The H.H. Richardson complex will be transformed under a measure passed by the State Legislature.
Posted on 08/11/2004 8:04:13 AM PDT by The Mayor
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| Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News The H.H. Richardson complex will be transformed under a measure passed by the State Legislature.
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ALBANY - The historic but crumbling H.H. Richardson complex in Buffalo will be rehabilitated into a facility for educational and cultural activities under a state budget plan legislators agreed to Tuesday.
The $100 million renovation also would include about $20 million for a new home for the Burchfield-Penney Art Center on the grounds of the Richardson complex at Buffalo Psychiatric Center near Buffalo State College, lawmakers said.
The funding is part of a massive, five-year borrowing plan for public colleges across New York that will total more than $2 billion - an amount that will increase significantly with interest costs.
Lawmakers cautioned that while the Richardson funding has been approved, the issue is part of the larger, statewide capital construction measure that was still being negotiated late Tuesday. If talks conclude, the measure is scheduled to be voted on Friday as part of this week's 2004 state budget passage - a process that began Tuesday with approval of more than $15 billion for the state's public schools.
Also agreed to Tuesday by lawmakers is a plan to move the University at Buffalo's Pharmacy School from the North Campus in Amherst to the South Campus in the city - a $52 million deal that officials say will bring hundreds of jobs and students back to the city and help consolidate the university's health sciences divisions.
The money is part of the 2004 state budget. The Richardson funding comes after lawmakers last year rejected a huge statewide capital construction effort proposed by Gov. George E. Pataki. After Pataki again proposed the Richardson renovation as part of his budget plan in January, lawmakers privately grumbled about spending so much money on a single project. But lawmakers added on a number of other spending ideas around the state, making the Richardson project more politically acceptable.
"It's a wonderful project for the community, particularly since it will include a new Burchfield-Penney Art Center. That's exciting for that part of Buffalo," said Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz, D-Cheektowaga.
Precisely what the Forest Avenue landmark will be turned into has not yet been decided, and Pataki has said he wants to have more local input about its reuse before a final decision is made.
Among the ideas for the complex is a teacher-training center linked to Buffalo State College, a city school, art and performance studios and a museum.
The complex is the largest designed by Richardson, considered America's foremost 19th century architect. It opened in 1880 as the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane on grounds designed by Richardson's friend, Frederick Law Olmsted.
The nation's move away from large psychiatric institutions left the complex empty of patients by the mid-1970s, although offices dotted the complex until about 10 years ago. Saving the facility became a rallying cry for preservationists both in Buffalo and across the nation, who argued that the state had an obligation to protect a unique, architectural gem.
"If indeed it comes to pass, it would be tremendous news, and it can't come a moment too soon," said Tim Tielman, executive director of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo, who has helped lead the Richardson rehabilitation efforts. "This building is the most important preservation project in Western New York."
"Many community leaders and elected leaders have been fighting for decades for the restoration and reuse of this magnificent building. With this money, that dream will become a reality," said Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo. He said the project will create jobs, give a boost to the city's fledgling architectural tourism and the community surrounding the Richardson complex.
Though it is not specifically spelled out in the budget, lawmakers believe about $20 million of the Richardson pot will finance relocating the cramped Burchfield-Penny gallery from Rockwell Hall at Buffalo State College to a location on the grounds of the complex. Details of the move are still being worked out.
The UB Pharmacy School, the nation's second oldest and one of the top-ranked, has been quietly looking for several years to move to the city campus. Under the plan agreed to by lawmakers Tuesday, the state will provide about $52 million to gut and rehabilitate the vacant Acheson Hall on the South Campus. The price tag is inflated because it will cost about $20 million to clean up asbestos and chemical waste in the former home of UB's chemistry department.
Wayne Anderson, dean of the Pharmacy School, said the division, which has about 500 students, has been looking to join the other health schools at the South Campus. It also puts students and researchers closer to work they do at Buffalo's hospitals.
The school's existing home will be turned into other academic space. Construction could begin this year on the four-story building that holds more than 100,000-square-feet of usable space.
State Sen. Byron Brown, D-Buffalo, said the deal represents "one of the most significant investments in the South Campus in decades." He said it will bring construction jobs and hundreds of faculty and students.
e-mail: tprecious@buffnews.com
2 Billion dollars are slated for construction projects in this budget.
When will this ever stop, is it time for a revolution to take back control of the corrupt politics in this state?
Ping
Ping!
There is also a network of tunnels underneath the building and the Buff State campus.
I didn't know about the tunnels beneath the buildings.
That's interesting.
The Burchfield-Penny Art Center is probably the worst display of "art" I have ever seen and is mostly comprised of works by Buff State students.
And with the Albright-Knox (one of the top meusems on the planet) directly across the street, the Burchfield-Penny is not worthy of investment or even visiting.
I agree and don't get it at all, maybe there is a bunch of union jobs on the border as in Buffalo.
I could be wrong on this, but my memory is telling me that the reason the tunnels were shut down for regular use was that an escaped psyco patient used them to escape and later attacked or possibly murdered a student.
I am surprised there isn't a large number of pictures of this building available online. If any Buffalonians know where to find a bunch, post a few here with some links to sources.
Aren't all the psyco patients gone from there?
I thought they put them all out on their own, now we all pay their rent and utilities, plus their travel and visits from their doctors on an out patient basis..
You can see where we are, right across the river is Canada.
We are a majority republican town, but we have no border agents on bridges..
Psycho patients ============> Clinton Operatives
I left Buffalo in 1996. When I was there from 91-96 there were still some patients there. The non-violent ones would roam Elmwood Ave during the day.
Absolutely, I am sure all of them are bussed to the polls during the election and are told to vote demonrat..
They still roam Elmwood....
wacky liberal area all over there..
Where I walked...
Through that little arch at the center bottom.
Here is a photo of the crumbling that is occuring.
Notice there is a light on in the room!
Here are some more images of the sad state this building is in.
Note to all. My posting of pictures and links, along with my discussion of the beauty of this building is in no way to be construed as support for the assinine spending of NY State. This building however needs to be saved. Private individuals and local businesses, along with preservation societies could easily do the work.
I don't care if it cost $300 million if it was done with private money. The bill being handed to tax payers is outrageous.
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