part of the reason is the weather â€" each winter, Upstate New York cities "compete" for the Golden Snowball award for the most snowfall â€" but most of the blame goes to an economy based on making things, such as steel and cars, that are now made elsewhere.
Because there's no reason to tear down a building if there's nothing to replace it, Buffalo has benefited from "preservation by neglect." As Harvey Garrett, a neighborhood preservation activist here, sees it, "Buffalo was rich at just the right time" â€" 1870-1914, when great architecture was still relatively inexpensive â€" "and poor at just the right time" â€" after 1950, when many older buildings in cities with better economies were demolished.
A classic style, Americanized
Buffalo's buildings are important because this was one place, more than a century ago, where designers and builders broke with European styles and developed a uniquely American architecture. Today, when it comes to architectural tourism west of the Eastern Seaboard, "our only competition is Chicago," Garrett boasts.
The city made a believer of Brink when he visited in May. "I was blown away," he recalls. "I had the preconceptions everyone jokes about â€" cold winters, economic decline. But Buffalo has an amazing collection of buildings."
Eight are national historic landmarks â€" the government's highest designation for such structures â€" including three that belong on anyone's architectural bucket list:
• The Guaranty Building (1896): designed by Louis Sullivan, a father of the skyscraper. This 13-story office tower is clad in heavily ornamented terra cotta. It was one of the first tall buildings to emphasize its verticality; the piers between the windows create strong lines that draw the eye toward the top. The Guaranty was what its designer said a tall building should be â€" "every inch a proud and soaring thing" â€" and Sullivan's last before he lost his partner and most of his practice.
• The Buffalo State Asylum (designed in 1870 and built over the next 25 years): the largest structure designed by H.H. Richardson, arguably America's first great architect, and the beginning of the Richardsonian Romanesque style he later used for Boston's Trinity Church. Long closed as a mental hospital, the vast Buffalo complex â€" including its mighty, twin-Gothic-towered administration building â€" now sits empty. Preservationists are trying to turn it into a visitors and conference center.
• The Martin House: a turning point in the development of Wright's "Prairie Style" and its largest example. The architect himself called it his "opus" and for decades hung the site plan over his desk. The residential complex, much of which was abandoned, destroyed or marred by new construction, is open to the public while being restored.
Other cities have more than one building by Richardson or Sullivan or Wright, but none has a major work by all three.
Deep bench of architectural gems
Buffalo also has a deep architectural bench, including the 32-story, art deco-style City Hall; the only surviving Tiffany theater interior (at Shea's Performing Arts Center); St. Paul's Church, which Richard Upjohn, architect of Trinity Church on Wall Street, once said was the best of his ecclesiastical designs; a concert hall by Eliel Saarinen and son Eero (designer of the St. Louis Gateway Arch).
A well-preserved group of Victorian neighborhoods is connected by the largest system of parks and parkways designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, planner of New York's Central Park.
Outsiders are taking notice.
This year, the National Trust named Buffalo one of its 12 top tourist destinations, and the city was the site of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's national conference.
It also has been selected to host the National Trust's conference in 2011. The Society of Architectural Historians is coming in 2014.
Local preservationists revel in such votes of confidence. The National Trust conference, for which Buffalo beat Philadelphia and Hartford, Conn., "is like getting the Olympics," says Catherine Schweitzer, who heads the board of Preservation Buffalo Niagara.
It's about more than just local pride. Buffalo News columnist Donn Esmonde calls landmark buildings "tools we can use to prod our economy." After seeing 200 visitors come for the Wright conservancy conference this fall, he wrote: "We have what it takes to stake our claim to a growing industry. … There is gold in glorious architecture."
Tourism is only part of the potential payoff. Doug Swift, a local developer and preservationist, says historic buildings make Buffalo a more enticing place for companies and workers to relocate.
If beautiful buildings grab attention, so do derelict ones.
'One of the ruins of Buffalo'
Central Terminal opened four months before the stock market crash that began the Great Depression, and was almost always too big for the amount of its rail traffic. Passenger service bypassed the terminal in 1979, and over the next two decades the vast structure passed from owner to owner.
Preservationists, who bought the terminal in 1997 for $1 and the assumption of back taxes, have been stabilizing the building and periodically open it for tours and events. Still, it's a glaring symbol of Buffalo's problems, too big, too decrepit and too far from downtown to be easily revived.
Anthony Armstrong, who works for a non-profit agency that promotes urban revitalization, calls the terminal "one of the ruins of Buffalo" that "are holding us back" by competing in the public imagination with images of progress.
So Buffalo tries to keep the focus on its good buildings, especially ones by Wright, the number of which actually has increased in recent years even though their architect died in 1959. A mausoleum and boathouse were built to his designs, and there is a plan to construct yet another unrealized Wright vision â€" for a gas station.
Buffalo's lakefront urban redevelopment effort seems to be taking hold and has been embraced by the public.
Canalside Park leverages Buffalo's history by taking the wharfs from the western terminus of the Erie Canal and turning them into a public driven mixed use.
It has started a redevelopment effort beyond the park now.
https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/visit-canalside/ (https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/visit-canalside/)
Quote from: spuwho on June 06, 2017, 12:59:31 PM
Buffalo's lakefront urban redevelopment effort seems to be taking hold and has been embraced by the public.
Canalside Park leverages Buffalo's history by taking the wharfs from the western terminus of the Erie Canal and turning them into a public driven mixed use.
It has started a redevelopment effort beyond the park now.
https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/visit-canalside/ (https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/visit-canalside/)
My cousin's always going on about "Buffalo Rising" or something. And it appears to have changed a lot since I was last there in the 80s. But it would take an awful lot of work to make it someplace I'd want to live!
Too bad you can only be outside for two months a year.
Quote from: FlaBoy on June 06, 2017, 05:06:56 PM
Too bad you can only be outside for two months a year.
...and when you are, you're in Buffalo.
I wonder what's the most preferred major Midwest city to live (in terms of going through the least amount of decline, good livability, and the least crime). If I had to guess, I'll say maybe Minneapolis/St Paul. Even though it's a Snowopolis, and it's way too liberal for my liking, they're history seems to be steadily going upward in comparison to most of the Midwest.
Quote from: I-10east on June 06, 2017, 08:05:50 PM
I wonder what's the most preferred major Midwest city to live (in terms of going through the least amount of decline, good livability, and the least crime). If I had to guess, I'll say maybe Minneapolis/St Paul. Even though it's a Snowopolis, and it's way too liberal for my liking, they're history seems to be steadily going upward in comparison to most of the Midwest.
I've traveled a good bit of the US including the Midwest and I would easily put Minneapolis/St. Paul at the top of the list of Midwest cities. You will find MSP/Minnesota at the top of MANY, MANY quality of life rankings. The ONLY downside I can discern to living there is the weather.
There is virtually nothing that MSP does that any other city couldn't do. They just don't. The people there DEMAND good government and a great quality of life and that is exactly what they get.
Canalside Concerts:
(http://blogs.artvoice.com/avdaily/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/concert_image-670x388.jpg)
(https://static1.squarespace.com/static/536f8839e4b0393ba6d0d9b4/t/53fea511e4b075777f4ef0d7/1409199244458/canalside+buffalo+concerts.jpg?format=1000w)
Canalside Iceskating:
(https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/780x410_158713737.xbxjQvNf._J103109.jpg)
Canalside History:
(https://stepoutbuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/naval-military-park.jpg)
(https://www.canalsidebuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/DD7C6380_Detail-Image.jpg)
Canalside Festivals:
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gmjWPUqLphM/maxresdefault.jpg)
Quote from: Adam White on June 06, 2017, 04:18:09 PM
My cousin's always going on about "Buffalo Rising" or something. And it appears to have changed a lot since I was last there in the 80s. But it would take an awful lot of work to make it someplace I'd want to live!
I think I posted the buffalo rising video somewhere on MJ a few years ago. Posted it along with some other promo videos for the city, as an example of some phenomenal marketing via the Buffalo Chamber, Tourism board, etc. Meanwhile we had that really embarrassing dancing video with city employees.
Also Katie Couric did a few segments for Yahoo on their waterfront redevelopment and startup community. Definitely "rising."
I'm taking a brief trip up next month. Looking forward to exploring.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on June 07, 2017, 01:02:17 AM
Quote from: Adam White on June 06, 2017, 04:18:09 PM
My cousin's always going on about "Buffalo Rising" or something. And it appears to have changed a lot since I was last there in the 80s. But it would take an awful lot of work to make it someplace I'd want to live!
I think I posted the buffalo rising video somewhere on MJ a few years ago. Posted it along with some other promo videos for the city, as an example of some phenomenal marketing via the Buffalo Chamber, Tourism board, etc. Meanwhile we had that really embarrassing dancing video with city employees.
Also Katie Couric did a few segments for Yahoo on their waterfront redevelopment and startup community. Definitely "rising."
I'm taking a brief trip up next month. Looking forward to exploring.
Take some pics, if you can.
My dad is from Buffalo and I still have family there. I really didn't like it, the few times I visited. But it's been a long time. It used to be a decaying rustbelt city. But the pictures Spuwho posted look nothing like the place I visited in 1987. Which shouldn't be too much of a shock, really...
QuoteIt used to be a decaying rustbelt city. But the pictures Spuwho posted look nothing like the place I visited in 1987. Which shouldn't be too much of a shock, really...
Indeed. In 1987 virtually every older urban area was downtrodden, the opposite is true now.
It looks nice during the summer. Buffalo's problem is they are bleeding people as a city and a metro. They are one of 6 MSAs in the top 75 MSAs to have a negative growth rate at -.24%. Currently, they are the 50th largest MSA, barely holding onto the Bills from moving to Toronto, and it is conceivable that by 2040, they may not even be a top 70 MSA. But it does seem they have done some nice stuff with their waterfront ;D
Quote from: Adam White on June 07, 2017, 05:39:08 AM
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on June 07, 2017, 01:02:17 AM
Quote from: Adam White on June 06, 2017, 04:18:09 PM
My cousin's always going on about "Buffalo Rising" or something. And it appears to have changed a lot since I was last there in the 80s. But it would take an awful lot of work to make it someplace I'd want to live!
I think I posted the buffalo rising video somewhere on MJ a few years ago. Posted it along with some other promo videos for the city, as an example of some phenomenal marketing via the Buffalo Chamber, Tourism board, etc. Meanwhile we had that really embarrassing dancing video with city employees.
Also Katie Couric did a few segments for Yahoo on their waterfront redevelopment and startup community. Definitely "rising."
I'm taking a brief trip up next month. Looking forward to exploring.
Take some pics, if you can.
Will do. Like I said just a brief 24-hr stopover between Niagara Falls and NYC. But this will be my third time in the city and the first two times I saw nothing but a hotel, the airport, and some things through the bus/taxi window. So I insisted on carving out that space to at least see downtown and a few neighborhoods finally.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on June 07, 2017, 03:51:15 PM
Quote from: Adam White on June 07, 2017, 05:39:08 AM
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on June 07, 2017, 01:02:17 AM
Quote from: Adam White on June 06, 2017, 04:18:09 PM
My cousin's always going on about "Buffalo Rising" or something. And it appears to have changed a lot since I was last there in the 80s. But it would take an awful lot of work to make it someplace I'd want to live!
I think I posted the buffalo rising video somewhere on MJ a few years ago. Posted it along with some other promo videos for the city, as an example of some phenomenal marketing via the Buffalo Chamber, Tourism board, etc. Meanwhile we had that really embarrassing dancing video with city employees.
Also Katie Couric did a few segments for Yahoo on their waterfront redevelopment and startup community. Definitely "rising."
I'm taking a brief trip up next month. Looking forward to exploring.
Take some pics, if you can.
Will do. Like I said just a brief 24-hr stopover between Niagara Falls and NYC. But this will be my third time in the city and the first two times I saw nothing but a hotel, the airport, and some things through the bus/taxi window. So I insisted on carving out that space to at least see downtown and a few neighborhoods finally.
I will be in the NE next week but cant get over to Buffalo. Please share your experiences, I would be interested in hearing how much has changed at the ground level.
I will be over on the other side, Lake Champlain.
Uh oh!!! Buffalo has one of those hated Hart Bridge Expressway-esque land overpasses. Gotta tear it down immediately!!! :D
Quote from: I-10east on June 08, 2017, 12:26:44 AM
Uh oh!!! Buffalo has one of those hated Hart Bridge Expressway-esque land overpasses. Gotta tear it down immediately!!! :D
Dont laugh I-10, that road is called the "Buffalo Skyway".
No foolin.
And yes, there is movement to have it torn down....
https://www.buffalorising.com/2016/05/the-future-of-the-skyway/ (https://www.buffalorising.com/2016/05/the-future-of-the-skyway/)
Because the New York Thruway was still being built, NY5 was the major east-west highway from Buffalo to Albany.
The Skyway was built to deal with traffic driving from PA to western NY.
(https://www.wnyheritagepress.org/content/buffalo_skyway_1950s/image_1-4306-full.jpg)
The Buffalo Skyway, seen here around 1956, opened in 1955. It was hailed as one part of a grand plan for the "rapid transit of automobiles" around the city of Buffalo. The other jewels in the city's transportation necklace, the Kensington Expressway and the
Scajaquada Expressway, were under construction, funded primarily by New York State. These would be joined to the New York State Thruway, nearing completion at the time of this photo. [At left is Buffalo City Hall; beyond the Skyway in the photo's center is the Memorial Auditorium.]
In 2004, the Skyway is still a major transportation artery into and around the city. Discussion continues about the future viability of this elevated highway, given its limited use in winter due to frequent weather closures, its high rate of accidents, and the continuing cost of maintenance. The roadway is also seen by many as a symbolic, if not literal, barrier to the city's waterfront.
^^^Thanks for the info Spuwho.