Plans for H. H. Richardson Complex

It's a towering fixture of Buffalo's rich, architectural past. A greater push is now underway to preserve the Richardson Complex.

[elinor27]

What a horrible waste of $76 million. I can't stand to even look at that dark, depressing building. We should be able to think of WAY better things to spend the money on.

[overtaxed payer]

knock that piece of crap down...we spend more tax dollars for these stupid projects while jobs are leaving Buffalo...

[Silver Stag]

We have MUCH BETTER ways to "SPEND" money than to reconstruct/refurbish an old, outdated& crumbling structure. IT IS a waste of $$$$$$$ at a time when our economy is in "death throws".

[Lloyd---Lockport]

They're talking about cuts in Albany, and how they affect Erie County.

How about drop the whole proposal to restore and preserve this piece of junk building, return the money, and hire somebody to blow it up and prepare the land for something brand-new?

[Dave in Wales]

Knock the eyesore down!$100 million to "save" the old nuthouse is a travesty. Save for what purpose? Will it EVER contribute to the area in terms of paying taxes? Who will pay to maintain or heat it? Us.

Take some pictures to preserve the memory and turn loose the wrecking ball. Better yet, rent me a bulldozer and excavator and I'll personally knock it down for free in my space time.

[Yvonne]

The Richardson Complex is a buffalo landmark, I would like to see it turned in to a museum, There is history in that building, Fix it up and let the public veiw it.

[Yvonne]

The building is a historic landmark in buffalo, It might be an old Nuthouse,But they should use the money to fix it up and turn it into a museum so that everyone can veiw the history that the building holds.

[Gerry]

Thank you Sam Hoyt. This is a one of Buffalo's great treasures and should be treated as such!

[dawn]

This is a building in which they tortured the mentally ill and now we want our tax money, in a city that where we have one of the highest poverty rates, to refurbish it. Take some pictures. Hang them in the Historical Museum. Knock it down.

[thenycommie]

Before we start agonizing over the apparent waste of money, let us think a bit. The USA is a relatively new nation on the planet. We have a nice heritage and some things should be saved. In Buffalo, we demolished a Frank Lloyd Wright office building for a parking lot? That's complete nonsense. It's also nonsense to save a grain elevator, a house occupied by some unknown dentist who lived adjacent to Pano's Restaurant 100 years ago, and some derelict stable on Jersey Street. It seems to me at least that we tend to populate the extremes of stupidity.

H.H. Richardson was a very important American architect. It is a good thing we have a H.H. Richardson building in our city. I'll be the first to admit that $76 million is no small chunk of change, but I think there are somethings we need to do for ourselves. To me it doesn't matter if one person comes to our city to see this building. The important thing is that we do it for ourselves and create our own sense of history. Nobody really cares how much money a guy spends on an engagement ring for his beloved, but it is important to his sense of being. In a diverse city such as Buffalo, we all have some things in common because we are all people. One of the fundamental natures of people is that nobody want to live in a dump. We all would want to think we live in a nice place. Restoring a grand piece of architecture is a step along the way. I think we need this for us. What will they do with the building after renovation? Who knows? Who cares? We'll find a use. It will not remain empty. I'm against wasting money. However, sometimes we have to spend money not for it's practical purpose on the tangibles, but sometimes on the intangibles. The intangibles are important because you can't purchase an intangible. There are old buildings in this city that have character that could never be built in the modern era. I think this building is one of them...one thing is certain....H.H Richardson is not going to be designing any new buildings. Either you have one or you don't.....and we've got one. Let's start developing our own character and flavor for our city.....that we can do for ourselves. We owe it to ourselves as well.

[UberGeek]

That building is replete with historical significance. Do any of you realize that this building has a Architectural Movement named after it?

Or do you people really think the Casino is a better money dump? You know, where we would draw no tax revenue from it?

This is a cultural landmark for North Buffalo, and definitely needs to be saved.

[porcelaindoll]

You people are bunch of nut cases your selfs. Oh lets knock down the loony bin because of its bias negative stigma. All you concentrate on is the negativity and mistreatment, not all asylums were filled with torture and mistreatment. And when it did, it was people like you who didn't give a shit about other people. Not only is this building have a architectural significant but also to mental health. Places like these aren't built anymore, because people can't be bothered to build buildings with such care and intricate details. It's a race to build the most the quickest.

So in regards to knocked down a building because people died there, are you in a vote to knock down the Roman Colosseum too? Centuries of people died there...

[Lloyd---Lockport]

Nah... rip it down. It's serving no purpose today; it has been abandoned for years, and it's likely a ratbin now, a danger to public health.

Take photos, put them in history books, rip the thing down, and start something new.

For Buffalo to get to the level of more prosperous cities, they need to stop hanging on to the old and decrepit artifacts... and start building and embracing all-new, brand-new.

[UberGeek]

Lloyd---Lockport wrote:

Nah... rip it down. It's serving no purpose today; it has been abandoned for years, and it's likely a ratbin now, a danger to public health.
Take photos, put them in history books, rip the thing down, and start something new.
For Buffalo to get to the level of more prosperous cities, they need to stop hanging on to the old and decrepit artifacts... and start building and embracing all-new, brand-new.

Start something new? Like a casino? Or maybe even the start of a new SUBWAY system? Because you know how well those have helped Niagara Falls and Downtown Buffalo.

It's not a rat bin as you put it. Renovations are well under way right now.

Why tear down an architectural icon? Rather let's invest in what Buffalo has. I for one want my kids to be able a few years from now to tour a building that a Historic Architect poured his life into.

And also, I would love for them to see and know the pinnacle of psychiatric treatment started here. The original vision for the building was unbelievable. It was designed in the style of a French resort, so people could "take a break" from society and get better.

Of course, thank to the state in the 60's that went downhill rather fast.
The only thing keeping people from coming from all over the country to tour this facility right now is the fact that it's closed to visitors. I know personally at 97 people that would come from differing parts of the country to come and see it.

Do math, 97 people + 50 hotel rooms (Assuming people will double up)+ 97 people at three meals per day in area restaurants * 3 days... How much money is that bringing in to the area businesses? And that's just the people I know.

But, yeah. Let's tear it down. I'd rather have a casino or empty lot in North Buffalo. Because you know, both of them bring lots of money and tourist into the area. Let's look at the area businesses in Niagara Falls... And the quality of life for residents there... And the businesses on Main St. that are *SO* happy to have the subway there now...

[no thanks]

No wonder why Buffalo is going down the tubes.$76 million dollars? There are plenty of other things needed besides restoring a nut hut. Lets give the buffalo homeowners some money to restore THEIR houses, maybe then this city could at least look a little better. Its almost embarrasing to me when people come here to visit and drive through Buffalo. It used to be nice but now....its getting scary.

[JimmyR]

It's HAUNTED!!!!!

[thenycommie]

no thanks wrote:

No wonder why Buffalo is going down the tubes.$76 million dollars? There are plenty of other things needed besides restoring a nut hut. Lets give the buffalo homeowners some money to restore THEIR houses, maybe then this city could at least look a little better. Its almost embarrasing to me when people come here to visit and drive through Buffalo. It used to be nice but now....its getting scary.

Nut hut?....were you brought up in a barn? Let's be honest for a moment. If you took every penny of the $76 million dollars and distributed it to the homeowners in Buffalo....you'd be squawking like a Yenta with a bad case of PMS that the money is another minority give-away program and corporate welfare to Williamsville landlords. The problem is there are always reasons NOT to do something. If we did nothing on every project people objected to.....even less would get done than it is now.

By the way.....if they don't spend the $76 million, do you think you would see a penny of it or your taxes would be reduced?

[yes i was]

thenycommie wrote:

<quoted text>
Nut hut?....were you brought up in a barn? Let's be honest for a moment. If you took every penny of the $76 million dollars and distributed it to the homeowners in Buffalo....you'd be squawking like a Yenta with a bad case of PMS that the money is another minority give-away program and corporate welfare to Williamsville landlords. The problem is there are always reasons NOT to do something. If we did nothing on every project people objected to.....even less would get done than it is now.
By the way.....if they don't spend the $76 million, do you think you would see a penny of it or your taxes would be reduced?

My parents always said to me 'what, are you born in a barn', maybe it just stuck with me. I don't live in the city, so no, my taxes wouldn't be reduced. I'd love to see the city improve, but i don't think spending that much on one building is going to make a difference.

[Hans Schweinficker]

thenycommie wrote:

<quoted text>
Nut hut?....were you brought up in a barn? Let's be honest for a moment. If you took every penny of the $76 million dollars and distributed it to the homeowners in Buffalo....you'd be squawking like a Yenta with a bad case of PMS that the money is another minority give-away program and corporate welfare to Williamsville landlords. The problem is there are always reasons NOT to do something. If we did nothing on every project people objected to.....even less would get done than it is now.
By the way.....if they don't spend the $76 million, do you think you would see a penny of it or your taxes would be reduced?

Commie,

I know a guy that should be sent there forthwith!!!!

Bet you know who it is.

Hansie

[thenycommie]

Hans Schweinficker wrote:

<quoted text>
Commie,
I know a guy that should be sent there forthwith!!!!
Bet you know who it is.
Hansie

.....and I have one to send along with him to be his new cornholing buddy!