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Old 06-14-2016, 03:22 PM
 
101 posts, read 126,511 times
Reputation: 128

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I came across an article last week from Donn Esmonde about the mostly vacant Seneca One Tower aka, the Tallest Building in Buffalo. The article was titled : "Wrecking ball may be best option for One Seneca Tower" if you didn't see it or want to look it up. Personally im with Donn all the way on this one, especially the part on taking the skyway down with it.

I was more the less wondering what most people here think should be done with the tower? Should it be demolished or should it be upgraded/ rehabbed?. Keeping in mind of course that it could cost millions to provide the building with the rehabilitation it would need, which might even be more than what it would be just to tear it down and build an entirely new building.

Or Should we just demolish it and build a newer more modern replacement building in it's place?
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Old 06-14-2016, 09:14 PM
 
Location: Buffalo, NY
3,551 posts, read 3,020,531 times
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Quote:
In the late 60s, the thriving and locally-owned Marine Midland Bank retained the world-renowned firm of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill to design its world headquarters. (They also did the Albright Knox’s annex). This was when Buffalo was deep into its catastrophic urban renewal, which was the trend at the time. But just like Boston can’t just un-do its uninvitingly Brutalist Government Center and City Hall, Buffalo can’t just eliminate a temporarily inconvenient skyscraper. One Seneca Tower’s occupancy rate was close to 90% less than five years ago. When HSBC, the Canadian Consulate,and Philips Lytle vacated all within weeks of each other, the building essentially emptied out.

That doesn’t mean it’s useless. Just because it’s difficult for one out-of-town investor to execute a rehabilitation plan doesn’t mean it’s impossible, nor does it render the building garbage. Or insignificant. Or ripe for demolition.
This Place Matters | The Public
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Old 06-15-2016, 08:51 AM
 
255 posts, read 233,170 times
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Buffalo & WNY can not compete with the rest of the country in attracting in new business's
because of the very very high cost's and the miles & miles of red tape of doing business in WNY
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Old 06-15-2016, 09:02 AM
 
Location: Flahrida
6,276 posts, read 4,775,250 times
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In 1950 they tore down the World Renowned Larkin Building by Frank Lloyd Wright and its a parking lot to this day. When I was a kid, I went downtown where our family business was, and I remember a beautiful bank with marble columns and stairs like a ancient Greek structure on the corner of Swan and Pearl Street which they tore down and pieces are on the North Campus of UB on Lake La Salle. Its a parking lot to this day. I also remember the gorgeous Erie Bank building with its turrets and copper roof which was torn down to put up the abomination Main Place Mall. Our business was located in the Guarantee aka Prudential Building which is now owned by a law firm. It was in bankruptcy for awhile and there was a fire but fortunately it was saved. I think given Buffalo politics (Seneca Casino and Adelphia Building) the Seneca One should be saved because it might wind up as a parking structure or a much lesser building. Better it sits there and gets redeveloped in a few year than gets torn down and nothing goes there for ages.
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Old 06-15-2016, 11:29 PM
 
Location: Pittsburgh
3,298 posts, read 3,856,746 times
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What is worse and should be torn down are those ugly old brown buildings (a resident told us they were projects) by the harbor. Those buildings completely stand out and ruin the view by blocking the city skyline from the outerharbor. We loved what the city has done with Canalside but those buildings are such an eyesore.
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Old 06-16-2016, 09:02 AM
 
Location: Flahrida
6,276 posts, read 4,775,250 times
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Marine Drive Apartments in trouble on the waterfront - City & Region - The Buffalo News
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Old 06-16-2016, 10:36 AM
 
5,479 posts, read 3,965,449 times
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How can the building be worth $27,000,000 when it still needs over $100,000,000 invested into it? Maybe $1 million. What would make the building more valuable would be a ready supply of tenants. Anyone know the current office vacancy rate?
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Old 06-16-2016, 06:13 PM
 
3,483 posts, read 6,223,234 times
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High end condos will be developed there in my opinion. Prime real estate there.
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Old 06-16-2016, 08:15 PM
 
Location: Flahrida
6,276 posts, read 4,775,250 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmd69 View Post
High end condos will be developed there in my opinion. Prime real estate there.
Its all politics. They can't renovate the buildings unless they raise the rents and if they raise the rents the tenants will complain they are being forced out so they building can be made into high end condos for "rich folks". IMHO nothing will be done. The building will continue to deteriorate like so many public housing towers until it has to be condemned. The finances of the city of Buffalo are on life support. It has been governed by a control board named the "Buffalo fiscal stability authority" since 2003. The city has no money to do anything with this property. The best solution is to create alternate housing for the 616 tenants and move them there. They might not have the sweeping lake views but they won't have a decaying building either. Something like that would take vision which something this city hasn't had in decades. Sell the complex with the provision that they construct new housing for the tenants with the proceeds.
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Old 06-17-2016, 01:28 PM
 
255 posts, read 233,170 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluecarebear View Post
What is worse and should be torn down are those ugly old brown buildings (a resident told us they were projects) by the harbor. Those buildings completely stand out and ruin the view by blocking the city skyline from the outerharbor. We loved what the city has done with Canalside but those buildings are such an eyesore.
Most of Buffalo's skyline looks like it's from the 1930's & 1940's and looks just like it did in 1970
The only modern looking mid rise building (like 10 floors) is the Federal Court House
and it doesn't fit well with all the old looking buildings, It's like parking a Model T Ford next to a
2016 Corvette. Re: Canalside, all they did is the old flip & flop they, moved the old Naval park south
and moved the park north to were the naval park was. that's it What's a real eyesore is driving on I-190
between downtown & Bailey, Looks like a zombie apocalypse hit, Go to Google maps, Earth, street view and check it out

Last edited by TanLegs; 06-17-2016 at 01:39 PM..
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