Action taken to designate the American Grain Complex as a landmark

Buffalo, New York (WBEN) – Efforts are underway in Buffalo to officially designate a vital piece of the city’s past as a local landmark.

Earlier this month, the Buffalo Common Council received a request from the Buffalo Preservation Board to designate the American Grain Complex as a local landmark along the Buffalo River. The application was prepared by Paul Lang, managing director of local architectural firm Carmina Wood Design.

“As architects of the project from the beginning and developers using historic tax credits, the site has been listed on the National Register since 2012. And the renovation is being done under SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office Grants) guidelines. and the National Park Service, so it’s really happening in a pretty remarkable way,” Lang said in an interview with WBEN. “Given some recent challenges in the area, in terms of preservation, it’s a bit of a misnomer. Just because a building is on the National Register doesn’t mean it’s protected from demolition. only thing that really protects it is a local monument designation.”

Lang says that while no one has plans to demolish the building anytime soon, especially after the investment that has already taken place, it was one of the final designations he thought the site could achieve for protect the building in perpetuity. He adds that it would allow the city to celebrate some of the historical fabric that still remains in the community.

The request was ultimately sent to the Council’s Legislation Committee, where they will hold a public hearing on the issue on Tuesday, July 16. This is an important step towards recognizing and preserving the historical and architectural significance of the site.

“That would mean that any changes to the elevator, which is the oldest in the city, before any changes are made, would be reviewed by the Preservation Board for appropriateness or perhaps guidance, which is the function of the Preservation Board,” said Tim Tielman, preservation advocate for the Campaign for Greater Buffalo. “That would certainly prevent any demolition of the elevator, except in extreme circumstances.”

The American Grain Complex, built in stages from 1905 to 1931, is considered a vital representation of Buffalo’s rich history of grain transportation, handling and storage. Its evolution from the American Malting Company to the Russell Miller Milling Company, and ultimately under Conagra ownership, reflects the industrial advancements and economic changes that have shaped Buffalo over the past century.

The complex includes notable structures such as the Malt House (1905-06), the Flour Mill (1922-1924) and the Elevator Building (1905-1931), as well as the Peavey Office and the Mobile Marine Tower. Each of these elements contributes to the historical and architectural significance of the site, illustrating the industrial ingenuity and economic importance of Buffalo’s grain industry during the 20th century.

“The American elevator is very strong. It’s made of reinforced concrete, it’s the oldest reinforced concrete elevator in the city of Buffalo. And on its own, even in its abandoned state, it could survive for centuries. So , unless someone brings mechanical equipment there, it will be there for a long time,” Tielman said of the complex.

The designation request would meet several criteria for city local landmark status, including its value as part of Buffalo’s development, its location in a historically significant area along the Buffalo River, and its embodiment of architectural styles and construction methods that influenced modernism. architecture.

Although the local landmark designation does nothing other than draw attention to the project and protect the site, it represents a substantial investment in the community on the part of the Generation Development Group.

“It offers 168 low-income or affordable housing options and one mixed-use project,” Lang said. “We also hope that through the designation of a local landmark and the general reuse of the project, we hope that this will in some way be the catalyst for the redevelopment of the rest of the Silo City campus. We would love to be able to make local projects. identifying and preserving the balance of the campus here in the next two years.

As for Tielman, he hopes this designation of the American Grain Complex will become a grain elevator tourism and education center in the city, where people can better understand how it all works.

“We’ve seen a lot of latitude internationally to use other grain bins. Whether it’s in large basements, on the roof or even – with great care – in the grain bins themselves, the rounded shapes of the structures can be adapted to a variety of uses. This would allow all of that to happen under the leadership of the Buffalo Preservation Board, which is a truly indispensable agency,” Tielman said.

By the time the Common Council holds its public hearing on designating the site as a local landmark on July 16, Lang hopes community and city lawmakers will understand the value of Buffalo’s architecture and the opportunities historic buildings present for the city’s future.

“We’re finally getting to a critical mass or a critical investment in our region, where these more ambitious projects can be undertaken, because that’s all that’s left on the table. So we’re really hoping that this can be some sort of demonstration of what can be done with a little ingenuity, community support and political buy-in,” Lang said.

Meanwhile, Tielman hopes to hear widespread cheers across the city in favor of the designation.

“It’s a fantastic monument, and it serves as a monument today. As it stands, it meets the definition of a “historic monument,” he said. “It certainly marks the territory and that stretch of the Buffalo River – some call it ‘Elevator Alley’ – it’s a very important and distinctive part of it. It very well defines the southern flank of the river. When I take tours by bus, boat, kayak, bike or on foot, he is there. It is clearly visible and allows us to explain all the elements of a grain silo. And people who navigate the river today certainly see the river transforming from an industrial river to a recreational river.

“It’s one of the things that makes the Buffalo River special, this avenue of huge grain elevators. It’s a sign of hope that the American elevator might outlast us all.”