By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Dulski Federal Building in downtown Buffalo was officially decommissioned Monday. A ceremony was held lowering the building's flag. Officials then turned over the keys to the new owner.
The 17-story white office building has towered over the corner of Delaware and West Huron for 35 years. At one time, it housed more than 20 federal agencies. But through the years, many agencies moved to new facilities downtown -- the FBI and US Attorneys office each has its own building nearby. And within the past year, a new office complex was built nearby on South Elmwood Avenue to house other federal agencies.
Renee Miscione, a spokeswoman for the US General Services Administration, said the cost of rehabilitating the old building -- and removing asbestos -- was just not worth it.
And so Monday, the Dulski Federal Building was decommissioned. Family members of the late Thaddeus Dulski, who served in Congress for 16 years from his election in 1958 through 1974, were on hand to receive the building's flag after it was lowered for the last time.
The Uniquest-Delaware Corporation purchased the building in September for $6.1 million. A major renovation is planned, but the new owners aren't yet saying what they have planned for the building.
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