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Statler Building

Preservation Buffalo Niagara announced on January 18th its nomination of the Statler Building, located in Buffalo, NY, to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2010 America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places program. The nomination has been submitted to the Trust with broad support from the community, local and state elected officials, and civic organizations.  This nomination was covered in a Buffalo News article.

The Nomination (edited for length and some confidential info):   Overview and Significance        The Threat

The most gratifying result of this process has been the wide spread support of this nomination from our region's and state elected officials, plus key cultural institutions.  Here are their letters of support.  Some offices still are working on their supporting letters, which will be submitted as they are received. 

Letters of Support

New York State Governor David A. Paterson (pdf, 112kb)
A Joint Letter from Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer (pdf, 13kb)
Congressman Christopher J. Lee (pdf, 22kb)
Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (pdf, 42kb)
New York State Assemblymember Sam Hoyt (pdf, 687kb)
New York State Assemblyman Robin Schimminger
New York State Senator Antoine M. Thompson (pdf, 163kb)
Buffalo Common Council President David A. Franczyk (pdf, 47kb)
Buffalo Preservation Board (pdf, 68kb)
Preservation League of New York State (pdf, 907kb)
Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society (pdf, 45kb)
Zonta International (Founded in the Original Statler) (pdf, 73kb)
Musicians' Association of Buffalo  (pdf, 48kb)
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (Held National Event in 1935) (pdf, 28kb)
Theodore L. Lownie, Partner, Hamilton Houston Lownie Architects, LLC
  (Architect for The Roycroft Inn, Another 11 Most Recipient)

Completed in 1923, the Statler Building  was a gift from “America's Extraordinary Hotelman" to his adopted city of Buffalo, NY.  Ellsworth M. Statler came from humble beginnings in Ohio and West Virginia, and through hard work, shrewd business decisions, creative use of advertising, and adherence to high standards for his employees and their treatment of his customers, built one of the most successful hotel chains in the United States. The Hotel Statler was designed by George B. Post & Sons with interiors by Louis Rorimer. (Photo by Douglas Levere)

 

 

While the Statler has suffered through a slow decline for many years, until recently, the building was in private ownership and grand plans for the property lulled preservationists, city officials and the Buffalo public into a false sense of security about the building’s future.

In bankruptcy, the Statler went to auction in 2009.  The threat to the Statler was not fully recognized until the default of the bidder and the Trustee in Bankruptcy decision to shutter the building.  On January 12th, an attorney for PBN urged the Bankruptcy Court to delay plans to vacate the building and to keep the building heated at least through this winter.  Otherwise, the damage that is likely to result to the building will be tremendously higher that any short-term savings from reduced operating costs.  Leaving the Statler vacant and unheated will jeopardize the Statler's future economic viability.  Joining PBN supporting this effort was Sen. Antoine M. Thompson.  Unfortunately, the judge ruled that he had no reason to interfere with the actions of the Trustee and the Trustee stated that work would immediately commence to mothball the building.
(Photo By Martin Wachaldo)

The federal government has guidelines for mothballing of an historic building and PBN is also concerned that the proposed mothballing of the Statler will not meet these standards.

Buffalo benefits significantly from its historic resources and an asset such as the Statler Building is an opportunity as well as a challenge for the future of the city. Prominent on Buffalo’s Niagara Square, adjacent to City Hall, the building has been the city’s social center for many decades. 

 
(Photo By Douglas Levere)