Plans revealed for Central Terminal

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Grand plans are moving full speed ahead for Buffalo's historic Central Terminal.

The public debut of the Terminal's master plan was well attended. There was much excitement, there and elsewhere, because another historic landmark is also moving forward.

Supporters of the Buffalo Central Terminal have waited for this day. Under the vaulted ceiling of the historic passenger concourse, business leaders, residents and preservationists gathered as the much anticipated master plan for the landmark was unveiled.

CTRC board member Paul Lang said, "The vision is a mix use, inter-modal facility, a mix of green incubator, commercial space."

The same hour, two miles away, developer Mark Croce said he expects to officially take ownership of another landmark, the Statler Towers, by Thursday next week.

"Excited. Excited. It's a fantastic piece of property," said Croce.

The once vibrant buildings have stood dormant for years. Backers see them as strong architectural selling points for WNY. While Croce wants the city to kick in some money to stabilize the structure, he plans to privately fund the restoration. The ground level could be up and running in a matter of months.

Croce said, "We have a couple retail people with an interest, two coffee shops, restaurant operators. Our goal would be to have a symbolic open for the National Historic Trust that is coming in October."

The timetable for the Central Terminal is less certain. Funding the $75 million project has yet to be secured. In real estate, location is everything, and people behind these projects believe their buildings are in a good spot.

Croce said, "As far as I'm concerned, Statler is the area's most strategic in downtown Buffalo."

"If you don't put a re-use in the building, Buffalo's going to lose another architectural landmark gem," said Lang.

The Central Terminal plan does identify numerous government tax credits and other economic incentives aimed at lowering the cost. This spring, phase one will include the urban habitat project in the front yard.