Nicolai Ouroussoff, the New York Times author who recently profiled Buffalo’s rich architectural history, has a compelling article in today’s Times. In today’s Reinventing America’s Cities, Ouroussoff discusses the ongoing neglect of American cities.
If you haven’t read the article, do so. After addressing New Orleans, Los Angeles, and The Bronx, Ouroussoff writes about Buffalo – a city he seemingly has fondness and hope for:
Perhaps the most intriguing test case for reimagining our failing cities is in Buffalo, where the federal government is pressing ahead with a plan to expand its border crossing facilities. The city was once a center of architectural experimentation, with landmarks by virtually every great American architect of the late 19th and early 20th century. Frederick Law Olmsted Sr., the father of American landscaping, created a string of elegant public parks intended for the city’s factory workers.
Like other Rust Belt cities, Buffalo began its decline more than a half-century ago, a victim of failing industries and suburban flight. Large sections of Olmsted’s parks and boulevards were demolished; an elevated expressway sliced through one of these parks, cutting it off from the riverfront; many of downtown’s once-proud buildings were left abandoned.
Yet rather than reverse that trend, the government now seems determined to accelerate it. The Homeland Security Department is planning to expand an area at the entry to the Peace Bridge to make room for new inspection facilities and parking. That plan would require the demolition of five and a half blocks in a diverse working-class neighborhood with a rich architectural history, from late-19th-century Italianate mansions to modest two-family homes built in the 1920s.
Local preservationists argue that protecting the city’s historic neighborhoods is fundamental to the city’s survival. Pointing out that bridge traffic is steadily shrinking, they are pressing the government to upgrade the train system and dismantle parts of the elevated freeway to allow better access to the riverfront. Not only would they like to see Olmsted’s late-19th-century vision restored; they would also like to see it joined to a more comprehensive vision for the city’s future.
At this point there is no concrete plan to counter the government’s, but the potential is great. The city’s architectural fabric is rich. It has an active grass-roots preservation movement. And few sites better sum up the challenges of trying to save a shrinking city. I for one would love to see what a talented architect could accomplish if his imagination were given free rein over such a promising site.
As he does in many of his articles, Ouroussoff touches on the core disintegration of urban environments and the need for smart investment in meaningful infrastructure. While China and Europe continue to invest in pro-urban density initiatives, like high-speed rail, America’s most recent stimulus plan has money designated for high-speed rail lines but many argue it’s not nearly enough.
Many Buffalo Rising readers consistently advocate for public policy that supports urban density as Mr. Ouroussoff does in his most recent article. But whether our local governments or the Obama administration is sympathetic to these views is debatable.