The Placemaking Round-Up
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
The Biweekly Bazaar
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
“This placemaking opportunity with Project for Public Spaces was an exciting way for us to invest in young people within our community.”—Monica Pellegrino Faix, Central Terminal Restoration Corporation Executive Director
The Buffalo Central Terminal, a beloved Art Deco masterpiece, operated as a bustling train station for over 50 years until it closed its doors in 1979. In the late 1990s, the nonprofit Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) took over stewardship of the 12-acre site with the express mission of restoring and repurposing it as a community gathering place.
When CTRC applied for Project for Public Spaces’ Community Placemaking Grant in 2022, their goal was clear: align placemaking initiatives with its strategic plan to transition from day-to-day operating to long-term planning and community building. To do this, they needed to move events to their outdoor Great Lawn for greater visibility and opportunity to provide diverse activities for a diverse audience. The lawn on the southwest corner of the Central Terminal complex also plays an important role in connecting the Terminal with the adjacent Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood. Broadway-Fillmore has a population that is predominantly residents of color and 40% of them live below the poverty line. Having experienced decades of disinvestment in the area, transforming this green space was key to promoting equitable access to public spaces in Buffalo’s largest district that borders its Main Street.
In April 2022, Project for Public Spaces held a community workshop with an introductory session on placemaking, led group evaluation of the sites, and brainstormed physical and programmatic improvements. We also rounded out our in-person engagement with an online survey to ensure that people who weren’t able to attend in-person could also weigh in and contribute their ideas.
Our goal was to use placemaking to amplify the wide range of events that already take place—from art installations to cultural festivals and music festivals—by adding high-impact physical improvements. This included eye-catching signage that makes the space navigable and inviting, and seating that supports programming and informal gatherings. Community workshop participants were excited to bring in large-scale elements that welcome neighbors back into the space after years of confusing signage that discouraged them from using and staying in the space.
In addition to providing technical assistance throughout the year, the Community Placemaking Grant also gifted $40K to turn our concept into a reality. Inspired by input from the community, extra-long tables and sculptural seating were added. Coined “Seat at the Table,” the outdoor furniture was fabricated by local youth in a workforce development program organized by The Foundry, a community-based makerspace committed to hosting after-school STEAM activities, entrepreneurship sessions, and workforce development opportunities that support local entrepreneurs.
“I'm so thankful for the chance to contribute towards building a piece of Buffalo's history," remarked Sheddrickk Straker, a student in The Foundry's Making + Manufacturing Program.
“This placemaking opportunity with Project for Public Spaces was an exciting way for us to invest in young people within our community,” said Monica Pellegrino Faix, Executive Director of Central Terminal Restoration Corporation.
Great public spaces build strong and diverse communities, and when they offer many leisure activities, social encounters follow. Just a year later in October 2023, locals gathered to celebrate the new community space on the Terminal Great Lawn, each enjoying their “Seat at the Table!” CTRC reported that 8,000 people attended their public events in 2023 and it continues to provide a full line-up of programming for the community to enjoy the space. CTRC has also continued to make improvements in the area. In 2024, New York State committed funding for restoring and further revitalizing the Terminal, including its plaza and lawn, so they can better serve the Buffalo community. May this ongoing collective effort inspire countless future gatherings and encourage more seats at the table!
With the support of like-minded partners, Project for Public Spaces manages grant, technical assistance, and leadership programs that help local partners to transform their public spaces. Learn more about becoming a Social Impact Partner today.
