Electric scooters: Urban boost or danger? Dedicated preservationists and urbanists are big supporters of mass mobility as a way to preserve and enhance pre-automobile neighborhoods and build vibrant new ones. Car-dependency can't do it. So, I was excited to follow the development of electric scooters and scooter-sharing systems. So excited, I shelled out $500 for my own scooter, made by the same company which supplies Bird. Big mistake. Find out why in the video. Continue reading

The Buffalo Public Schools, in collaboration with the City of Buffalo, are looking for a field house. Cannon Design has been hired to develop proposals. A public input session was held on December 11. That's when it got complicated. Read about The Campaign for Greater Buffalo's response to building on parkland, and ignoring transit-oriented development, community revitalization, and historic preservation. Download Greater Buffalo #26.3Armory med-res Or, click on the page images to read on-screen. Greater Buffalo #26.3 Save the Armory! Continue reading

The Administration of Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz is about to cost downtown Buffalo 437 jobs and all the economic and social consequences that entails. The Buffalo News on August 13 reported an announcement by a deputy county press secretary that the county is moving the Department of Social Services employees from their long-time home at one of the most equitably accessible locations in Erie County to the out-of-the-way and failed Appletree Mall on Union Road at Bennett Road in Cheektowaga. Prior to 1985, the mall was known as the Como Park Mall, and struggled almost from the day it... Continue reading

The one absolute, non-negotiable asset we must build on the Outer Harbor Waterfront is a large Community Porch overlooking a rolling Olmstedian meadow down to Lake Erie. We deserve nothing less and can accept nothing less, nowhere else. Trowbridge, Wolf, Michaels landscape architects have been given a contract for Buffalo Billion II improvements in the middle section of the Buffalo's Outer Harbor. A general understanding was reached in September 2017 meeting at Empire State Development Corporation offices between ESDC officials and community representatives, including The Campaign for Greater Buffalo, Waterkeeper, the Outer Harbor Coalition, and Assemblyman Sean Ryan, that included... Continue reading

Eagle-eyed readers of the New York Times (that would be us) alerted local state officials in April of New York State Canal Corporation plans to render as surplus "30 decommissioned barges, tugboats and tenders from the Erie Canal and upstate waterways," and have them sunk as part of a series of artificial reefs. Gulp. At the same time the state and localities up and down the canal—not the least of which, Buffalo—are trying to celebrate the canal and their connections to it. During the 200th anniversary period of its construction and opening (1817-1825). The Campaign suggested that the Erie Canal... Continue reading

The Campaign for Greater Buffalo is proposing a series of of structures for the Buffalo Outer Harbor that are linked in a "visibility chain," united in their utilitarian aspect with the historic character of the Outer Harbor, and provide instantly communicated shelter, sustenance, and sociability. The could all be built for $5,000,0000, or one-third the amount the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation has obtained for all Outer Harbor improvements to this stage. The most expressive structure proposed is a snackbar/cafe conceived of as an outpost for beach goers and bicyclists, the so-called “Beach and Bicycle Club” at the entrance to... Continue reading

If you can make your transportation infrastructure picturesque, do so. If you can make your public transportation friction-less, do it. If it can connect people to line-of-sight destinations, do it. Vancouver does it. Not one, but two, ferry companies provide 5-minute headways to Granville Island from downtown Vancouver, a 3-minute ride. Together, an amazing 2-1/2-minute headway on this one route. One literally can go to the dock and immediately board a waiting ferry anytime between 7:00am and 10:00pm. Yes, we have a bicycle ferry and a new ferry landing. It just doesn’t operate frequently or long enough. And it ain’t... Continue reading

The Campaign for Greater Buffalo creates umbrella for educational field trips on Open-Air Autobus, lectures, building information. The Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture and Culture is launching a new brand to help the public more easily identify and access its educational services. LearnAboutBuffalo.org has just been launched by The Campaign, to consolidate and rebrand the non-profit’s public education components: the Open-AirAutobus, its lecture series, building histories, photographs, and digital collections. “This was driven by the need to differentiate our Open-Air Autobus, which for 10 years was the only such vehicle in Western New York, from the commercial services which... Continue reading

The Buffalo Outer Harbor is a long, thin belt of land along the Lake Erie shore largely owned by public entities. The Campaign for Greater Buffalo proposes to create a chain of useful, seasonal structures governed by what people want, need, and can practically get to. This means providing shelter, sustenance, and sociable places in support of those coming to enjoy the primary resource: the scenic qualities of Buffalo’s front yard on Lake Erie. Buffalo has been down this path before: Large piece of open space facing the immensity of Lake Erie, a population hungry for recreational space. In the... Continue reading

Add Assembly Member Erik Bohen to Congressman Brian Higgins and Assembly Member Sean Ryan to the list of local officials who support The Campaign for Greater Buffalo's proposal for a new transit plaza and intermodal hub instead of merely rebuilding Amtrak's existing Exchange Street (BFX) station under a Thruway viaduct. In calling for Governor Andrew Cuomo to re-evaluate the BFX plan and consider the Campaign's proposal for a train station on Washington Street (or "BFW"), south of the Thruway, Bohen said, “After visiting the site and studying both plans from New York State and the Campaign for Greater Buffalo, it... Continue reading

The Campaign for Greater Buffalo has embarked on an ambitious building documentation project. Begun early this year, Campaign interns have already researched, compiled data, and written narratives of over two dozen Buffalo buildings. Dan Richer, a recent history graduate of SUNY Fredonia, and Ryan Wheatley, a history and anthropology graduate of Gettysburg College who is going on to Temple University for a PhD, worked under the direction of Campaign Board members. Tim Tielman, executive Director of The Campaign, and Paul McDonnell, Chair of the Campaign, who sit on the Landmarks Subcommittee of the City of Buffalo Preservation Board, are regularly... Continue reading

There is no better way to learn about Buffalo than to travel around and about Buffalo with the experts of The Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture & Culture. They have the Open-Air Autobus, a mobile classroom and part of The Campaign’s Learn About Buffalo outreach— the best way to... Continue reading

The giant cement manufacturing and shipping complex that has marked the southern border of the Buffalo waterfront for almost a century is under dire threat of demolition. A wrecking company has set up shop on the site, installed signage, and a number of people were observed working on the site the morning of June 14—prior to a Preservation Board hearing to consider the demolition request. All such requests must be reviewed by the board to ensure that no significant structure "fall through the cracks" before a landmark designation or other measures can be taken to protect it, stemming from the... Continue reading

Please make the time to attend the Campaign's important meeting on Canal District development and DOT's April 16 proposal to spend $25,000,000 for a two-bit train station in exactly the same place as the old, failed, Amtrak station. And they did it without an environmental review, sidestepping the public meeting process and any discussion of alternatives. Thereby jeopardizing the successful rebirth of the Canal District, which we preservationists have been fighting for for 25 years, and cementing for the next hundred years the untold harm to our public transportation system and the people who would use it The Buffalo News,... Continue reading

The Campaign for Greater Buffalo is holding a public meeting to call attention to the problems of an isolated new downtown Buffalo train station and lack of public process. "A New Nexus for Buffalo," will take place at 1:00pm Saturday, May 12, 2018 at the Pizza Plant restaurant, 125 Main Street, Buffalo. Tim Tielman, Exceutive Director of The Campaign and Principal of urban consultants Place Advantage, will review D.O.T.'s controversial proposed project—a single-mode station under the Thruway, the same place as the current station—and offer an intermodal alternative sited on Washington Street, facing Main Street with interconnections to all other... Continue reading

Green & Wicks-designed factory for Brunn & Company, designers of Lincoln, Pierce Arrow, custom cars • Seymour Knox-backed Aqua-Cheetah made splash in WWII • Agent for Medical Campus recently demolished Green & Wicks house on site . On Tuesday October 24 at 2:00pm, the Buffalo Common Council's Committee on Legislation is holding a public hearing on the designation of the Brunn Coachworks site (also known as 980 Ellicott Street) as an official City of Buffalo landmark. The Buffalo Preservation Board, after its own public hearing, recently voted unanimously to designate an early automobile factory as a City of Buffalo landmark.... Continue reading

Hi Gang, check out our tours for Summer 2017: our ever-popular Whirlwind Tour and our new Picturesque Buffalo Tour. All the info you need is on the reproductions of our mini-posters below. You can download the pdfs, pass them along to friends, or print them out! Reserve online by clicking the button below, or call us for reservations at 716-854-3749. Download 2017 Picturesque Buffalo tour Download 2017 Buffalo Whirlwind Buffalo Whirlwind tour The Campaign for Greater Buffalo's 2017 Open-Air Autobus tours Dear Buffalo Lover, there is simply no better way to see Buffalo and grasp what it is all about... Continue reading

Once again, The Campaign for Greater Buffalo is conducting a special Open-Air Autobus tour that covers the route of the annual Buffalo Marathon. Although focusing on runners and their friends and families, the tour is open to the general public. It is an ideal way to scout the route, fix landmarks and distances in your mind, and learn a little bit of the history and architecture of the city. While it has never been used, the bus has a roll-down, see-through roof in case of rain. The cost is $40 per person in advance, plus convenience fee, and $50 at... Continue reading

Tim Tielman, Campaign for Greater Buffalo Executive Director and principal of neighborhood designers Place Advantage, rolled out an Outer Harbor Plan for 2017 before an audience of over 120 people on September 14. The plan had gained the enthusiastic support of Congressman Brian Higgins and Assemblyman Sean Ryan, as well as The Buffalo News. Check out the story in the Buffalo News: http://live.buffalonews.com/2016/09/08/new-proposal-for-outer-harbor-is-lighter-quicker-and-cheaper/ http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/buffalo-news-editorials/latest-proposal-for-the-outer-harbor-should-at-least-spark-renewed-effort-20160909 Download the abbreviated plan here, and voice your support! Download Buffalo Outer Harbor Plan Continue reading

http://www.buffalonews.com/opinion/buffalo-news-editorials/latest-proposal-for-the-outer-harbor-should-at-least-spark-renewed-effort-20160909 Continue reading

http://live.buffalonews.com/2016/09/08/new-proposal-for-outer-harbor-is-lighter-quicker-and-cheaper/ Continue reading

September is the season for great in-depth tours of the Buffalo for architectural and history aficionados and the people who love them. We start off with a well-researched, revealing and fun tour of 1950's suburbia given by Campaign for Greater Buffalo Executive Director Tim Tielman. Download his paper How Green Were My Acres: Builders, Designers, and Buyers in an Atomic Age Suburb, 1946-1956. Download Tielman, Green Acres narrative 2 That tour departs from in front of the Plaka Restaurant on Delaware Avenue in Kenmore. A monument to 1960's design, it was formerly Watson's Restaurant (the candy store is still operating... Continue reading

Click on the link to view or download the 2016 schedule for the Buffalo Open-Air Autobus. Simply the best, most fun, most informative explorations of Buffalo available to mortals. Every Saturday and Sunday in July, August, and September. Weekdays and weekends through September we are also available for charter. Download 2016 tour tabloid Walk-ups are welcome, but seating is limited. You can mail us a check, stating the tours and number of seats you want (made out to The Campaign for Greater Buffalo, 14 Lafayette Square, suite 1425, Buffalo, NY 14203). Better yet, call now to reserve: 716-854-3749. Have your... Continue reading

The Campaign for Greater Buffalo History, Architecture and Culture has filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court challenging the Buffalo Common Council’s summary rejection of three landmark designation applications lon May 10th. The Campaign complaint charges that the Council, as the City Code requires, must provide valid reasons for rejecting applications, and those must be according to the standards established by the City Code. The Campaign is also seeking an injunction against the demolition of the three properties in question, The Bachelor Apartment Building, the North Park Library, and the Pratt Street Industrial Heritage Area. Also named in the suit... Continue reading

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