Both.
But, if not both than the harbor has my vote. In fact somewhere between the Cobblestone district, casino, and this the city should install a square, more public space, less parking lot,
Both.
But, if not both than the harbor has my vote. In fact somewhere between the Cobblestone district, casino, and this the city should install a square, more public space, less parking lot,
If it is indeed either/or, DL&W for so many reasons. Any expansion on Elmwood is going to be controversial. DL&W brings a new dynamic to downtown, the waterfront and Cobblestone.
I LUV the Waterfront Design, even if it's not an expansion of the Albright-Knox, Any modern Art Gallery like this would be a wonderful addition to the downtown revitalization.
wow, modern art and ball park franks, theres a marriage made in..... a poorly ventilated board room?
Why don't we contact Schumer and Clinton to get this project moving. They have done so much for WNY, this new project should be a cake walk.
dl&w definitely!
Just think. Start your day off at the casino, grab lunch in the cobblestone, goto the AK, do some shopping at canalside, explore a warship, goto the hatch for an icecream cone and enjoy it while watching the sunset from the new beach.
an entire days worth of things to do in 1 walkable stretch.
sarcasm? no way. i went to the naval park last summer, there were lots of people - most sounded canadian. I wondered what else there was for them to do. with canalside and the AK, this will truly be a 'family friendly' district (minus the casino of course)
Be as skeptical or as negative as you want to be, but fact is tons of people utilize the waterfront during the summer. And the numbers will only grow with more things to do. As those numbers go up, you'll see small businesses start moving in to capitalize. Business follows people my friend. The AK will help bring people.
This whole "what if" sort of post just raises questions.
1. Has AK actually expressed a serious interest in expanding? If so, where would they get the funding to do so? 2. What possible advantage would AK see in expanding into a second location miles from their current museum? Especially in a somewhat desolate area that's hard to find/ not many are familiar with. Wouldn't it make more sense just to expand on the existing location to form an even bigger museum all in one place?
Sounds like you guys are getting kind of lonely down on Mississippi st. This is just one of a few far-fetched ideas I've seen for re-using the old train barn.
The Albright Knox needs to seriously consider either a new building on the waterfront as Milwaukee did with Calatrava or follow London and Paris in reusing an old train station or power station as a museum.
We saw clearly with the auction at Sothebys that the Albright Knox is abandoning its classical art collection even though it has one of the best classical buildings in the nation. The Albright Knox needs a separate building to pursue its contemporary and modern art collections and shows. This will allow the A-K to mentally and physically start to segregate its classical collections to the existing building, pursue 1950&60s modernism in the Castellani addition and pursue current and future contemporary/modernism in a new space.
I personally would rather see a new waterfront commission similar to what Milwaukee did with Calatrava.
or
rebuild the passenger concourse of the DL&W for additional exhibition space.
There is already a growing museum district (great lakes, transportation, navy, air, aerospace, bicycles, etc) so the A-K will not be alone but in my opinion the worst thing that the A-K could do would be to expand at their current location.
but then I prefer a more classical and logical approach...if I had my opinion then the classical A-K would have been expanded in its classical form and the new Castellani modern addition would have occurred someplace else honoring both the classical collections in a classical building and their contemporary/modern collections in a contemporary/modern building.
They are going to have to make a break from Elmwood eventually and now is a good opportunity for them to be right in the middle of a sought after waterfront location which is perfect for sculptures!
Exciting. I definitely prefer the inner harbor proposal between these two. My only concern...it doesn't seem the facility would have a grand gallery space to showcase massive exhibits like a Tate Modern. I've thought it would be amazing if AKAG opened a second modern gallery utilizing a vacant Grain Elevator. There could be some great opportunities to take advantage of the vast vertical spaces of the silos with exhibits. However, I guess my favorite museum that I've ever been to is Musee D'Orsay, which doesn't really have that vast space for a single exhibition, although it is a large interior space.
HaHaHa!! Wholly COW!!! ROFLMAO!!! You guys are too much!!! Thanks for the rib breaker guys...I nearly pissed myself. A-K on the waterfront...you guys are too much. Hey, I got one - why did the chicken cross the raod?
I like the waterfront concept a lot. It would lend a touch of class to the whole Canal Side project.
But as David Brent tells Dawn when she tells him she'd love to be an illustrator, "pipe dreams are good".
I knew that AK was excited about the inner harbor plans and voiced a desire to play an active role in the redevelopment, bringing modern art there, however I didn't expect this!
I hope they go through with this preliminary sketch. It would be a great new component downtown and in the new canalside area.
OK, so I like the idea of having a museum on the water front and yeah it looks cool etc, etc, but has anyone else noticed how there seems to be an increasing number of empty businesses on Elmwood? I'm really not sure if this is just rents and business problems but I am beginning to wonder if as the 'nice' parts of Buffalo grow, while not adding population, we are simply moving resources away from a critical mass. All the stores that used to be central to the EV are now moving around to Hertel, or down further to towards the CBD or trying to tap into the rich suburban markets etc. So if AK moves, what happens to the old building? Do we get a large soon to be window boarded building next to Hoyt Lake and BSC? To me this is one of the largest anchors in the entire EV! We need to create more mass in the cobble stone & waterfront districts, I love them both, but I think that we have to be careful that we are not moving money, people and other resources out of the EV to do it. What we will end up with is just two half crappy parts of town. My god, if we cannot even pave the bombed out looking Allen Street or re-do the now torn up Elmwood Avenue streets and sidewalks how will we ever have the money to maintain them as well as this new district?
wow, that would be an amazing reuse of the dl&w building. I hope that is the one that gets done.
11111 -
A - The Albright Knox is not moving, this would be in addition to the existing museum, much like the Tate did in London, the current AKAG would remain one of the nation's renown art museums. Its likely a second museum location will actually greatly increase the attendance of the original, giving the AKAG name a significant amount of additional recognition.
B - I'm not sure you're understanding the EV commercial district very well. The vacancy rate is actually pretty low at this point. Nearly all of those "vacant" storefronts are accounted for by businesses that are moving in. Off the top of my head, I've read on BRO that there is a new wine bar for solid grounds, a new restaurant for astoria, the market for DVD Dot, current businesses expanding into new world record, that new clothing store near the collective, two new banks on the street, ETS is expanding, Beer Merchant just opened, Hunt real estate in Lab Indigo. I've even heard about a few others. I just think that to say Elmwood is struggling is a gross misstatement. Does anyone actually remember what it was like 5-10 years ago???
11111inBflo It's my understanding from the article that the AK isn't moving, just sort of opening another branch (Am I right on this?) Anyway, I think it's a bold, unique concept--the terminal is beautiful and the cavernous space would be a huge opporturnity for artists (remember that guy who made the huge table and chairs set at the AK??? ) Giant, interactive art would be a fun attraction not only for the artsy set but for families too. The AK could allow outdoor access along the canal side.
I both love and hate BRO b/c it gets you so pumped with these really exciting ideas but so many never come to fruition. I hope this one does. ---oohh, maybe that downtown market idea could still work somewhere down there and be yet another reason to visit the area more than once.
PS--The other concept of building a giant greenhouse attached to the old AK building is horrendous!!!!!!! i'd be PISSED if that one actually got chosen.
The downtown concept while thrilling, would seem to be a tremendous cost burden. Not only the rehab/new build, but maintaining two separate facilities jumps the operating costs by 2x, no? I was under the impression that the AK though pretty solid financially, was not completely flush with dollars. At least that's what I gather when they send donation requests to me every December.
That said, I think culturals have the greatest potential for putting Buffalo on the map, and I would love to see an additional contemporary art center down in this area. One a little more edgy like MASSMOCA, or DIA:Beacon.
So was this firm commissioned to do the designs, or did they just do them on spec for portfolio purposes. Not that they would need it.
Very interesting. What would make the "downtown" AK different that what the Elmwood Art Gallery has? Any ideas? (Possibly Buffaloes floating on water - kidding of course). Seriously, this is an interesting concept, but I wonder if the AK would be better served if they just make a reasonable expansion on their current campus. Although, being on the subway line is a novel idea also.
It appears that who ever made up the sign for the AK took it from the Wonder Bread building on Forgeron. Wonder Bread Story
I think either Plan would be awesome. I think neither plan will ever come to fruition.
We saw clearly with the auction at Sothebys that the Albright Knox is abandoning its classical art collection even though it has one of the best classical buildings in the nation.
Chris69 - There are no classical buildings in North America. Neo-classical buildings from the late 19th century, yes. Classical, no.
The other concept of building a giant greenhouse attached to the old AK building...
It actually looks like a very derivative mash-up of well-worn themes from Frank Gehry and I.M. Pei. Both architects have done great museums, but this form of tribute doesn't equal them. Also, this proposal really crowds out the elegant modernism of the 1962 Bunshaft addition.
The real promise of the DL&W terminal is bringing another connection between the city and its water. Buffalo is lucky enough to have a river, a harbor, and a massive lake that is as "open water" as you can get without being on the ocean. The A-K is going to get visitors wherever it places its expansion, it seems to that they're considering Cobblestone as a possible location to take advantage of live-work-entertainment synergy. Obviously this means that they believe the idea that this area is the next up-and-comer, destined for success like Baltimore's harbor or Chicago's lakefront. Louis Grachos is no slacker at predicting markets either. He hit the art market at the top right before it followed the national economy into recession, bringing millions to the museum.
I have one question, though. Where will the NFTA store the trains at night?
ok ok does this really make sense?
1. everybody got mad about a new bass pro - doesnt this reuse cover up all the "context" of the terminal?
2. this will be VERY VERY VERY expensive. First, this requires the relocation of the NFTA shop facility. Secondly, museum space can run between 250-550 a square foot. Thirdly, this building was designed as a train shed, not a climaticly controlled museum space. I mean look at all that glass adjcent to the water. I couldnt imagine how much energy it would require to keep a building like this at 50% humidity and 70 degrees year round.
3. The distance between this facility and the current AK would require duplicate staff for duplicate facilities - from custodian to currator.
4. With the almost abandoned Richardson Complex almost across the street and abandoned churches all over the city - why move to a less than perfect space? just to make a statement? oh wait, they just might.
5. Most museums only display about 10% of their collection. If anything, moving storage space out of the current facility would free up a lot of square footage and not require duplicate exhibit space. Isnt that what the History Museum does?
a public market? sure. perhaps a rail museum? could be done. an actual rail station? unlikely. AK space? just doesnt add up.
Very cool proposals! I definitley think the waterfront....this would contribute to a "critical mass" for downtown. The current buildings in the museum district are great as they are...maybe someday those will need to be added on to, but spreading the museums reach to dowtown would just be perfect for now!
I'm guessing the NFTA's light rail shop/garage would remain al-alo. Though they don't render any cars in the images. If they plan on booting the NFTA, it would likely be cheaper to build a new museum building.
Aren't there many pieces in storage cause there isn't enough room? The D&L looks great and it would complete that area with all thats going on. I would love for this to come true.
WCP,
didnt the Senecas pass on this space because of issues of egress and access for emergency vehicles due to overhead cantery and transformers for the light rail below?
of course then, you
The AKAG could hang their mothballed art across the street in the BP's new gallery, I mean honestly, how many B's can you look at?
sorry 'bout that, i prematurely posted . . .
but look at the first rendering, theres a giant glass enclosure where the LRV currently enter. nope no nfta there! I dont even see any overhead catenary between the DLW terminal and HSBC. Does that mean the route has been relocated? for that matter - that means there is no station stop at the museum! doesnt sound too new urbanist to me!
al-lo- the building shown in the first rendering is thin and does not sit where the tracks enter the terminal.
It is unclear whether the glass cube extends over the current entrances of the train shed and there are no improvements shown to the first floor leading me to believe the trains would stay. They're possibly downplaying the light rail use in the renderings. Just guessing though.
nyc - fair enough. and ill even give them a pass for not clearly showing the exisiting or relocated rail ROW. However, that still leaves the safety issues. and that also means that there will be a large unheated space below an exhibit space. in museum speak, thats icky.
AK has been pursuing expansion plans so this isn't just some unsolicited concept plan. I like the train station design and concept but wonder about the wisdom of moving a portion of the collection there for many of the reasons already stated. I can't imagine that the neighborhood will be particularly happy about expansion at the current site though. For the AK to finance this they need to increase their endowment. Buffalo just doesn't have the corporate or personal money to support this. I hope that they are seeking benefactors from outside the region to help shore up their finances. There is no reason that some big Canadian money couldn't help out. Albright Knox Rogers Museum anyone? The Rogers Pavillion of the AK? If he is going to take our football team we might as well get something in return. Anytime a museum has to sell artwork to do that it isn't a good sign.
mjman4, Thomas Krens had a deal to build a significant Guggenheim in Buffalo, but the Saudi backers pulled out at the last minute over "transparency issues". Frank Gehry did modify his original multibillion dollar proposal and says he's prepared to go forward should funding become available. Start passing the hat.
I love the waterfront idea and rendering. LOVE it. Especially if light rail is extended there. I wish rail could connect the Elwmood AK and future waterfront AK locations too.. is that too much to dream?
BUT I really don't like the Elmwood AK expansion rendering. What lawn space would the big glass structure take up? The courtyard? Love the courtyard. The outside yard where the summer jazz series is and where all the wedding photos are taken? That would be a real shame. That open space is awesome.
It makes more sense for the Knox to expand on the existing site. THe part of the article where you said if the Knox wants to appeal to a new generation of Buffalonians. I dont think that Delaware Park and Hoyt Lake will fall out of fashion anytime soon. I think the Hoyt Lake site will always be one of the jewels of the city.
That being said, the museum should expand on the existing site, the museum looks much more appealing to outsiders if everything is located on one site. Plus, the new "Museum District" would benefit tremendously by gaining an expanded Knox, rather then loosing the additional museum space.
I think the rendering for the expansion of the current site is horrible. Why do they insist on so much glass. It is a classical building, why not expand on the current style of the structure with a classical addition? Too modern for my taste.
Anyone remember the AK expansion plans announced before then director Douglas Schultz retired? There was some discussion about it being located on the current grounds and I believe it was kind of vertical in design, there being not a lot of room to expand outwards. Anybody have any links to that old story (it was before Buffalo Rising days)? Anyone else even remember it? I'll have to do some searching to see what I can dig up.
Can I just say that this Gluckman design extravaganza belongs on a state college campus in Chino California? If the Albright wants to step into the light of the New Millenium, they chould choose a better travel companion than a third-rate architect. Herzog and de Meuron are available. Shall I pass along their contact information? Offices in Basel, tel.+41 (61) 3855757.
Chris69 quotes specific examples of reuse in other major cities that have been successful. Thanks!
How wonderful would a modern art museum in a restored old train station on the waterfront be?
ok a little late to this discussion but after some thought I really think that the downtown expansion has more merit. While i love to see the gallery expand in its current location and add anothr dynamic to Olmsted's park and the museum district the DWL terminal has more benefits for the whole city.
It really does add some pizazz to the Cobblestone / Inner Harbor areas. but think about the connections. You know anyone who visits downtown will now find and go to this museum. It also will be by default connected to its original location. The Elmwood bus route, with only a slight modification can become the public transit link between the two locations. It is reliable and would show visitors who come to downtown all of Elmwood.
Loop in a pass system where a ticket to the ABK gives you free rides all day on the Elmwood route and you have a setup to bring visitors to downtown and all of Elmwood. Many of whom wouldn't know it exists otherwise. If you mapquest the route from any downtown location to the ABK assuming many people come here to go there also, you won't be brought anywhere near the local businesses that have the most to gain.
I also would become something that people looking down at our city from blimps during hockey games, etc would see, and notice. That glass edition would glow like a crystal shard during all those evening sabres games. Talk about alive and thrilling.
In the one photo they have a great wooden model of the existing structure & then plop down a sponge or piece of styrofoam next to it. That looks awful! Love the water's edge idea. The concrete and water need to be cleaned up a lot to make it a worthwhile site.
Both are missing a large blank Zinc wall for people to ponder and interact with.... ;)
I'd hate to see the current site enlarged on. More and more different buildings sprouting off each other like potato sprouts. The current 60's expansion woorks very well. I don't think anything can be done to better it.
If the collection is big enough, why not set up a new gallery space at the foot of Main area? The water side does look great. But if new build is needed, how about one of the empty blocks between the Casino property and the current block being rebuilt. Add in commercial space facing the current in use block to help bring income to the gallery and solidify the area. The side facing the casino could be left blank since the casino will be one big fortress anyways.
Or how about on the Donovan block or the parking lot in front of HSBC. But the gallery on upper floors, other uses on the bottom. Maybe even a underground ramp below it all (lot and Donovan for the area?
While it does seem a shame to sell of the classic items, the gallery's claim to fame is its modernist collection. Do one thing and do it well. Use the funds to further the galleries mission and maybe even the expansion.
You are all missing the number one proposed attraction in this municipal waterfront wonderworld, that being, Sam Hoyts Coit House historic gee gaw museum and jim crack gift boutique.
see 'Raging Canal' http://eriecanal.blogspot.com/2005_02_01_archive.html
how could the Albright loose in this location with stadium concession cuisine and the spectacularly unassuming Coit house gift emporium in pleasant walking distance!
this is unaffordable. technically dificult. and a near duplicate facility. just because somebody did a rendering doesnt make it a great idea. I really do care about that building but cmon.
see my article: www.buffalorising.com/story/the_delaware_lackawanna_wester
and to continue to ignore the the Richardson complex just within eyeshot of the AK is nuts, if not near criminal. why wouldnt you want to be near other museums? talk about synergy. think about the smithsonian. in one area you would have the history museums 2 spaces, the BP, AK and an additional space at the Richardson building.
Its good for the west side - you know, where people already live. in a neighborhood that has good bones but needs a little more of a boost to take it over the edge.
not to mention the proximity to the existing AK reduces the need for duplicate staff and eliminates lost transit times btwn the locations.
Al-alo, would you really want a cretin like Gluckman let loose on the Richardson campus? I'd rather unleash one of my pit bulls at a daycare center. The Albright needs to examine their identity here and choose an architect that enhances, not muddies it. Until then, these folks must be contained within those pre-existing walls. With plenty of free coffee, of course.
Al-alo, you're dead on right in every one of your comments. All the above pipe-dream fantasizing utterly fails to take into account the practical needs of a good, functional museum space. A gigantic old brick train barn would NOT make a good spot for an art museum.
Also, the comments calling into question the financial viability of any large-scale AK expansion should be heeded. A museum that was desperate enough for $$$ to sell of a wide swath of their collection doesn't sound like one flush with enough cash to make a big expansion. Culturals are great for the area and all, but in a stagnant region monetary resources must be handled in as thrifty a fashion as possible. Building upon what already exists at a steady, incremental rate is a no brainier as opposed to mindlessly trying to carve bigger, newer things out of thin air.
All this wishful, silver-bullet thinking is a condition I have previously labeled as a longing for "Expansion Without Growth." It's a mantra oft repeated on sites like this. Putting things into perspective, in a declining region, building a second AK or trying to carve out new "districts" in wasteland areas is just as backward as building new houses in Clarance or Lancaster.
ahhh Damp, the Richardson is on the National Register of Historic Places! no replacing one of the towers with a interactive cinderblock magic marker in its place.
actually, the AK is as well - which could have some implications on the potential on site expansion. particularly since it is adjacent to Delaware Park (also on the register). perhaps that explains their off site expansion plans.
how can we continue to let a structure like this molder to its death and bring down the entire neighborhood? we have assets in this community we need to build on, not ignore.
maybe, and im just guessing here, a building that has limitations on what can be done to it would not enable the AK to make a statement, and is therefore ruled out.
Oh, I ain't worried about the Richardson buildings...I'm worried about all that empty space on its site. A crappy Modernist Masterpiece of chain link, cinder block, and whatever other flotsam contributes to Gluckman's "design vocabulary" won't be on any Historic Registry, now or in the future. The A-K needs a compelling and intelligent vision first, then we choose the architect. That waterfront proposal is a perfect example: what are they proposing to program this space? Does that program justify the costs, as well as the location? And why the same architect for both proposals when you have two very different programs? And who, of all people, picked this schmuck? Oy gevelt! What a chaloshes!
sally dear, we dont say "stupid' to art institutions and pretentious architects with international pedigrees.....we may all think it, but we dont say it out loud.
its like this dear, first, see dick inherent too much money, see dick grow up in a priveledged sheltered enclave, see dick drink too much, see dick join the board of a venerable arts institution, see dick make a, well, a dick of himself by posturing way beyond his ability and talent at civic planning.
see spot as he dutifully sits at the feet of dick and his prep school chums who make a board game of our city and its future.
lastly, watch as sophomoric posters cheer "build it build it build it", as they kick poor spot for whimpering because he cant find a hydrant to pee on in this uber designed landscape!!!
I like how the architects decided to use a huge brillo pad as inspiration for the current location expansion. very bold.
/sarcasm
wizardofza, al-alo
"Al-alo, you're dead on right in every one of your comments. All the above pipe-dream fantasizing utterly fails to take into account the practical needs of a good, functional museum space. A gigantic old brick train barn would NOT make a good spot for an art museum. "
Really????do you know about any of the major art galleries which have opened in the past few years...about half of them re use old industrial buildings, many of them a lot less ideal than this train building.
for example
the dia beacon... http://www.diabeacon.org/
mass moca... http://www.massmoca.org/
museum of contemporary art los Angeles... http://www.moca.org/ (especially the geffen) http://www.moca-la.org/museum/moca_geffen.php?
the judd foundation http://www.juddfoundation.org/spaces/index.html
and the most famous.... the tate modern in London, which was built in a old coal fired power plant. http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/
so there, not true, an old train building would actually be a great place for modern art.
Richard Gluckman "pretentious architect with international pedigree" was born in Buffalo and grew up here. Its sort of a pattern--right? E.B Green of Buffalo, Gordan Bunshaft of Buffalo and finally Richard Gluckman. I wish Rem Koolhaas was from Buffalo.
He has also proven himself to be an expert at designing beautiful gallery spaces with a sensitivity to context. It seems like thats basically what he is known for.
My opinion is(like it matters) that they should build on the current location. The design does a great job of being the third person. I see no crowding at all. The terminal should be redeveloped but I don't see it as a great place to view art and the giant letters on top are tacky.
I'm sort of with Rising Damp in that I wish Grachos and co. would have chosen H&DeM or someone of that quality but alot of the Nouveau Urban types would have probably flipped out if they did. Gluckman was a solid and safe choice.
"Solid and safe choice", perhaps. But look closely at that design and tell me that you're willing to live with it for a very long time. If they keep Gluckman, and if Gluckman is truly devoted to Buffalo, then let his office come up with five or six designs and put them up for public consideration. The Albright is too important for a one-off, and Buffalo is too loaded wth possibilities to be stuck in an architectural third gear. We want a Ferrari on this site, not an Acura!
Oddly, I really like the design for the old DL&W station...as a rail station, which is not entirely incompatible with an art exhibiton space, as the above rendering attests. The "Ed Ruscha-style" neon sign could say anything in that area. It could say "Go Sabres", or it could say "Love canal".
Right. I agree that it is not Ferrari. But it is very good and I could live happily with it. It prob won't make the cover of the magazines though.
Public consideration is the worst way to go when it comes to architecture. Maybe an expert panel of jurors and an invitation only competition like was had for the Darwin Martin Visitors' center could've worked.
By "public consideration", I'm not suggesting that the public would make the final call, rather, their input would inform those responsible for choosing a design, jury or otherwise. If you like this design, then chalk up at least one person who does. I for one, find it lacking...but it is early days.
This is a little off topic but since we are talking Herzog and how unwise it is for the public or a group of government officials to be allowed to choose museum designs here is an article about HdM resigning a museum commission at the University of Texas. The Board of Regents were crazed about the design because it was "too radical." They wanted a neo-spanish estancia style building at this ultimately what they got. It is an awful and uninspired building. The dean of the school of architecture resigned over the whole mess and there were huge protests on campus. For those that find this sort of thing interesting follow this link http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/E603B/web06/Will/Will's%20Portfolio/P1B.htm. And here is a great take on the whole situation with pics..http://grammarpolice.net/archives/000710.php Sorry for the links but for those that like this sort of thing.
An Acura isn't bad considering this is more a '73 caprice with mismatched doors kind of town!
I love the look, but also wonder about the wisdom of moving AKAG out of our newly defined and expanding "cultural tourism zone" that includes the Historical Society and the Burchfield-Penney. It's better, I think, to add things to Buffalo, not just move them around.
A children's museum might be a better fit, and Buffalo doesn't have one -- Explore and More in East Aurora could be a terrific fit as a family friendly destination, and some other museums that I don't know much about (weather, bicycle, etc.) could be great as well. Cincinatti did a great job of restoring their old Union Station site and that gorgeous old structure is now the home to several different museums. Check it out: http://www.cincymuseum.org/explore_our_sites/union_terminal/#
This would be excellent adaptive use of the terminal. If only we could beautify or find a use for the marine drive apartments. Or lose them to, fit in on the beautiful new waterfront.
the current AK structure will still be used as is correct? this is just an expansion. for special exhibits or something?
Go DL&W version! Shades of London's Tate Modern. I am sure they will find some other exemplary "museum style" use for the current AK structure.
I think the DL&W idea is great! If that route was taken I would want to be assured that the present structure would be put to a good and productive use. The key words here are good and productive. It probably won't happen anyway given most Buffalonians' resistance to any kind of worthwhile change. Just think about the ongoing Peace Bridge expansion debate and the resistance of the Parkside community to have the Zoo moved out of their neighborhood. That one really got me. I thought it was the "Buffalo Zoo," not the "Parkside Community Association Zoo!" Let's see: Animals get more space and a better habitat or I get to have the zoo in my backyard?
Both ideas are great! I think that the AK should not move from its current location. A better option would be to create two AK locations, one with the existing location and the second as the waterfront location. The new location would bring new visitors to both the new and old locations. What ever is decided will be great to the city and I anticipate the revival of our fine city!!!
I, too, like the DL&W concept. Something just seems...off about the attached expansion.
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