Reply With Quotea crater/landfill surrounded by a ring of former suburbs that are in a state of decay similar to current Buffalo
In the late 1800's and early 1900's Buffalo was designed to one of the great cities in America. Buffalo's grid has been called on of the best designed cities by many. The leaders of Buffalo at that time were not only thinking of immediate needs but the future.
When Olmsted built his park system, it was placed in unpopulated areas. When central park in NYC was built, it was the same thing. These "master planners" were not only thinking of the current residents but the future residents of the city and how their ideas would allow growth. They also faced the same criticism that you throw at planners today. It comes with the job. They are paid to think, you pay to react.
In the 50's a lot of the development in Buffalo was based on "now" not the future. Some of these gems are the 190, the skyway and the 33. 50 years later, a lot of people think they were mistakes and are trying to correct them.
Now on this board, when ideas that would effect not only today but 50 to 75 years from now are mentioned, critics can only question how it will effect Buffalo today. They do not think of what Buffalo will need when they are dead and gone.
I feel this is small thinking.
What will Buffalo look like in 100 years? Will it be a ghost town or could it be a top 10 city? Who's knows what Business will be big in 50 years or 100 years and who knows where they will be located.
Part of evolution is you either change or die. So will Buffalo change or die? This is the question? I hope it changes.
How we develop the waterfront, 1st ward and downtown will effect what type of city we have in 50 years. What is done with mass transit today will effect how many people live in the city tomorrow. How the budget is dealt with today will effect the budget for the next 50 years.
This is why when people say taking down the skyway or New Urbanism is bad, I laugh at them. They are just simple thinkers who can not see past the tip of their nose.
So, what will Buffalo look like in 50-100 years? Ask yourself that. Then ask yourself how every topic on the message board will effect that future.
a crater/landfill surrounded by a ring of former suburbs that are in a state of decay similar to current Buffalo
Vote for freedom, not political parties.
Politicians need to cut spending
like Paris
Originally Posted by sharky
If your wife sleeping with the milk man or something? Why so negative? It only took 50 years to F it all up. What cant it be turned around in 100?
Hopefully we will have the trees picked up by then. We're working on it.
"If you want to know what God thinks of money just look at the people he gave it to."
By the way, what happened to biker? I miss the old coot.
Great question. I have no answer, but would like to comment anyway.
100+ years ago, when Olmsted helped design the parks and general city layout, it seemed to be done in a more altruistic fashion, to benefit the residents.
The 33/Skyway/190 ethos appears to be dictated more by government/commerce/business with a "To Hell with the residents needs/comforts" slant.
I think altruism is a very rare commodity in this day and age so, unfortunately, any future development will probably favor whoever has the deepest pockets. And also unfortunately, that ain't Joe Public.
Mouse, I read that a lot of trees in the area will be lost. Is there any plan to plant again? It is a shame that all of these gems were lost.
200 years ago buffalo was developed in the right place to grow and it did for over 100 years but with the new transportation methods the water ways that helped it grow are no longer as important our relationship to Canada is about our best point but no utilized enough to grow on. since the peak in the early fifties this area has fallen not just because of our leadership but also because the location is not as important as it once was. unless trade with Canada saves the area it will continue to shrink until finally stabilizing as a rural farm based society. potatoes once flourished here as could corn lumber and a few other crops Starving artist are an idea that some dream of but you need money to keep warm during the winter down along the gulf coast they could be warm all year while developing their talents
One good thing about growing old is your secrets are safe with your friends they can't remember them either
AS POSTED ON Buffalo Business First
Lets just hope the "elected" ones can just stay out of the way and not f*ck this up.
Statler owner ready to build
Business First of Buffalo - 3:05 PM EDT Tuesday
by James Fink
The downtown Buffalo landscape could see a dramatic change with the new owner of the Statler Towers proposing to construct a 48-story mixed-use tower along Elmwood Avenue.
Plans for the $361 million, privately-financed project are expected to be announced at a news conference, set for Wednesday morning. The tower will be the tallest in downtown both in terms of number of floors and square footage -- potentially 1.3 million square feet.
The building is proposed for a parcel at the corner of Mohawk Street and Elmwood Avenue that is currently used as a surface parking lot.
Bashar Issa, the Manchester, England businessman who earlier this year acquired the historic Statler Towers and is in the early stages of an $80 million restoration of the Delaware Avenue landmark, said he hopes to start construction on the tower within the next two years. The tower will top the HSBC Center by as much as 10 floors.
"We want this building to be a beacon for downtown Buffalo," Issa said.
The project is the latest in a series of developments either planned or underway for the Delaware Avenue spine in downtown Buffalo. Delaware Avenue projects include the new corporate headquarters for New Era Cap Co. Inc., which is expected to open later this fall; a 120,000-square-foot multi-tenant building that Uniland Development Co. is constructing next to WGRZ-TV; a redevelopment of the Dulski Federal Office Building by Uniland and Acquest Development and a new federal courthouse that overlooks Niagara Square.
"This past year has seen an amazing amount of investment and development in downtown Buffalo, notably Delaware Avenue," said Mayor Byron Brown.
The 1.3 million square foot project will include a mix of Class A office space, a 300-room hotel and upscale condominiums.
George Hamberger, a broker with RealtyUSA Commercial Real Estate and Issa's local real estate specialist, said he has tentative contracts for 100,000-square-feet of the proposed 600,000-square-feet of office space.
Hamberger said he will be reaching out to non-local firms to help fill the building's tenant roster.
"Our focus is on new jobs and new tenants for Buffalo and not stealing tenants from other (downtown) buildings," he said.
Construction won't start until the building is at least 40 percent pre-leased, either with office tenants, condo buyers or a hotel chain in hand. Any combination of tenants that brings it to the 40 percent mark will trigger the construction, Issa said.
The dramatic building, with a tinted glass skin, is being designed by Cannon Design of Grand Island. It is designed to play off the planned new federal courthouse, which will virtually neighbor the tower.
Issa has already reviewed his project with Mayor Byron Brown and top members of his administration. Formal plans for the project will likely be filed with Buffalo planners within the next few weeks.
"This underscores how attractive downtown Buffalo is, right now, for investors and developers, whether they are local or from out-of-town," Brown said.
More power to Mr Issa if he can get this done, especially getting "non-local" tenants. I don't oppose downtown development, but I do oppose the government pouring in huge chunks of money into what should be private businesses. It does seem to be an awfully big building.
One thing that bothers me about a lot of the downtown office building/renovation is that much of it is simply moving existing businesses from one space to another. The company that's building new at the old Iroquois Gas Works site is coming from somewhere within Buffalo (near Canisius College, maybe)? New Era Company is moving its HQ from Derby/Angola to downtown, which is nice for downtown but not necessarily for Derby/Angola.
I would like to see the economic development folks get their heads together and their butts in gear and actively market the entire area for back office operations from companies in the Toronto metro area. Toronto is exceedingly expensive, and WNY's lower costs make it an ideal place for bo ops. There are a number of them here already, but there could be more. It doesn't matter if they locate near downtown or out in the 'burbs or in Niagara County. Different companies and operations want different settings, so give 'em what they want.
Your right to buy a military weapon without hindrance, delay or training cannot trump Daniel Barden’s right to see his eighth birthday. -- Jim Himes
Hopefully, 100 years from now, there will be a LOT of 99 year-old trees!
Fema will not reimburse for trees in the parks. I am not sure about at the curb. They are looking into it.
They do say there is a lot of grant money and conservation organizations that will help. So maybe there is some hope.
"If you want to know what God thinks of money just look at the people he gave it to."
By the way, what happened to biker? I miss the old coot.
I think the Olmstead Parks group should organize a fund raising campaign so they can get young trees planted next fall.
Your right to buy a military weapon without hindrance, delay or training cannot trump Daniel Barden’s right to see his eighth birthday. -- Jim Himes
Maybe like this?:
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