Moved by community
The future of the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood and the Buffalo Central Terminal are undeniably tied together. Broadway-Fillmore is welcoming, hopeful, and striving—despite having a legacy of disinvestment. Founded by Polish and German immigrants, Broadway-Fillmore has transitioned to primarily African American residents and now a growing international contingent of, among others, Bangladeshi, East African, and Caribbean immigrants. Today, the diversity of the neighborhood only continues to grow, with especially notable growth of Asian and Latin communities.
The Terminal is a singular catalytic opportunity to ignite a shared vision for a new future rooted in equity, where the rising tide of investment, innovation, and opportunity can be formed and realized by the very people who have made the community what it is today.
Gathering Broadway Fillmore Together
On May 22, the Buffalo Central Terminal opened its doors for a special evening of connection and collaboration with the Broadway-Fillmore community. Residents were welcomed into the historic space to meet face-to-face with local block clubs and the teams working to bring the Terminal’s vision to life. Representatives from the Greater Eastside Fields of Dreams, the Central Terminal Neighborhood Association (CTNA), Quinn Evans architects, and Buffalo Construction Consultants joined Central Terminal Restoration Corp. staff to listen, share updates, and celebrate the progress being made.
The event offered more than just conversation—it was a behind-the-scenes look at transformation in motion. Neighbors explored iconic spaces like the Entry Lobby, Passenger Concourse, and Restaurant, and asked questions about the Terminal’s future. The casual, welcoming atmosphere reflected the spirit of Broadway-Fillmore: engaged, determined, and ready to shape what comes next. As CTNA President Chris Hawley shared, “We’ve rolled up our sleeves to implement the plan, doing as much as we can ourselves.” On this day, that collective effort was on full display.
Historic Lawn Placemaking
The Buffalo Central Terminal was awarded a Community Placemaking Grant from Project for Public Spaces to transform the Terminal’s Great Lawn from an under-designed, grassy lawn into a community-designed green space for the sharing of civic experiences.
We used a community-engaged design process to embed residents into the early activation of the Great Lawn. In April we gathered neighborhood residents and leaders to build a shared vision for a new future of the Great Lawn. In October we launched Seat at the Table, a new community space featuring two, extra-long tables and sculptural seating created by The Foundry Buffalo’s youth development program, FoundryMADE.
Gathering on the Grounds
Between May and October the air at Buffalo Central Terminal was filled with smiles, joy, and the energy of a community coming together. Through music, culture, art, and more, the programming on our historic Lawn brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate what makes Buffalo so special. In 2024, more than 8,000 people gathered on our grounds. We held 16 events – concerts, festivals, movie nights, wellness programs, art shows, Shakespeare in the Park, and more
With every arts and cultural experience, we reinforce our commitment to ensuring all are welcome. From local residents to visitors from across the region and beyond, the Central Terminal is a place where connections were made, stories were shared, and memories were created!
Creating the Civic Commons
Throughout the master planning process we spent a significant amount of time just listening to our neighbors and gaining a deep of understanding the future Western New Yorkers envision for the Buffalo Central Terminal. Our community called for the preservation of the Terminal for year-round public gathering and the sharing of civic experiences.
Building on this community priority, the Master Plan centers on the creation of the Civic Commons–areas inside and outside the Terminal programmed all year with public events and activities. The early activation of the Great Lawn is the first step in creation of the Civic Commons. In 2022 the Buffalo Central Terminal was awarded $1 million through the Broadway-Fillmore Downtown Revitalization Initiative to begin a community-driven landscape design process.
Community Advisory Council
In 2021, together with the community we created a shared vision for the future of the Terminal. Through a year-long, community-driven Master Planning process, we developed the most in the most in-depth guide for the redevelopment of the Terminal ever created.
Genuine community engagement and listening was a pillar of our Master Plan process. A cornerstone of this engagement was the creation of our Community Advisory Council (CAC). This 25 member group was composed of Broadway-Fillmore residents (a majority of the group) as well as other neighborhood stakeholders and leaders. CAC members participated in six meetings throughout the planning process.
We continue to connect with CAC members as we begin to implement the Master Plan and develop the Terminal as a lasting cultural and economic hub for the community.
