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Thread: Anyone know whats happening with the Richardson

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    Anyone know whats happening with the Richardson

    Anyone know whats happening with the Richardson?

  2. #2
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    It continues to fall apart.

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    Chester's right. That's about all that's going on.


    January 2006 - Two years after Pataki promised $100 million to restore the site... things got re-energized. But some of the funds were diverted to other sites like Burchfield-Penney and Darwin Martin house. Pataki was to create a panel to oversee the project, and took his time doing that too.

    http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazin...006/022106.htm

    August 2006 - finally put the panel together to oversee the project. This article mentions they'd be in a fishbowl and we'd all be watching. Well somebody lost the fishbowl, because I haven't heard anything since August... 4 months ago...

    http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffa...wscolumn1.html

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    Governor Announces Two New Boards To Lead H.h. Richardson

    July 23, 2006
    GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES TWO NEW BOARDS TO LEAD H.H. RICHARDSON COMPLEX RENOVATION EFFORT
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Appoints Board to Allocate Funding and Help Oversee Restoration Effort, Board to Lead Creation of New Buffalo Architectural Center at Richardson Site

    Governor George E. Pataki today announced the appointment of ten distinguished New Yorkers who will serve on the newly created H.H. Richardson Complex Historic Renovation Board, which will help oversee and guide the $100 million rehabilitation and renovation effort to take place at the landmark Richardson Complex in Buffalo.

    The Governor also announced the appointment of five individuals to serve on a board which will focus on the creation of a new, first-class Buffalo Architecture Center to be located in the Towers at the Richardson Complex. The new Center, which will also serve as a visitor’s center for the Richardson Complex, will help celebrate the Buffalo region’s rich and historically significant architectural heritage.

    The H.H. Richardson Complex, which was the former Buffalo State Hospital Asylum, was designed by noted architect Henry Hobson Richardson, and was constructed from 1870-1896. This Buffalo landmark is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

    “The Richardson project will not only honor and preserve Buffalo’s rich history and architectural heritage, it will also help us to ensure a bright, dynamic and prosperous future for the people of Western New York,” Governor Pataki said. “By combining our 19th century inheritance from H.H. Richardson with bold new ideas, we will help create a vibrant, 21st century center for educational, cultural, and recreational activities that will benefit the entire region for generations to come.”

    The members of the newly formed historic preservation panel will include: Stanford Lipsey, the Publisher of The Buffalo News; Muriel Howard, the President of Buffalo State College; Clinton Brown, a Buffalo architect and community leader; Bernadette Castro, State Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Paul F. Ciminelli, President and CEO of Ciminelli Development Co.; Christopher Greene, a Buffalo attorney who has served as Chair of the Hauptman-Woodward Research Institute; Eva M. Hassett, former Chief of Staff to Mayor Masiello; Paul R. Hojnacki, a local businessman and community leader; Richard Tobe, Commissioner of Buffalo’s Department of Economic Development, Permits and Inspection Services; and Howard Zemsky, President of Taurus Capital Partners.

    The members of the Architecture and Visitor Center board will include: Stanford Lipsey, Christopher Greene, Howard Zemsky, Robert Kresse, Chair of the Niagara River Greenway Commission, Secretary and Trustee of the Wendt Foundation and Chairman of the Martin House Restoration Corporation, and Louis Grachos, Director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Additional members will be sought from nationally recognized authorities in architecture, preservation and museum leadership.

    Stanford Lipsey, Publisher of The Buffalo News, has been a strong advocate for restoration of Buffalo’s historic architecture. He was instrumental in restoring and rebuilding Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House Complex and has been working with the Governor for more than six years to restore H.H. Richardson’s Psychiatric Asylum. In 1998 he was presented the Governor’s Parks and Preservation Award. He will serve as Chairman of the Richardson Renovation Board.

    Dr. Muriel A. Howard is the President of Buffalo State College. She serves on numerous boards and committees in Western New York and has held numerous leadership roles for cultural and community initiatives.

    Buffalo architect Clinton E. Brown is president of an architectural firm that specializes in successfully revitalizing community landmarks throughout upstate New York. He is a former Secretary of the Buffalo Preservation Board and a past President of the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier, where he is now a Trustee Emeritus. He grew up in and lives with his family in the Richardson neighborhood.

    Bernadette Castro was appointed by Governor Pataki in 1995 to head the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and serve as State Historic Preservation Officer. Commissioner Castro has also served as the former Vice Chair of the President Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and has provided key leadership in promoting the preservation, enhancement and recognition of historic resources across New York State.

    Paul F. Ciminelli, President and CEO of Ciminelli Development Co., played a key role in the restoration of Buffalo’s historic Cyclorama Building. After a fire nearly destroyed the Connecticut Armory, he was part of a team that rebuilt it. In 2002, he believed the Richardson Towers should be lit at night and installed 12 high power flood lights.

    Christopher T. Green is Chairman of the Damon & Morey Law Firm with a significant amount of real estate and development experience. In particular, he served as Chair of the Hauptman-Woodward Research Institute for five years, during which time it constructed its new building at 700 Ellicott Street.

    Eva M. Hassett is currently Executive Vice President of Savarino Companies, and in that capacity is working on many projects in the City of Buffalo and the Western New York region. Eva was Chief of Staff to former Mayor Tony Masiello and also former Finance Commissioner for the City of Buffalo. She has broad experience dealing with the local, state and federal governments on complex projects like the H.H. Richardson redevelopment project.

    Paul R. Hojnacki has a vested interest in the H.H. Richardson Complex as a Buffalo State graduate. He is a business leader in the community and President of the 100 year old Curtis Screw Company. He is a lifelong Western New York resident interested in architecture.

    Richard M. Tobe, Commissioner of Buffalo’s Department of Economic Development, Permits and Inspection Services, is responsible for overseeing the city’s Office of Strategic Planning which includes the City Preservation Board. He was involved in the original planning to restore the Guarantee Building and ran Erie County’s Preservation program which created municipal preservation initiatives in rural parts of the County.

    Howard Zemsky, President of Taurus Capital partners, served as President of the Martin House Restoration Corporation from 2000 to 2005, its greatest period of rebuilding. Along with his partners, he invested tens of millions of dollars in the 600,000 square foot Larkin Exchange Building, the largest adaptive reuse project in the city. In Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, he has restored four historic inns.

    Mr. Kresse is an attorney with Hiscock & Barclay, LLP in Buffalo and serves on a number of boards and community organizations including the Margaret L. Wendt Foundation, King Urban Life Center, Martin House Restoration Corporation, Green Downtown Buffalo, Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Erie County Medical Center Lifeline Foundation, New York State Preservation League, and the Buffalo Green Fund. Mr. Kresse is a graduate of Canisius College and Georgetown University Law Center. In June of 2006, Governor Pataki appointment Mr. Kresse as Chair of the Niagara River Greenway Commission.

    Louis Grachos is recognized as a highly successful arts entrepreneur and has served as Executive Director of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo since January of 2003. A Toronto native, Grachos credits his visits to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery as a high school and college student as having inspired his passion for modern and contemporary art. That passion took Grachos to positions at highly respected art museums in New York, San Francisco, Miami, and San Diego before becoming director of SITE Santa Fe in 1996. Grachos is the fourth director of the Albright-Knox Gallery since 1955. The Gallery is one of the nation's top centers for contemporary art, collecting and exhibiting noted and provocative works by many top international artists.

    The appointees announced today will help lead the rehabilitation of the National Historic Landmark H.H. Richardson buildings, as part of a comprehensive effort to make them the crowning jewel of a mixed-use, multi-purpose civic campus of public and private activities.

    This vision includes:


    Rehabilitating Richardson’s buildings and restoring the Olmsted’s grounds as near as possible to their original character;
    Establishing a first-class Buffalo Architecture Center in the Towers that would serve as the focal point for further exploration of our city’s and region’s restored period architecture and cultural facilities;
    Creating new educational programs, particularly technology, math and science programs, which when combined with Buffalo State College, would result in advancing initiatives and programs in elementary, secondary and post secondary education; and
    Integrating these initiatives with the new Burchfield-Penney Art Center and the existing Buffalo Psychiatric Center.
    Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz said, "The Governor has assembled community leaders of unparalleled ability and commitment to this region in the two panels announced today. As a free-standing architectural heritage site, the H.H. Richardson Complex deserves the capital investment and community support it has received. Joined with the critical mass of other nationally recognized cultural and heritage sites, the Richardson Complex is the ideal hub for the radials of artistic excellence emanating from Buffalo. The proposed Architecture and Visitor Center will be a key element of our cultural tourism inventory."

    Assemblyman Sam Hoyt said “I have long advocated for the creation of a governance board to shepherd the restoration and reuse of these magnificent buildings. The creation of these two boards represents a crucial step towards accomplishing that important goal. The restoration and reuse of these historic buildings will provide significant neighborhood stabilization, greatly enhance the cultural nexus in the Olmsted crescent, and create hundreds of new jobs. I look forward to working with the members of both boards to develop and implement these reuse plans.”

    Mayor Byron Brown of Buffalo said, "I am pleased that this important step is now being taken to help ensure that this substantial amount of state aid acquired at the conclusion of the 2006 session will be properly spent to preserve this architectural masterpiece. This important effort will help enhance all of Buffalo's architectural treasures and provide the appropriate setting to celebrate them with our residents and visitors alike."

    Stanford Lipsey said, “Rescuing the property from a former list as one of the top ten most important buildings at risk in the country is an enormous challenge. I am delighted with the Board the Governor has appointed. Establishing the Architecture Visitors Center in the heart of the museum district is going to enable the region to capitalize on all we have in world class historic buildings and recognized cultural facilities. I thank Governor Pataki, as well as leaders in both the Assembly and Senate, particularly the Western New York delegation.”

    A $100 million grant was included in the 2004-05 State Budget for the restoration and reuse of the H.H. Richardson Complex. Recently adopted legislation amended the 2006-07 State Budget to direct portions of the $100 million grant for specific purposes at the H.H. Richardson Complex as follows:


    $76.5 million is allocated for the new renovation of the H.H. Richardson Complex buildings. These buildings are highlighted by the twin-towered administration building which serves as the focal point of connected pavilions. Of the $76.5 million, $20 million is provided for the creation of an Architecture and Visitors Center within the main twin-towered structure. The Center will serve as a focal point for the complex and will provide tourists with educational experiences about the rich history of the complex, the man who designed it and Buffalo’s well renowned period architecture.
    $16.5 million is allocated for the construction of a new $30 million Burchfield-Penney Art Center to be located on the grounds of the Richardson Complex. The Burchfield-Penney Art Center is a museum dedicated to the art and vision of Charles E. Burchfield and distinguished artists of Buffalo-Niagara and Western New York State. Through its affiliation with Buffalo State College, the museum encourages learning and celebrates the richly creative and diverse community of Western New York.
    $7 million is provided towards the $35 million Darwin Martin House Complex restoration project. Designed by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Darwin Martin House Complex is a seven building “Prairie House” property built between 1903 and 1905 by Darwin and Isabelle Martin – Wright’s most extensive Prairie House ever. Only once in Wright’s 72-year career as a practicing architect did he have the opportunity to design – as an integrated whole composition – a multi-structure complex interwoven into a richly designed landscape. The Darwin Martin House is located at 125 Jewett Parkway in Buffalo.
    In addition to the $100 million, the State has spent $7 million since July of 2003 for the stabilization of the H.H. Richardson building at the complex.

    Both boards also are charged with working with the community to create a master plan for the campus as well as identifying and securing private, Federal, historic preservation and other funding sources to supplement the generous State funding already provided for this endeavor.

    http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/06/0723061.html

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    hey someone got time to call members of the Board to see what their doing

    hey someone got time to call members of the Board to see what their doing

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    Spending millions on the wired Burchfield's brand new museum that would block the view of the Towers has to be one of the minor scandals of Buffalo in recent years. There's this enormous unused complex and the pols and their elite bosses are building this modern monument to themselves. What that has to do with Richardson's ancient architecture is a mystery wrapped inside an enigma.

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    The entire complex is a massive dead space cutting off Buff State from the Elmwood and Grant neighborhoods.

    I'd say keep and restore just the towers, some parkspace between it and Forest Ave, then subdivide/sell off the rest for development.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Ostrowski
    Spending millions on the wired Burchfield's brand new museum that would block the view of the Towers has to be one of the minor scandals of Buffalo in recent years. There's this enormous unused complex and the pols and their elite bosses are building this modern monument to themselves. What that has to do with Richardson's ancient architecture is a mystery wrapped inside an enigma.
    Burchfield-Penney is a little-used and little-noticed display place. Yet its ability to command this type of funding is a testament to its connectedness.

    Which is why I am disgusted with most museums.

    Whores at the public trough, while they hide their plentiful hoards.
    Truth springs from argument among friends.

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    The remaining acres of the Psych Center are neither "massive" nor "dead", and Buff State needs to be 'cut off' from the West Side residential area. The daily traffic jams wouldn't be welcome in the neighborhood.

    The college intends to put dorms and parking on more of the grounds, besides the land they've already acquired. It's no mystery why Muriel Howard is on the panel; she's there to insure that their stated goals are never achieved. Restoring the parkland is the last thing the college wants.

    There is plenty of abandoned industrial land to the West of the college; if they were more clever and less devious, they'd be cleaning that up & expanding westward (and not just for more parking lots!) . There must be Federal funds available for cleanup.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ChesterB
    The remaining acres of the Psych Center are neither "massive" nor "dead", and Buff State needs to be 'cut off' from the West Side residential area. The daily traffic jams wouldn't be welcome in the neighborhood.
    You're just thinking in terms of automobiles.

    My concept of "dead space" is the spatial disconnect for pedestrians between the campus and neighborhoods. I'd love to see the land toward the southeast corner of the complex opened up for private development. Student housing and general residential stuff would be nice--a few narrow streets cut through lined with townhouses, but not in a way that encourages thru-traffic for cars.

    I'd rather see this area be put to productive uses rather than the state continue to own it in limbo or Buff State have their way and blanket in parkinglots and more godawful buildings.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shovel ready
    The entire complex is a massive dead space cutting off Buff State from the Elmwood and Grant neighborhoods.

    I'd say keep and restore just the towers, some parkspace between it and Forest Ave, then subdivide/sell off the rest for development.

    That is silly. What should be done to the building is incorporating it into Buff State. This way the "front" is closer to Elmwood and Grant.

    The grounds are a gift from Olmsted and the Building is a gift as well. Why must people tear everything down?

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    Quote Originally Posted by leftWNYbecauseofBS
    That is silly. What should be done to the building is incorporating it into Buff State. This way the "front" is closer to Elmwood and Grant.

    The grounds are a gift from Olmsted and the Building is a gift as well. Why must people tear everything down?
    dude, the "grounds" have been long-ago desecrated beyond recognition. FLO would be rolling in his grave if he saw what it looks like today.

    Besides, who the heck actually uses these grounds today? It's a massive waste of land in one of the few parts of the city where redevelopment is actually viable.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shovel ready
    dude, the "grounds" have been long-ago desecrated beyond recognition. FLO would be rolling in his grave if he saw what it looks like today.

    Besides, who the heck actually uses these grounds today? It's a massive waste of land in one of the few parts of the city where redevelopment is actually viable.

    I think you should go work for Trump. Use that argument with Central Park. Dude, why build another tower when we have like 2 miles of open land right smack dab in the middle of the city.

    What a joke.

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    Quote Originally Posted by leftWNYbecauseofBS
    I think you should go work for Trump. Use that argument with Central Park. Dude, why build another tower when we have like 2 miles of open land right smack dab in the middle of the city.

    What a joke.
    Ummm...Millions of people use Central Park on a daily basis.

    Can the same be said for the Richardson grounds? hmmm....

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shovel ready
    Ummm...Millions of people use Central Park on a daily basis.

    Can the same be said for the Richardson grounds? hmmm....

    Sweet. Let's just cash in all of the parks. Hell plop a target right on Delaware lake! I bet you would do the 33 again if you had the chance!

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