Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It was an exciting Thursday in East Buffalo regarding the future of the historic Buffalo Central Terminal located on Paderewski Drive.
The Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) and the City of Buffalo Mayor’s Office of Strategic Planning announced their new development team and partner to advance the reuse of the Terminal, which is a big step toward realizing the community-driven vision for the historic landmark in Buffalo.
The team of CB Emmanuel Realty LLC, The Alexander Company, and Rise Community Capital will lead the reuse project of the Art Deco icon, integral to Buffalo’s architectural legacy and a testament to the Queen City’s history and a place to build its future.
"I grew up not far from here down Paderewski Drive, and Crystal [Peoples-Stokes] will know this is our neighborhood. So to be able to come full circle and be part of this historic moment is really important to me," said James Morrell, CTRC Board Chair during Thursday's ceremony inside the Main Terminal Building. "This announcement is a game-changer, and the first step in bringing to reality a long-sought dream, and that the Central Terminal will have a new future."
This multi-phased, 10-year project will cost $300 million and will bring offices, housing and community event space to the Buffalo landmark.
This development team was selected for alignment with the CTRC’s vision, plan and program; financial capacity and feasibility; diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and strategies; and team structure, as well as experience and capabilities. Together, with the public-private support of the Regional Revitalization Partnership, the CTRC is set to bring to life a new future for the Central Terminal.
"This will be a vibrant, mixed-use campus that will foster community and opportunity for all," Morrell added. "We have focused on maintaining this building in the present, while planning for the future, that the future starts now. We will continue with a very strategic and steady approach to redevelopment. We will keep the community updated on our plans as they come together. And our focus over the next year will be to engage our talented developer team who will lead us to the eventual full scale reuse of the Central Terminal."
Collectively, the proposed 30-plus acre development project will include the renovation of four historic structures and 10-plus acres of land owned by the City of Buffalo. CTRC owns the Main Terminal Building, the four-story Mail and Baggage Building, and an attached structured Parking Garage and Entry Plaza, and the front Lawn. The City of Buffalo owns adjacent land towards the train tracks, including the two-story Post Office Building and Railway Express Building.
"In a structure that has been abandoned for over 40 years, people are still coming to the Central Terminal, because it means something. It means something to Buffalonians, it means something to me," said Benathan Upshaw from CB Emmanuel Realty, who also grew up in the East Buffalo community. "It closed when I was 10-years-old, and I'm a man that's past 50. Most of these people that come and celebrate here have no memory of this ever functioning as a terminal. I don't. I know it did, but never came here. But, yet, it's a special place. It's so special. That is the true reason that we are here. It represents hope. It represents our heritage, represents our culture. It represents all the reasons why the residents of Buffalo toil at the task of making this city a great place to live and work every day. It echoes past memories of greatness, with the promise that greatness can return in a meaningful way that highlights the past, acknowledges the present and anticipates the future. And that's why we're here today, because we're all willing to dream, hope, but most importantly work to make those dreams and hope a reality."
An initial investment of $61 million from the Regional Revitalization Partnership is focused on efforts that build the CTRC’s capacity, and prepares the structure and grounds for redevelopment and use for community-minded events and programming.
Initial construction work will focus on safety and stabilization repairs, and readiness for reuse. Work that will take place in 2024 and 2025 includes:
- Stabilization of the plaza and parking garage in order to allow vehicular access to the Main Terminal building.
- Stabilization of the Guastavino Akoustolith tiles that line the interior of the Concourse vault.
- Highest-priority roof repair and window enclosures.
- Care and maintenance of the grounds for safety and accessibility for event attendees and passive use by the community.
Plans for long-term development focus on creating new economic activity, bringing in local, accessible jobs, providing local businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profits with a platform to collaborate and grow, and building housing to retain local residents while also attracting new ones to the neighborhood. Initial ideas call for:
- Civic Commons entertainment.
- Events and programming activities in the Main Terminal Building, on the Entry Plaza and the Lawn.
- A regional and international food hall that could be linked to the nearby historic Broadway Market.
- Culinary education space.
- Mixed-income rental housing.
- Attainable home ownership on the City of Buffalo’s land.
- Light industrial and maker space.
- Coworking and collaborative spaces.
- Quality childcare and childhood education services.
- Neighborhood retail spaces.
- A series of mobility options and transportation linkages that weave the Terminal back into the fabric of the neighborhood.
"People like those that are in this room, and who made the plans to make sure this iconic building will forever be available to people in our community, that's what you call 'Buffalo Tough'. We're not stepping back just because it's a challenge and it looks really hard. As a matter of fact, we're stepping into it, and that's what has happened here," said New York State Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes on Thursday.
Morrell is hopeful to have the Terminal ready for events inside the Main Terminal Building within the next 3-5 years.
