STRUCTURE SELECTION:
· Built in 1929, and abandoned in 1979.
· Comprised of two distinct regions:
  · The main building which houses the interior of the terminal
  · An extensive network of railways that trains used to operate on.
· Was a combination of office and terminal space for New York Central Rail Road until 1968
· Hosted shows and festivals, such as Oktoberfest and the Train Show which drew large crowds; there were a record 20,000 visitors in 2006.
· The Tower is 17 Stories high

Buffalo is a declining city that needs up-cycling of many of its old resources that currently exist within the city. One of the most important structures is the Buffalo Central Terminal.

Current Use:
Currently abandoned, this station used to accommodate Amtrak and other regional passenger train traffic going in and out of the city. This structure has been deteriorating in the past couple of decades, but is currently privately owned and full under restoration.

REASONS FOR OUR SELECTION
Population Decline
The primary reason that this site was chosen was because the population rates have been decreasing since the 20th century. (Detroit being the only other US city to experience this) Unfortunately, this trend is expected to continue throughout the 21st century.

Reviving the train terminal could prevent further downfall of the population and has the potential to improve the economy as well. A modernized train station would bring in more people from other areas through AMTRAK. One way to increase the number of people visiting this terminal would be to improve the architecture to make it more appealing to visitors. The train terminal is a good site selection because it has a lot of space to implement shops, libraries, research, etc.

Lack of a Train Station
The train terminals in the vicinity are in bad shape.  In September of 2016, the other main train station in Buffalo (Exchange St.) suffered a roof collapse. A smaller station (Depew) handles minimal traffic, so the city has been in search of a replacement main terminal ever since.

Unprotected on the National Register of Historic Places
Being on the National Register of Historic Places does not guarantee protection from demolition. Up-cycling the terminal would save money, expedite re-opening a terminal train station for use by the region and preserve the structure, as well as ensure economic growth to sustain restoration of the structure.

Immediate surrounding (Fillmore-Broadway) is an under-served community
The surrounding neighborhood in Buffalo, has a total population of 7,707.(Approximately 1.39 square miles)

· Overall, expenses are 28% lower than the national average.
· 64% of households being occupied by renters.          
· Median age is 32
· 29% of residents are married
· 36% of residents have at least one child.
·
· The overall risk of crime is 11% higher than the national average.
· Approximately 34,267 students enrolled across 96 schools and is rated below average overall based on student test scores.

Education
Only 5% of adults here have a bachelor’s degree or higher. The graduation rate in the United States is at a record high in the 80 percentages. Buffalo is below average at 61%. In the past, the graduation rate was mainly in the 50s.

Current initiatives in Buffalo are limited in scope

Buffalo Billions Project

“A Path to Renewal: The Buffalo Billion Investment Development Plan” serves as a roadmap for implementation. Developed by the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, it identifies six high-level strategies and the unique assets that will move the region forward on the path to sustainable, next-economy growth.
Six goals of the Buffalo’s Billions Project

-Advanced manufacturing
-Health and life sciences
-Tourism
-Entrepreneurship
-Workforce development
-Guides future economic growth initiatives.

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INTENDED PURPOSE(S) OF THE UP-CYCLED STRUCTURE

The original purpose of the terminal was to move people long distances. The up-cycled train terminal will still serve that original purpose, however the new additions to the terminal will be on the floors above the ground. Most of these additions will be within the tower of the terminal. The additions include dining/seating areas, a library, research center, and both food and art vendors.

Library and education related places can improve the graduation and literacy rates that are currently in Buffalo. The library is beneficial for everyone because they can use it while waiting for their train or take out media for usage during the train ride. The biggest impact of the up-cycle of the train terminal is that the population as a result, could potentially stop dropping. The terminal would provide both a place of gathering, educational services, and entertainment for the local community. The project would also improve the reputation of Buffalo because of the ongoing Buffalo Billions project.

Although the Buffalo Billions project targets similar sectors, the initiatives are somewhat vague and it isn’t clear what steps the State government will be taking to implement growth in these six individual sectors. This is precisely where their project leaves off and ours picks up. Our project singles out a specific location (i.e. Buffalo Central Terminal) and will divide funding to distinct regions of the terminal.