Magazine swoons over Buffalo architecture

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Buffalo is getting national attention thanks to the push to preserve our city's architectural gems. The July/August issue of "Preservation" magazine features Buffalo and the timing is perfect.

Buffalo's terra cotta-covered Guaranty Building has been a downtown fixture for decades. It's now on the cover of "Preservation," the bi-monthly journal of the National Trust for Preservation. Downtown worker Mark Galvin wasn't surprised.

Galvin said, "I think people locally are recognizing the beauty in our architecture and preserve it, hopefully."

The eight-page article, called "Reinventing Buffalo," chronicles the city's stunning historic architecture. Henry McCartney, the Executive Director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara, called it a "glowing review."

McCartney said, "Well, the cover is the Guaranty Building, one of the great early skyscrapers of America. You got a wonderful aerial view of City Hall, the Statler. It shows the Darwin Martin House."

Writer, Logan Ward, didn't sugar coat anything; he admitted that he underestimated the architectural gems in Buffalo, treasures that have drawn a fan base.

"With the service economy, tourism is more and more important. If we can bring people in from around the U.S., as preservationists, that reinforces the value of these buildings and we won't have fights about preserving them," said McCartney.

The article really is timely. Come October, preservationists from across the country will converge on Buffalo for the annual National Trust for Historic Preservation conference. McCartney is expecting the largest crowd ever, especially after the magazine's positive attention.

McCartney said, "Well, I think this magazine it is to brand Buffalo, the architecture, but it's also important for our own residents to go to the library and see this and what people are saying about Buffalo."

"Preservation" magazine reaches 275,000 people, mainly those with a serious interest in architecture in communities across the country. This particular issue will be handed out as much as possible by other groups who want to attract tourists to WNY.