Comments on: Leave Pearl Street Alone

By: Timothy Domst

Timothy Domst — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:02:05 +0000

Years from now if someone wants to redo the place and they have stricter, less gaudy historical tastes then they can change it back because the building isn’t fundamentally altered by a tacked-on sign. They didn’t take out a bunch of street-level walls and make a glass lobby or something like that. I’ve been inside there a few times and it looks old to me.

By: My thoughts

My thoughts — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:22:28 +0000

“Lake Effect Man” looks foolish, and shows no taste. The facade is now Bourbon Street-ready, which is great if your business is in the French Quarter. Maybe they will start handing out colorful plastic bead necklaces at the door on “Dime Beer Night”. It’s just sad, like everything else in Buffalo.

By: Preservation Effect

Preservation Effect — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:53:57 +0000

Is Buffalo to be a museum or an urban landscape? Maybe preservation districts have it wrong. I frequent Pearl Street, I look out my window at work at Lake Effect Man and the balconies.
It’s great that building and those nearby are getting used instead of becoming more parking lots. Pearl Street Pub probably made revitalization of the other buildings viable. OTOH what’s been done to PSP is in no way consonant with the history of the building or area. Balconies useful for maybe 1/3 of the year, that view the Thruway and exit ramps (and lake sunsets wayyy over there) are New Orleans, not Buffalo.
So if New Orleans is what people want, its not so terrible that we give it to them, but Lake Effect Man is kitschy advertising that lends a Disney sensibility to the corner. If that’s what people want, it’s not so terrible but don’t pretend it brings anything architecturally to the area.
Paul the preservation board architect hasn’t said it in so many words but the issue is also taste, and a matter of personal preference we’ll never all agree on.

By: Haterade

Haterade — Mon, 19 May 2008 03:44:44 +0000

Right on Jim O !

By: Jim Ostrowski

Jim Ostrowski — Sun, 18 May 2008 11:41:22 +0000

If you want to preserve architectural aspects of other people’s property, the civilized way to do it is to form a corporation, raise money, and buy their alteration rights.

By: eliz

eliz — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:52:08 +0000

RD,

The Pres Board is made up of professionals volunteering time from their busy lives to help preserve the beauty of their city. We should all do so well.

By: RisingDamp666

RisingDamp666 — Sun, 18 May 2008 00:51:00 +0000

The Preservation Board are a vacant lot.

By: eliz

eliz — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:23:11 +0000

Well, obviously a minority opinion here, but we just drove by that thing, and it’s gotta be one of the stupidest looking … uh, “ornaments” I’ve seen stuck on a building, ever. I like the balconies and flowers–a nice spot of color in a rather drab area–but this thing really looks ugly to me. De gustibus non est disputandum. However, I agree that there are more important priorities for the Preservation Board. I realize that they can only react to what is brought before them, but I wish they could be more active in very urgent matters like 918-920 Main.

To me that thing is a atrocity, but there is definitely more crucial preservation advocacy to be done.

And yeah, kudos to Paul for commenting in this clearly hostile arena; it always improves the discussion when the entity under attack responds.

By: Denizen

Denizen — Sat, 17 May 2008 15:32:36 +0000

This is a mid 19th century factory/wharehouse building.

And today it’s a 21st century bar/restaurant.

By: starbuck

starbuck — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:06:24 +0000

Quick thought about the “this is why I hate blogs”: I agree the personal attacks are deplorable, but the good of public discussion this can allow to happen far outweighs the badness.