As our sixth season of events comes to a close, I’d like to remind everyone that work on several different fronts continues at the Central Terminal. Our building committee still has regular Saturday work parties from 10 am to 2 pm during the fall and winter, our events committee begins planning for the next season and we all share in the various administrative tasks that are required to run a not-for-profit organization. Some of the most unique and challenging aspects facing the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation are that we must do several diverse tasks concurrently: not only do we host a series of popular events each year, but we complete capital improvement projects and we actively try to find new ways to facilitate the rehabilitation of the complex.

Strong event attendance figures and the recent recognition of “outstanding programming by a local heritage organization” (Daniel B. Niederlander Award: 2008 winner alongside Shea’s Performing Arts Center) by the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society certainly go a long way to reinforce our success at the first two concurrent tasks I mentioned above, but it’s the last one that remains the biggest and most critical challenge. Preservation of a complex the size of the Central Terminal is an ongoing chore, but is only a relatively temporary fix. Permanent rehabilitation is the ultimate goal, and in our minds and hearts, that cannot happen soon enough.

With that thought in mind, we have embarked on a couple of exciting new projects I’d like to tell everyone about. With much appreciated assistance from Anthony Armstrong of LISC Buffalo, we applied for a sizeable grant from the Community Foundation for a Greater Buffalo to acquire the proper consultants to help us fortify our organization, define a marketing and redevelopment project plan and timeline and create an historic structures assessment. While we may not be as fortunate in our resources as yet, we look to the ongoing restoration planning at the H.H. Richardson complex to act as a guide in this process. We believe that this will be an important step in moving the project toward its ultimate goal and one that we could not do without. Final word on grant approval is coming by the end of the year.

Working in conjunction with the plans noted above, Paul Lang, junior architect at Carmina & Woods, PC, is busy working to create a virtual online model of the Central Terminal. Using Sketchup Pro and importing the CAD drawings of the complex, Paul can recreate the building down to its finest details, like the intricate patterns of the concourse ceiling brickwork. Not only would a visitor to our website be able to take a virtual walking tour of the complex and grounds, they would be able to see for themselves what a restored Central Terminal would look like, whether it be as an office, retail or condominium space. This model would also give us some very useful marketing tools, such as colored posters, that would go along way to help those potential investors who cannot see past the cosmetic damage. Paul is targeting Spring of 2009 for completion of the initial phase of the project, which will be a working, stripped down version of what we want to eventually include.

Volunteers Josh Hall and Nick Kraus are also working on the creation of a marketing brochure for the complex, to include historical facts, dimensions and outline all possible tax credits and grant opportunities that are available for our site. We hope to include this information on our website, www.buffalocentralterminal.org, so that any potential investors that may be surfing the web for development opportunities will be able to evaluate the feasibility of the project more conveniently. While the redevelopment opportunities discussed with Bashar Issa have ended, the fact remains that he found out about us while surfing the internet.

We eagerly look forward to the completion of these projects and the continuing challenges in the future. To us, none of what we do is work. It’s fun!

2009 marks the 80th anniversary of the dedication and opening of Buffalo Central Terminal, a place that has truly touched the lives of many Western New Yorkers.

To mark this milestone, the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation is putting together an anniversary celebration. As part of this event, the Terminal’s center piece, the original concourse clock, will be returned to its home at the center of the main concourse. Also, through the gracious efforts of the AMVETS, a new flagpole and American flag will take its rightful place, atop the vaulted roof, at the northeast corner of the building. Finally, with your help, a replica of the Terminal’s original 1929 dedication plaque will again grace the entrance foyer, where the long missing original once hung.

Donations are needed to help fund the dedication plaque project. It would be most meaningful, if these funds could be raised form amongst our CTRC membership; and all those people who have a special connection and place in their heart for the old Buffalo Central Terminal. Outside donations are also being sought.

Time is of essence, if we are to complete this project in time for the 80th anniversary celebration. Please, help us celebrate by making your tax deductible contributions today. Make checks payable to the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, P O Box 468, Buffalo, New York 14212. Be sure to indicate “Plaque Project” on your check; and thank you for your continued support. All excess funds will be used in the restoration of the entrance foyer, where the plaque will be hung.

Larry Schwindler & Kate Janus

Co-Chairpersons

Thanks Josh!

I am confident that the CTRC’s collective experience and vision as a team will continue to work towards the same goals that Russell had strived for during the last decade. We all wish him the very best personally, as well as in his future endeavors on the Preservation Board and as a new board member of the Broadway Market. I am certain that his drive and passion will be of great benefit to these efforts, as well as to the entire city of Buffalo.

Effective immediately, I will assume the duties of President, Mark Lewandowski will remain our Treasurer, as well as assuming the duties of Vice President, and Sara Etten will remain our Secretary. Kate Resetarits, Yuri Hreschyshyn and Ed Werick also will remain on the board of directors. We will be looking to fill 3 vacant board positions before the end of the year.

As we eagerly look forward to another busy season of great events, I would like to take this time to remind everyone that restoration and preservation progress also continues. If you’ve driven by the terminal recently, you may have noticed that several Plexiglas window coverings in the tower have been blown out at different times during our blustery Buffalo winter. Given the tower’s raised prominence, it is frequently subjected to sustained winds that make the replacement of these windows from the inside quite a dangerous time-and-resource consuming task. While the majority of missing coverings have been reinstalled, completion remains a priority and efforts will continue as conditions and volunteer resources permit.

Also continuing is our collaboration with BOCES on the construction of restroom facilities within the former waiting room area, repairs to interior drainpipes that were affected by the winter freeze and the ongoing maintenance and preparation of the concourse, its peripheral rooms and the surrounding acreage for another event season. Continuing our annual tradition, the public is invited to once again participate in our 11th annual Spring Clean Up on Saturday, May 17th, from 9am to 1pm. As always, free lunch and beverages will be provided to all volunteers.

I would also like to announce a few new projects for which we are currently assembling resource requirements:

· The renovation of the restaurant area for use as a small event or conference facility

· The preparation of the 4th floor of the tower for use as a model for redevelopment

· The preparation of an upper tower floor for use as an observation floor

This is a pretty challenging agenda for our relatively small group of unpaid volunteers, but we believe that we are up for the challenge as we have proven in the past. If you would like to help us reach our goals, please contact us at volunteercoord@buffalocentralterminal.org or visit our website at www.buffalocentralterminal.org. We are always looking for extra help with everything from building trades, to event staffing and administrative skills. Everyone is welcome!

Finally, I’d like to thank our many supporters for their donations of time and money. Without you, the city of Buffalo would have lost an important and historic landmark. Your continuing support will be, as always, greatly appreciated.

We firmly believe that it is no longer a matter of if the Central Terminal will be restored, but rather of when it will be restored. Thank you for your belief in this project and in us. We look forward to seeing you all this season!

Sara and I met with Mike Quinniey and Tyrone Christopher of the Western New York Minority Media Professionals on Saturday to establish a partnership with them that will hopefully help us both in our restoration efforts. They are just beginning efforts to restore the beautiful old Sattler Theater at 512 Broadway. You can read more about it in today’s Buffalo News.

Mike and Tyrone are great guys and we are looking forward to working with them!

Here, you get a good idea of the progress of the project: clean grounds, repaired roofs, dome end caps, sealed windows, paved lot and approach.

It also gives you a good idea of what preservation efforts need to be done: brick repointing, sealing broken windows in the baggage building, repair its roof.

To see a larger version of this image, visit:

http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=1928196602&context=set-72157603037150106&size=o

This month marks the 5th anniversary of the beginning of the sealing of the Central Terminal. This Windows Live Local aerial shot is from that time frame.

Now:

When they took it back, it was replaced with a plaster buffalo painted to look bronze – and this is the one most people remember. During the 90s it was knocked over by a pick up truck and shattered.

Years later the University at Buffalo was looking for a buffalo to have on campus and tracked down the original molds which were used in the creation of the plaster Central Terminal buffalo. They recast him in bronze and he now sits in front of the Arts building on the North Campus.

Now we need your help. Someone attended Doors Open Niagara in October and said that UB has the molds, that he walks by them ever day. We are looking for more details on the molds, so if you are anyone you know works at UB and knows who to talk to about looking at the molds please contact us at webmaster@buffalocentralterminal.org

What once looked like this….

… started to look like this…

… and now looks like this…

We’re in the process of getting some experts to consult on the best way to proceed. Keep an eye out here for more updates!