Save the terminal
Halloween show provided exposure but now a solid plan is needed
By News Editorial Board
The Buffalo News
November 21, 2010
When the Central Terminal Restoration Corp. purchased the massive structure for $1 back in 1997, the group had architects and engineers determine what needed to be done. They were told the 523,000-square-foot building on a 17-acre site, 2.5 miles east of downtown Buffalo, was structurally sound. That’s more than one could say for the building’s cosmetics.
Not much has changed since that report, as the volunteer group undertakes steps to address ways to repurpose the Central Terminal, with ideas ranging from a high-speed rail hub to mixed use.
The corporation members need millions of dollars for brick and roof work and have wisely decided not to wait for a miracle developer but instead have started the process of developing a master plan off of their current five-point agenda themselves.
There have been developers and memorandums of understanding that eventually fell through. What is required now for the historical structure is something concrete, showing what’s possible before pursuing grants and funding. At a time when money is extremely short, that is not going to be easy.
There’s a lot of substance to work with — almost too much. The concourse, tower and baggage area are all significant and could be developed independently. It will take $50 million to $60 million to make the building usable again; however, development with a specific plan will take even more money. For example, light industrial business on the first few floors of the towers or loft apartments might cost close to $120 million.
Therefore, it’s important to get as much exposure as possible for the Central Terminal, which opened on June 22, 1929. The five-point initiative set about when the nonprofit corporation acquired the building is a good place to start and included:
* Acquiring a clean title to the structure.
* Securing the structure.
* Weatherizing the main buildings of the terminal.
* Opening the terminal for tours and events.
* Developing the complex.
The fifth point is more akin to a master plan that will be unveiled in early 2011. The most significant use will be commercial real estate development, along with infrastructure and rail. Considering that every Amtrak train through New York State passes directly adjacent to the Central Terminal, the board is interested in examining the integration of light rail to bring vitality to the neighborhood.
The city, county and state have passed legislation that states the Central Terminal should be considered part of the high-speed rail initiative, although the impact is yet to be seen.
The terminal has certainly gotten the exposure that backers wanted, as evidenced by a recent visitation by the popular Syfy show “Ghost Hunters” for a six-hour Halloween special and in the past weeks on NBC’s “Today” show. Perhaps even more noteworthy was the day in 2004 when 2,000 volunteers stripped naked inside the terminal for a picture by famed photographer Spencer Tunick.
Volunteers and events saved the Central Terminal from the wrecking ball. What is needed now is the actualization of the five-point initiative, leading up to the master plan. And that’s going to take help from local, state, national and private-sector leaders.
The longer it takes, the more it will cost to complete.
