Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Some much-needed support is finally on its way from New York State for Buffalo's Central Terminal in Buffalo's East Side.
A $61 million investment is coming for the Central Terminal that will go towards reviving the historic 1929 structure, as well as building a new future centered on community. It is expected that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul will formally announce the funding for the Central Terminal some time in the near future.
"I think that's a good thing," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown during an appearance with Susan Rose and Brian Mazurowski on WBEN on Wednesday. "The Central Terminal is a beautiful, iconic building. It is a building that merits an investment. The population has started to grow again in that part of the City. I will say, though, that from the City's research, only about 10% of the East Side population is located in that area of the City. So that's critically important to know. But the Governor has made a significant commitment to the East Side of Buffalo in the recently passed state budget."
The recently passed state budget by Gov. Hochul calls for hundreds of millions of dollars to go into investments for various parts of the East Side community, including a billion dollars to re-design and cover the Kensington Expressway and also $30 million towards improvements to the Broadway Market. This commitment to revitalize the Central Terminal is just another allocation of funding that Gov. Hochul has committed to Buffalo and the East Side community.
"I believe that our Governor is doing a decent job of ensuring that we attract businesses to specific areas," said Buffalo Common Councilman Ulysses Wingo, representing the Masten District. "We know that the Central Terminal has been the target of investment for decades, as they've been trying to ensure that it's not just a piece of history that lays dormant in our community, but it's revitalized and is used by the community, for the community to help, maybe, spark some type of economic engine there."
So what does $61 million do for a project like the Central Terminal?
"I think it shores up the building, it certainly protects the historic structure. It makes it possible to hold even more special events and various events in the building," Mayor Brown said. "It will also make it more attractive for private investment in the Central Terminal that could be incredibly beneficial to that part of the community."
When all is said and done, Mayor Brown believes the money going towards the Central Terminal and the rest of the East Side will improve the environment of the community with the investment in streetscape, as well as facilities that will create employment, service and shopping opportunities make the area more attractive.
"They help to make the East Side a destination. They help to make the East Side more attractive for residential and commercial investment, which strengthens the demographic mix of the East Side," Mayor Brown said. "As people with higher incomes locate in a community, then that helps to satisfy the demographic models that corporate America has, and makes them more likely to invest in a community."
More from Mayor Brown's conversation during "A New Morning" is available in the player below: