Overview

Through a public Request for Proposals process in 2018-2019, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) selected Savarino Companies as its development partner for the redevelopment of the upper level of the historic train shed structure. Savarino’s vision to bring a mix of public and private uses to the 130,000 square foot second story of the DL&W Terminal aligned with the NFTA’s goal of achieving a dynamic transit-oriented redevelopment of the site which would align with the ongoing transformation of the lower level into the southern terminal station of Buffalo’s Metro Rail transit system.

Savarino Companies retained Project for Public Spaces, an international placemaking and public spaces planning consultant, to engage with the greater Buffalo-Niagara community and assess opportunities for revitalizing the DL&W terminal into a mixed-use public and private hub that aims to improve quality of life, foster community, and drive inclusive economic growth in the City of Buffalo.

The Placemaking process included a robust public outreach and conversations with stakeholders, an analysis of existing projects that have been successful in implementing similar ideas or reusing similar structures, and an analysis of the physical site and its surroundings.

The result of those efforts was compiled into the report which can be viewed through the links below, and this report will help guide the next steps in the development process.