The Central Terminal is a Challenge and it’s Time Local Leaders Accepted the Challenge

Yesterday, WGRZ did a story on the Central Terminal and the challenges it faces. When I saw the story, I have to admit, it made me angry because I didn’t think it captured what has gone on at the Terminal and how far it has come since the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) took it over in 1997. It also made wonder do people really recognize the challenges the CTRC has faced to keep the building alive.

As someone who was in the building during the 1990s before the CTRC took over and has seen what has happened since, it’s nothing short of a miracle that the building was saved and how much work has been done to bring new life to the Terminal. The building went from a rotting hulk to a place that people could attend events such as Dyngus Day, weddings, Halloween parties, concerts, car shows, etc. Considering what I saw in the early 1990s, it is miraculous.

Fast forward to earlier today–when Sara Etten, former CTRC board member posted this on Facebook as a response to the WGRZ story:

I find pieces like this to be frustrating because people tend to forget what the CTRC is and always has been – a grassroots organization. Despite attempts to “professionalize” the board and hire an executive director, the fact remains, for nearly 20 years now the CTRC has done all that it could, on it’s own, to maintain a Goliath of a structure. Why is it still sitting vacant? Because no one (aka the government) has handed us a check for $100million like Richardson Olmstead Complex. We got a million, once. We get $50k every so often in Block Grant money. Every other dime we’ve gotten, we’ve gotten on our own. So when you look at that, the CTRC has done incredible things. If the current estimate is $70million, where do you think that’s going to come from? Local foundations who always claim to love us, and love our ideas, but then don’t cut a check? No. And no one in the CTRC has ever been delusional in thinking that we’d ever be able to raise the money ourselves, through beer bashes and art shows and other fundraisers. There are 2 ways, through city, county and state government, or through doing little bits at a time, as we have been, to maintain and stabilize the building until a developer with the proper resources and vision can come and redevelop it. I was involved for 10 years, I saw several “regime changes” and I think it’s funny that any time someone leaves, they level the same silly arguments – that people were only out for personal gain, and turned it into a club house, etc etc etc. Ha! No one is ever going to gain personally from that building! And of all the people I saw pass through those doors – board members, volunteers, whoever – there were very few who I thought were in it for themselves. Those that were very quickly left. To be involved in that place you need a love for it, you need to be there strictly to see it saved. Because a thank you is all you’re going to get back.

The CTRC and its legions of loyal volunteers like Sara Etten are the nitty gritty preservationists who have worked tirelessly to ensure the Central Terminal remains viable for restoration. The have been the caretakers of this iconic Buffalo building . Yes. The Central Terminal faces challenges. But isn’t it about time the building is put at the forefront of preservation efforts in Buffalo and local leaders get on board the train to help make restoration a reality. What restoring the Terminal would mean to Buffalo, the east side and the neighborhood would truly convince me that city’s renaissance is truly at hand. Let’s make it happen.

Here is the link to the WGRZ story:
http://www.wgrz.com/story/news/local/east-side/2015/01/13/efforts-continue-to-develop-landmark-former-train-station-in-buffalo/21715365/