Gaps in the skyline: Voice your opinion, Buffalo (Boston, Busti: lofts, condos) - City-Data Forum

Buffalonian4life · 12-18-2008, 09:00 PM

(-You should be able to vote for more than one answer in this thread (ex:Option 1 and Option 2 go together and you like both, so you can vote for both, etc)

The Buffalo skyline has seen a stagnant 30+ years of time to which nothing has been added and is quite economically depressing. For the exception of the small Key Bank Towers, there truly has been nothing added.

Now that we are seeing a lot of construction lately, and cranes are in the air albeit the economic recession, it is time for you, Buffalo, to voice your opinions on where the gaps are in the skyline, and where new builds should be put. After this poor economy soon gets going again, we will eventually see more buildings go up or... perhaps not.

Some of you love the skyline the way it is, some of you would like for a new start from scratch, and even some look to the future and want new modern buildings reflecting the city's beautiful historic architecture.

Well, believe it or not, but a modest skyline can certainly affect a business's move here. The high demand currently for class A office space is so high that it is hard for a business (big or small) to locate in Buffalo, and some don't want to go through building their own structure.

Therefore, filling in the gaps with modern structures that make a statement including a mixed use space tower design, could in fact improve Buffalo's appearance to its citizens, visitors or tourists, and businesses through an aesthetic evidence.

Where are the gaps? What needs to be done for correct urban planning and design?

See the missing teeth between Main Place and HSBC, as well as many others:

Quick draw idea:

(I must add though, that Buffalo's skyline at night is hard to match!

) -yet could be better

Please share your thoughts!

MarineFromBuffalo · 12-18-2008, 11:29 PM

I think Buffalo's skyline needs all of those things. I needs modern skyscrapers but not so many that it takes away from the beautiful older buildings, kind of a happy medium.

CW1095 · 12-19-2008, 07:41 AM

I think it is great the way they are modernizing all of theo ld, abandoned buildings first and then will progress to building vertically. There is nothing worse than having a 40 story tower surrounded by three story buildings with boarded up windows. Its getting harder to see these buildings downtown as more and more are converted to lofts. With that being said, I really hope they do make it to build high. I would like to see one near the arena (HSBC) or near Burt Flickenger. Truly, I think our best bet is if M&T would decide to combine their multiple locations into one new tower.

Buffalonian4life · 12-19-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CW1095

I think it is great the way they are modernizing all of theo ld, abandoned buildings first and then will progress to building vertically. There is nothing worse than having a 40 story tower surrounded by three story buildings with boarded up windows. Its getting harder to see these buildings downtown as more and more are converted to lofts. With that being said, I really hope they do make it to build high. I would like to see one near the arena (HSBC) or near Burt Flickenger. Truly, I think our best bet is if M&T would decide to combine their multiple locations into one new tower.

You truly bring up some great points, and as we have heard some speculation as to if M&T would combine and create a new tower, considering it is now a Fortune 500 company, one would think that soon we could see this come to fruition.

Now if only there were some hight restrictions years ago in the downtown area where you wouldn't be able to build unless it was at least 20 stories, etc. These zoning laws should have taken effect years ago, let's hope they will get it right this time. Imagine...

Buffalonian4life · 12-19-2008, 06:00 PM

Too strange:

Urban Peasant · 12-20-2008, 08:14 PM

I wholeheartedly agree with you Buffalo4life. Buffalo's downtown really needs more tall buildings. I am surprised that I didn't see anyone comment on Buffalo's skyline until now. After my last visit to your wonderful city in 2005, I made a conclusion that Buffalo's skyline looked unfinished. There were too many gaps and spaces and the exisiting skyscrapers are too short (exception being the old Marine Midlands Center now HSBC, which stands like a lonely outsider from the crowd). For a lakefront city, Buffalo definitely needs a beautiful skyline fit for a postcard.

This may even mean more jobs and opportunities for Buffalo after this recession. Other than filling the gaps, the city should either renovate or demolish any old abandoned building in the way. Boston, where I am at, has been continually revitalizing its downtown and adding new buildings where parking lots or abandoned buildings once stood. But Boston is getting too crowded now, rents have skyrocketed, and there is little to no space left to build in downtown. There needs to be another place for buildings to be built and businesses to open and Buffalo is ideal for that. Way to go Buffalo!

JH6 · 12-21-2008, 07:19 AM

Those new condos on the waterfront are pretty plain looking, but are amazingly expensive.

I couldn't beleive what they were going for..

ocean2026 · 12-21-2008, 10:29 AM

Buffalo DOES NOT NEED anything modern - marine and others just don't get it!

For the millionth time. Buffalo keys to its future are its great buildings and historical look. Dream on if you think you will attract people for the climate - food- or "friendly" people. There are many cities with better climate - way lower taxes and good food and friendly people. Buffalo will NOT survive trying to be like everywhere else and small minds will kill it.

I go to Buffalo to marvel at the architecture. When I climbed on the roof of 960 Busti- (Niagara) I thought I was looking at one of the best panoramas in the nation! Old downtown - great river and canada - just super.

Detroit is in a similar situation and they know their old buildings make their city interesting, however their fiscal situation and projected near future are substantially worse than Buffalo. They can not rehab their gems..

For small ,minded thinkers who want all the new stuff - take a tour of Dallas, Houston, and many other of these new economic giant metros. One can pick any city outside the east coast and rust belt. They may have a better economy -more jobs - more universities - a far better climate and lower tax rates but they don't have the great buildings. If you are in your 50s or older the attraction of these buildings -reminding Americans of what our country looked like in our youth is overwhelming.

This requires people to think just a little bit outside the box- not many are capable. Traditional thinking on how Buffalo could prosper has been in place since 1946 when Buffalo's population first began to decline- Keep it up! if you'd like the same result.

NOTHING NEW IN THE SKYLINE ( unless it LOOKS OLD)

Buffalonian4life · 12-21-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ocean2026

Buffalo DOES NOT NEED anything modern - marine and others just don't get it!

For the millionth time. Buffalo keys to its future are its great buildings and historical look. Dream on if you think you will attract people for the climate - food- or "friendly" people. There are many cities with better climate - way lower taxes and good food and friendly people. Buffalo will NOT survive trying to be like everywhere else and small minds will kill it.

I go to Buffalo to marvel at the architecture. When I climbed on the roof of 960 Busti- (Niagara) I thought I was looking at one of the best panoramas in the nation! Old downtown - great river and canada - just super.

Detroit is in a similar situation and they know their old buildings make their city interesting, however their fiscal situation and projected near future are substantially worse than Buffalo. They can not rehab their gems..

For small ,minded thinkers who want all the new stuff - take a tour of Dallas, Houston, and many other of these new economic giant metros. One can pick any city outside the east coast and rust belt. They may have a better economy -more jobs - more universities - a far better climate and lower tax rates but they don't have the great buildings. If you are in your 50s or older the attraction of these buildings -reminding Americans of what our country looked like in our youth is overwhelming.

This requires people to think just a little bit outside the box- not many are capable. Traditional thinking on how Buffalo could prosper has been in place since 1946 when Buffalo's population first began to decline- Keep it up! if you'd like the same result.

NOTHING NEW IN THE SKYLINE ( unless it LOOKS OLD)

Not even some new builds on the many existing blank downtown parking lots?

... Where's FedupWNY?

ocean2026 · 12-21-2008, 05:11 PM

NO Buffaloan for Life- but thanks for asking. One of Buffalo's advantages - although not enough on its own to get people to move there is drivability. Buffalo is ranked ( Dept of Trans and Tex A&M) the second most drivable city ( Corpus Christi is #1 and near me) in the US. How nice it was for me when there to be able to go anywhere I wanted at any time of day and not be caught in gridlock. Put buildings in those downtown lots and presumably they will be populated by people - people have cars- cars lead to congestion and pollution.

Buffalo can not be Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix , San Diego or San Antonioi no matter what it does, but it shouldn't have to emulate them- instead it can be .... Buffalo and that is super!