Preservation Online: Preservation 911 Archives

From Preservation Online, the online magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation

www.preservationonline.org

Buffalo Soldier

Readers seek help for preservation emergencies / July 2, 2002

Dear Preservation 911,

I'm writing to bring to your attention to a deplorable situation in Buffalo in which the State of New York is allowing a National Historic Landmark, the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, to deteriorate into a state of complete disrepair and near ruin. This complex of buildings is an irreplaceable national treasure, and the state agencies responsible for its maintenance—the Dormitory Authority and the Office of Mental Health—have turned a blind eye to its precipitous decline, completely abdicating their role as caretakers.

Designed by H.H. Richardson, the Psychiatric Center was built in collaboration with Frederick Law Olmsted starting in 1871. The complex was the architect's first major commission and was the predecessor of such renowned buildings as Trinity Church in Boston and the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh. Carolyn Pitts, architectural historian for the National Historic Landmark Program, has called it "one of the most important buildings in the United States."

Bureaucratic equivocation on who is responsible for the edifice and where the money can be found for its maintenance and eventual restoration is allowing a work of art by a world-renowned architect to reach a point where demolition will soon be called inevitable. This situation needs to be brought to the attention of your readers. The State of New York's neglect of the Richardson Complex by is a tragedy in the making.

Sincerely,

Ed Healy

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Preservation 911 is a message board open to all readers. While National Trust staff will respond to the extent feasible, this will not be possible in all cases. We encourage other readers involved in state or local preservation to respond with advice or assistance. If you'd like to contact either a regional office of the National Trust, a statewide or local nonprofit organization, or your state's historic preservation office, click here for a state-by-state list.

The National Trust's regional and field offices bring the programs and tools of the Trust to communities across the country. They offer technical assistance through consultations and field visits and financial help through small grants. They hold educational programs for professional preservationists and work to foster policies that help historic places. They also provide leadership on issues that concern entire regions, such as saving historic schools, fighting sprawl, and revitalizing cities.