I know I'm reviving a dead thread here but just wanted to follow up on it a little.
From what I understand the roof is almost if not already through phase 2 of the 3 stages and they're going to be starting the 3rd. There's some drainage they have to rework after this past winter.
The City of Buffalo does plan on tearing down one of the structures but I'm not sure the proper name. It's the old ragedy wooden one at the end of the baggage building.
And I've been told by the people who are in charge of the restoration that Amtrak has said if they give them a reason to stop then they will. Could be a while but they're definitely getting closer.
I'll be going there a few times this summer on my free weekends to help do some ground work and different things on the inside. Mowing, mulching, trash pick-up etc...
Actually the big square building with the windows all broken out is the baggage building, and it and the arrival/departure area are owned by Amtrak (Amtrak is leasing the arrival/departure area for heavy equipment storage) which I think is why the CTRC hasn't done much there.They will need to resolve ownership before they invest in it. I think the baggage area is large inside and could be rented for storage if it were leased back. Just as an aside, who would go to the trouble of throwing rocks that high? The former REA building, the lower square building, is owned by the city and I think they plan to demolish it.
I just watched a Sky-Cam video of Buffalo Union Terminal and it's grounds. Oh my dear God, someone's got their work cut out for them. What a horror.
Were it up to me I'd demolish the train sheds, the attached office building, and concentrate on saving the core structure with its iconic tower. Drastic? Maybe. Consider it analagous to amputating gangrenous limbs to save the rest of the body.
The other thing that must be saved in Buffalo is Ulrich's Tavern! I love that place!
When was the roof replaced? The last I heard, they were in the early stages of financing and had discontinued public events in the terminal because of it.
Glad to see people are interested and the positivity towards it. I've been there to volunteer and help clean up a few times not and plan on going more this summer. Hopefully the surrounding area benefits from the restoration and the Buffalo Billion that Cuomo has promised. While I'm not a fan at all of Cuomo it's the one good things he's done.
Tatans, you still couldn't be more wrong in your posts. The building is structurally sound (they've had it checked), they're replacing the roofs which has pretty much stopped all flooding and next is the windows. CTRC has owned the building since 1997 so it is not going to be demolished any time soon. Plus it'd be way to expensive to demolish. While progress might be expensive and slow that's what happens with a complete volunteer workforce of people who love the building. And it's in no where near as bad of shape as the station in Detroit. Maybe you should check out the links I've posted and do a little research before you go posting things like that.
As in abandoned buildings there usually is very little neglect in the structural integrity of a building, just because the structure is intact the monstrous amount of interior reconstruction usually escalates to 3 or 400 times the initial reconstruction, and it is immense, especially in the intricate designs on older buildings, those skills today are very very costly.
One has to sadly look at the Depot/station in Detroit to see the outcome of that failed project, how many projects started to preserve that beautiful site, only to fail every time, I hate to admit that the only way these landmark buildings will be preserved is to (CHOKE! ! GAG!)) let Governments take over and spend billions on cost overuns then it MAY get completed. Maybe if the cost of one military tank was redirected to this project we may see some progress.
To the contrary, engineering reports say that the building is essentially sound from a structural perspective despite the neglect. It's a shame that the past 35 years had to happen to it, but I don't believe that it's beyond saving.
Some proclaim that the portion of Buffalo that it's in is guaranteed to seal its fate. But change isn't static and decades of decline don't last forever. Stabilize, maintain, and do what they can and hopefully someday the neighborhood it's in will grow and the station could have more value than just curiosity and memories.
But I wasn't aware of much optimism in recent years though. Hopefully they can repair the roof and continue to advance, but from the bits and pieces I read, things have been troubled for a few years now after once good and steady progress.
tatans any engineer, architect or contractor will conclude there is no hope for the restoration of this project, picking away at little brass lamps or wooden doors will never bring the building back, economically it would be far cheaper to demolish this building and build a new exact replica,
any engineer, architect or contractor will conclude there is no hope for the restoration of this project, picking away at little brass lamps or wooden doors will never bring the building back, economically it would be far cheaper to demolish this building and build a new exact replica,
This isn't close to true, how did you reach this conclusion? There isn't any move to tear BCT down now. Indeed, that it exists at all is only becasue the city found it too expensive to tear down in 1990 or so. At the time large stations in the USA (such as those in Kansas City, St. Paul, Cincinnati, Washington DC etc) were sitting vacant becasue of the cost to heat them for only one train a day or so (that is what did BCT in in 1979) but with their reuse as transit hubs etc. they have been converted back to train stations.
The station has a web site with photos and videos from the air, the damage is unbelievable, it has been gutted, looted, neglected with major damage done structurally during the "demolition" of this grand structure, every square foot of this building is ruined, from the outside and up on the tower bricks, metal work, structural steel are falling out along with large plants growing out of the brickwork, the basements have been flooded for years, the site is absolutely massive, tunnels, multiple covers over tracks and many outlying buildings are all part of this complex, any engineer, architect or contractor will conclude there is no hope for the restoration of this project, picking away at little brass lamps or wooden doors will never bring the building back, economically it would be far cheaper to demolish this building and build a new exact replica, how sad for whomever let this magnificent building get to this state should be held responsible, what a bloody disgrace. You will soon see the Buffalo politicians give the OK for demolition in the near future without the consultation of any of its citizens.
The Buffalo Central Terminal has been in heart-breakingly terrible condition for decades; I want to weep each time I see it from my roomette. So your good news is welcome.
Today's New York Times has a story about the South American businessman who has bought Detroit's Packard factory complex, a place which looks to be in even worse shape than BCT. If either of these two places can be returned to a semblance of use and good condition we'll have the say that the Age of Miracles must have returned.
Both the BCT and the Packard factory are going to need incredible sums of money; I wonder how much will be public. Still, both places are a testament to the enduring strength of poured concrete!
I'm glad to see that Buffalo hasn't suffered the same fate as the Michigan Central station in Detroit at the other end of the Canada Southern.
I follow it on facebook, it isn't that far from me. I saw that an antique dealer in Toronto donated one of the looted light fixtures to them a year or so ago, and a group of retired electricians hand-crafted six or so more replacements. They have fixed the roof and a solar company in Buffalo will be putting up donated solar panels, and are working on the glass and marble inside. They started with a bad situation but are just about to the point where they can start thinking about occupying it year round, not just little festivals in the warm months, and then at some point if it is self-sustaining think about Amtrak relocating from the little 70s depot downtown. Good job!
Yes, welcome- wasn't the station used for a beer festival last year?
You gotta be patient son, these things take time.
And welcome to the Forum!
Hey everybody, first post! I read on here quite a bit have have never posted before. Anyway, I wanted to bring some awarness to the HUGE restoration/reuse project going on in Buffalo to the once NYC Railway terminal. The building itself is absolutely beautiful but after going through a couple owners since it was retired has seen better days.
Brief History
Buffalo Central Terminal Restoration Corporation currently owns the building and has been working on restoring it for quite some time. Here's a link to their official website and facebook site. "Like" it to stay updated on what's happening as they post pretty often. Lots of amazing pictures from 1929 to current day. Shows how amazing the building used to be and the destruction it went through. I'd also like to mention that I'm not a member of their board or anything. I'm just a fan of trains that lives in buffalo and would like to see this building be used again and completely restored sometime before I die haha (and a Bills superbowl win!) If you're able please donate! I've been there lots of times to volunteer and help clean up and keep the land nice but it's a huge effort and even donation of a penny would help.
http://buffalocentralterminal.org/
https://www.facebook.com/buffalocentralterminal
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