Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Momentum at the Buffalo Central Terminal continues with the announcement of critical next steps on Wednesday to further advance the reuse of the East Buffalo landmark.
The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) shared an update on the $33 million construction project already underway at the Buffalo Central Terminal, months after Phase II of Capital Improvements began toward a fully reimagined Central Terminal.
Right now, crews are working outside the landmark structure on the masonry, while a "buck hoist" elevator is a significant piece in the redevelopment of the Central Terminal to get up to the top of the building and make sure it is stabilized and ready for development.
Meanwhile, James Morrell, chair of the CTRC's Board of Directors, says while the public may not see what's happening with construction to the inside of the structure, crews continue to get ready for a significant transformation.
"Some of the things that we're doing: We're removing the asbestos, we're making sure that it's stabilized and to keep the rain water out, we're fixing the Guastavino tiles, thousands-and-thousands of tiles. And what we want to do by '27 is to open up the main concourse of this building," said Morrell during a press conference Wednesday outside the Central Terminal. "We want to reactivate this space, and I think we're going at it at a correct pace."
Morrell feels the massive project being done in phases is the right thing to do.
"This is something that's needed not only for the City of Buffalo, but for this community, the Broadway-Fillmore community. It's been an anchor many years ago, and it will continue to be an anchor," Morrell said.
Major stabilization efforts include repairs at the Main Terminal Building (the tower and the historic passenger concourse), entry plaza, and parking garage.
Work at the site will continue through 2026, with a portion of the Passenger Concourse accessible for limited public use starting in 2027.
"This is something that's been in the works for many years, our board is ready. We have staff and the administration of the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation that has the wherewithal and the ability to get this project done," Morrell added.
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Ben Upshaw, co-founder and managing partner of CB Emmanuel Realty, the lead developer of the Central Terminal Project, knows how integral this landmark is to the cultural fabric of Buffalo.
"I think it represents hope. I think Central Terminal has always represented hope," said Upshaw in an interview with WBEN. "For so many generations, many generations that are here right now have never even been inside of the Terminal, have never caught a train in the Terminal, but yet, they realize it's a special place. I think this first phase of development symbolizes hope in that there's more activity coming."
With some of the largest buildings under construction over the next few years, the main terminal being stabilized and the start of the concept paper in the early planning of other buildings, Upshaw is hopeful the major improvements will be seen over the next year-and-a-half.
For as long as the Central Terminal has sat vacant and inactive in East Buffalo, there may be some sense from the community that not much will happen with transforming the building. Upshaw admits he couldn't be a developer if he sat around and thought about what other people think could happen in a building such as this.
"If anybody would sit down and really analyze all the risks and all the things that could potentially happen, you could talk yourself out of every project," Upshaw said. "But when I walked up here today, I looked at this building, and I was not intimidated. I was like, 'We've done projects that look worse than this. We've done entire projects that are bigger than this.' So I don't necessarily bring into my calculus what other people think, because you can't. If you did, you would never be a real estate developer. There's enough risk to scare anybody off of this profession, so I don't try to think that way."
With a vast building such as the Central Terminal, Upshaw acknowledges there are some opportunities that can allow for some creative freedoms.
"The structure and bones are good, so every time we brought people in here, it's like, 'Yeah, the roofs obviously are gone, but a lot of the structural steel is still good, a lot of the concrete is still good,'" he said. "I think obviously every winter in Buffalo, a structure like this is going to take some lumps, and it will take lumps until construction begins. But the core elements are well enough that we feel proud about moving forward."
Part of that is the opportunity to move forward with a transformation of the old mail and baggage building, as well as the post office building into spaces that can provide affordable and attainable housing units for the community. There's also the possibility of additional uses as workforce development, training, and light industrial manufacturing.
"We think those uses are appropriate for the site, and we'll be looking forward to submitting a concept paper towards the state later this year, and the hopes of starting construction in the next 1-to-2 years," Upshaw said.
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The development team for the project is pushing forward to break ground as early as 2027, with development completed and ready for reuse in 2029.