Repurposing DL&W as a train station is just the beginning

The activation of the long-idle Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad terminal is finally becoming a reality. It will be a few years before the entire complex is in use, but given the decades of inactivity, it is fair to applaud this progress.

Much like the Olmsted Richardson Complex or the Central Terminal, the DL&W redevelopment is a monumental project.

Although the magnificent brownstone terminal building that once connected the train shed was demolished in 1979, the two-story shed designed by Abraham Bush in 1917 is unique, with its reinforced concrete columns, Flemish-style brick exterior, and skylights. The design of the complex, patented by Bush in 1904, is another example—like the now-demolished Great Northern Grain Elevator—of early engineering innovation in Buffalo.

The News’ Mark Sommer reports that in January, the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority plans to open part of the first floor as a new subway station, with two four-car platforms for public use. That will be followed by a stair tower at South Park Avenue and Illinois Street in May 2025, and a walkway to the KeyBank Center at South Park Avenue and Main Street in 2026. Those are approximate dates for the work, which is largely funded by the state.

But it is happening. Track construction began more than two years ago and is complete. Work on the platforms and other work on the first floor, including public art by Joan Linder, is underway and promises a subway station whose architectural grandeur will easily surpass other subway stations. It continues a commitment to public art that began when the line was built years ago.

The second floor will take longer to build, and for good reason. For years, before any planning for the station began, developers toured this part of the complex with fascination—and hesitation. It offers a long list of possibilities and an equally daunting set of obstacles to overcome. While the ground floor served as a storage and maintenance area for light rail cars, the second floor has been vacant and unused for more than 60 years.

But developer Sam Savarino, through his company Savarino DL&W Development LLC, saw the possibilities and is moving forward with plans, first developed in 2021 with the help of Projects for Public Spaces and now completed with input from Buffalo Iron Works co-owner Josh Holtzman. Savarino envisions a multi-use space that would include a concert hall and possibly a public market.

While the planned stair tower, as well as elevators and stairs on the first floor, will provide access, fire exits are also a factor, and some architectural elements must be preserved if the project is to qualify for historic tax credits. It will be challenging, but once completed, the waterfront complex will have 75,000 square feet of interior space and 55,000 square feet of exterior space dedicated to public amenities. Partial completion could occur in 2026.

Savarino, the only developer to respond to the NFTA’s request for proposals, has been hanging on to the project for years. He knows the challenges.

Every Buffalo resident has the right to complain about delays that plague major projects like this. That right should be accompanied by recognition for the brave souls who undertake them and applause when they near completion.

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