Federal Courthouse Plan, Plaza rate a 'D' so far

by Tim Tielman, Executive Director of the Campaign for Buffalo
History, Architecture and Culture

December 2003

The courthouse proposal, as it stands now, it merits a "D" in urban chemistry:

• Destroys 4 occupied buildings, 2 National Register-eligible structures (Balcom/Chandler House & Erlanger Place at 120 Delaware Ave., formerly the Erlanger Theater)
• Displaces over 300 people who work in those buildings. Many will be lost to downtown forever
• Depopulates. There will be almost no new people downtown to make up for loss
• Dehumanizes, The plaza is an urban nightmare comparable to worst 60s & 70s urban renewal projects. It will repel, not invite.
• Disconnects. Residential neighborhoods will be further separated by DHZ of seldom-used government ghetto
• Disrespects. Jos. Ellicott street pattern damaged, historic district rendered meaningless

These are present acceptable alternatives.

• Retain historic structures and eliminate plaza
• Pick a new site entirely. The "Gleason's" site behind City Hall is a good alternative.
• Redesign structure to recognize it is within historic district with certain traditions of materials, amount of glazing, treatment of street walls, etc.

What people can do now: WRITE, Right Now!

Courthouse Regulatory Contacts:

Arnold Feinsilber
Project Manager
US General Services Administration
26 Federal Plaza, Rm 1639
New York, NY 10278
Arnold.Feinsilber@gsa.gov

David Anthone
Regional Historic Preservation Officer
US General Services Administration
26 Federal Plaza, Rm 1611
New York, NY 10278
David.Anthone@GSA.gov

Héctor Abreu CintrÃ3n
GSA Liaison
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Rm 803
Washington, DC 20004-2501
HAbreu@ACHP.gov

Richard Lord
Historic Sites Restoration Officer
NY State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Peebles Island, PO Box 189, Waterford, NY 12188-0189
RichardLord@OPRHP.state.ny.us

Hillary Clinton
28 Church St., Suite 208
Buffalo, NY 14202

Charles Schumer
111 West Huron St., Rm 620
Buffalo, NY 14202

Jack Quinn
403 Main St., Suite 240
Buffalo, NY 14203

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