In the years to come, the Broadway-Fillmore community could see the landmark Central Terminal revitalized through planned preservation and renovation.
The Central Terminal is something that has stood in Buffalo for almost 100 years but for the past 42 it hasn't been used to its full potential. The facility sat vacant for a long time before the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, or CTRC, was established in 1997 to help preserve this piece of Buffalo History. Since 2003, people have been able to walk through, but not use the entirety of the 18-acre site.
But this week, the CTRC announced a master plan to renovate and reuse the iconic building. Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson says he is hopeful for what this plan will mean to the entire community that surrounds the terminal.
"This is a win for the Broadway Fillmore community. There's a lot of investment going on in this community, from what's happening at the Broadway market, our Bangladeshi community making investments in the Broadway Fillmore community, this building right here, being an anchor tenant will serve its purpose here," said Johnson.
The plan estimates the total work to cost between $275 to $300 million. The hope, according to the plan, is to create an active, year-long venue for a variety of programming and opportunities, both indoor and outdoor. The plan also identifies opportunities for the space to respond to the needs of the region, such as potentially housing an innovation hub or housing.