Abandoned Buffalo train station makes global watch list

An abandoned train station in Buffalo, New York, has made an international group’s list of cultural treasures that need to be preserved.

The Manhattan-based World Monuments Fund released its 2018 watch list of cultural heritage sites that are threatened by warfare, natural disaster, climate change or urbanization on Monday.

The Watch ‘calls for investment in the redevelopment of the Buffalo Central Terminal in order to give new life to this architectural landmark.’ 

An abandoned train station in Buffalo, New York, has made an international list of cultural treasures that need to be preserved

Buffalo Central Terminal opened in 1929 and operated for 50 years before closing its doors and clearing the tracks in 1979

Buffalo Central Terminal opened in 1929 and operated for 50 years before closing its doors and clearing the tracks in 1979

The brick and limestone building complex is set to be renovated after being closed for almost three decades

The brick and limestone building complex is set to be renovated after being closed for almost three decades

The terminal is pictured shortly after it was closed down in 1979, completely empty after five decades of operation

The terminal is pictured shortly after it was closed down in 1979, completely empty after five decades of operation

A vintage photograph from an unspecified year shows a line of men dressed in uniforms and hats selling tickets

A vintage photograph from an unspecified year shows a line of men dressed in uniforms and hats selling tickets

A bison is seen grazing in front of the Buffalo Central Terminal before the area surrounding it was urbanized

A bison is seen grazing in front of the Buffalo Central Terminal before the area surrounding it was urbanized

The facility closed in 1979 after a half-century in operation. 

The property featuring the old station and its 17-story Art Deco-style tower was abandoned and left to deteriorate before local preservationists stepped in. 

The nonprofit Central Terminal Restoration Corp. is overseeing ongoing renovation work as redevelopment projects are sought.

The group’s Paul Lang tells WBEN-AM that inclusion on the list puts the terminal on ‘the world stage.’

The list features 25 sites, including the Governor’s House in Antigua that was ravaged by hurricanes this year and the Blackpool Piers in the UK.

The brick and limestone building complex was built by Fellheimer and Wagner and opened in 1929. 

Throngs of travelers can be seen milling around in the central terminal in its earlier years as they wait for trains to depart

Throngs of travelers can be seen milling around in the central terminal in its earlier years as they wait for trains to depart

A group of women pass through the terminal after purchasing train tickets in what appears to be 1930s clothing

A group of women pass through the terminal after purchasing train tickets in what appears to be 1930s clothing

A train is pictured departing the station in the early years with the large brick tower looming in the background

A train is pictured departing the station in the early years with the large brick tower looming in the background

The firm specialized in railroad architecture and ‘responsible for many successful designs throughout North America,’ World Monuments Watch wrote in the watch list. 

‘At Buffalo, Fellheimer and Wagner designed dazzling interior spaces with Art Deco decoration, from stylized floral details to crystalline light fixtures and geometrically patterned terrazzo floors,’ the description reads. 

The iconic former train station sits on the East Side of Buffalo, a city of a little over 250,000 on the shores of Lake Erie in upstate New York.

The station has not been used since 1979, but there were talks earlier this year of reopening it for trains to come through

The station has not been used since 1979, but there were talks earlier this year of reopening it for trains to come through

A lone construction worker taking a break sits above the tracks that pass by the rundown station in 2017

A lone construction worker taking a break sits above the tracks that pass by the rundown station in 2017

The original clock is still mounted on the limestone and brick building where's its ticked away for the past 90 years

The original clock is still mounted on the limestone and brick building where’s its ticked away for the past 90 years

The terminal is located on the East Side of Buffalo, New York, a city of about 250,000 residents in upstate New York

The terminal is located on the East Side of Buffalo, New York, a city of about 250,000 residents in upstate New York

A photo looks down on the converging railroad tracks from atop one of the platform covers at the station

A photo looks down on the converging railroad tracks from atop one of the platform covers at the station

The abandoned building has a spooky feel to it as light filters through the windows from one end to the other

The abandoned building has a spooky feel to it as light filters through the windows from one end to the other

The photo above shows an express train that ran between Buffalo and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1969

The photo above shows an express train that ran between Buffalo and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1969

‘We are honored and flattered to be included on this hugely important list from the World Monuments Fund. We want to thank the WMF for honoring us and we look forward to working with them to help move our preservation projects forward,’ said Jim Hycner, chairman of the Central Terminal Restoration Corp., in a statement. 

‘This recognition adds to the amazing momentum the Terminal is seeing right now, including strong community support, the ULI study and backing from such leaders as Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Howard Zemsky from Empire State Development. We could not be more excited for the Terminal’s future.’

According to WMF, the terminal never reached its full capacity. 

According to the World Monument Fund, the train station never reached its full capacity, but it is packed in the photo above

According to the World Monument Fund, the train station never reached its full capacity, but it is packed in the photo above

A photograph from an unspecified year shows the central terminal decorated for the holidays as people travel to see family

A photograph from an unspecified year shows the central terminal decorated for the holidays as people travel to see family

A more recent photo shows the Russian celebration of Dyngus Day that brings thousands to Buffalo each year

A more recent photo shows the Russian celebration of Dyngus Day that brings thousands to Buffalo each year

A blurry photo shows a family in the station during its early years of operation when cameras weren't very high-quality

A blurry photo shows a family in the station during its early years of operation when cameras weren’t very high-quality

The station is shown above on a slower day with what appears to be only a few dozen people passing through

The station is shown above on a slower day with what appears to be only a few dozen people passing through

This photograph shows the New York City train called the 'Twentieth Century' as it pauses in Buffalo in the year 1934

This photograph shows the New York City train called the ‘Twentieth Century’ as it pauses in Buffalo in the year 1934

A New York Central System train numbered 4012 can be seem steaming as it leaves the engine on a cold day in Buffalo

A New York Central System train numbered 4012 can be seem steaming as it leaves the engine on a cold day in Buffalo

‘Instead, beginning in the 1950s, construction of the interstate highway system and the growth of the airline industry led to a decrease in passenger traffic that was impossible to reverse,’ the site says.

This summer the Urban Land Institute reported that the Central Terminal could be used to increase the popularity of the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood in which the building stands.

The institute concluded that it would be premature to bring in a private developer or plan transformative projects because of the neighborhood’s low market value.

Instead, the panel recommended arts and cultural events throughout the year in the Central Terminal concourse to improve the former train station’s image and appeal. 

Community investment was also suggested to improve the nearby housing market and infrastructure.

The study was in response to an unsuccessful attempt to have a new Buffalo train station located at the Central Terminal. 

Canadian developer Harry Stinson spent more than a year planning to create an event space and a hotel in the terminal, but Central Terminal Restoration Corp. severed negotiations with him in May. 

The Manhattan-based World Monuments Fund released its 2018 watch list of cultural heritage sites that are threatened by warfare, natural disaster, climate change or urbanization on Monday.

The Manhattan-based World Monuments Fund released its 2018 watch list of cultural heritage sites that are threatened by warfare, natural disaster, climate change or urbanization on Monday.

This summer the Urban Land Institute recommended the abandoned space be used for events like the ones shown above

This summer the Urban Land Institute recommended the abandoned space be used for events like the ones shown above

An original clock stands in the center of the station to help passengers keep track of time while waiting for their trains

An original clock stands in the center of the station to help passengers keep track of time while waiting for their trains

A photo of a stairwell to one of the platforms shows how the building has been left to decay in the past few decades

A photo of a stairwell to one of the platforms shows how the building has been left to decay in the past few decades

An interior photo shows graffiti painted on the walls of the station as well as rubble from the collapsing building

An interior photo shows graffiti painted on the walls of the station as well as rubble from the collapsing building

The beams above one of the platforms appear to be peeling at the elements ware on the complex

The beams above one of the platforms appear to be peeling at the elements ware on the complex

Greenery surrounding the station has become overgrown in the absence of train traffic, as shown above 

Greenery surrounding the station has become overgrown in the absence of train traffic, as shown above 

The Urban Land Institute reported that the Central Terminal could be used to increase the popularity of the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood in which the building stands

The Urban Land Institute reported that the Central Terminal could be used to increase the popularity of the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood in which the building stands

The institute concluded that it would be premature to bring in a private developer or plan transformative projects because of the neighborhood's low market value

The institute concluded that it would be premature to bring in a private developer or plan transformative projects because of the neighborhood’s low market value

Signage above doors in the terminals directs passengers to the trains and to the offices

Signage above doors in the terminals directs passengers to the trains and to the offices

Signage above doors in the terminals directs passengers to the trains and to the offices in the two vintage photographs above

A photograph mimicking an optical illusion looks through cutouts in the side of the terminal

A photograph mimicking an optical illusion looks through cutouts in the side of the terminal

A sewer cap is marked 1930, the year after the station opened for business

A sewer cap is marked 1930, the year after the station opened for business

The exterior of the building has been worn by the elements, causing oxidization of iron and copper on the facade

The exterior of the building has been worn by the elements, causing oxidization of iron and copper on the facade

A close-up photograph shows the rusting on a steel support beam on the side of the building

A close-up photograph shows the rusting on a steel support beam on the side of the building

The lights in the interior of the terminal are lit up in the photograph above for an unknown reason in 2017

The lights in the interior of the terminal are lit up in the photograph above for an unknown reason in 2017

World Monuments Fund 2018 Watch List 

1. Disaster Sites of the Caribbean, the Gulf, and Mexico

2. Government House, St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda

3. Sirius Building, Millers Point, Sydney, Australia

4. Ramal Talca-Constitución, Talca Province, Chile

5. Grand Theater, Prince Kung’s Mansion, Beijing, China

6. Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, Alexandria, Egypt

7. Takiyyat of al-Gulshani, Cairo, Egypt

8. Potager du Roi, Versailles, France

9. Post-Independence Architecture of Delhi, India

10. Al-Hadba’ Minaret, Mosul, Iraq

11. Lifta, Jerusalem, Israel

12. Amatrice, Italy

13. Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium, Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan

14. Jewish Quarter of Essaouira, Morocco

15. Sukur Cultural Landscape, Madagali Local Government Area, Nigeria

16. Historic Karachi, Pakistan

17. Cerro de Oro, Cañete Valley, Peru

18. Tebaida Leonesa, El Bierzo, León, Spain

19. Souk of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

20. Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand

21. Blackpool Piers, Blackpool, United Kingdom

22. Buffalo Central Terminal, Buffalo, New York, United States

23. Alabama Civil Rights Sites, Alabama, United States

24. Old City of Ta’izz, Ta’izz, Yemen

25. Matobo Hills Cultural Landscape, Matobo, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe

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