MAYOR MASIELLO NAMES CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE H.H. RICHARDSON COMPLEX
May 7, 1999
Contact: Peter K. Cutler (716) 851-5841

BUFFALO (5/7/99) - Mayor Anthony M. Masiello today announced the formation of an advisory board (see attached) to work collaboratively with the city and the National Trust for Historic Preservation on potential reuse options for the renowned H.H. Richardson complex.

661 am excited by the opportunity to work with this citizen-based advisory board to find realistic and appropriate reuse options for this architectural treasure," stated Mayor Masiello. "It is my hope that this effort will result in the creation of the best reuse that will guarantee the long-term preservation of Richardson's building complex and Frederick Law Olmsted's accompanying landscape."

The role of the advisory board will be to work with the city and the National Trust in developing recommended reuse criteria for inclusion in a Request for Proposal, which will be issued by the Empire State Development Corporation. The RFP will open the search process for an appropriate master developer for the site.

The H.H. Richardson complex of the Buffalo Psychiatric Center is an important element of the history and built environment of Buffalo. With buildings and grounds designed by two of the most noted American architects of the I 91h century, Richardson and Olmsted respectively, the site is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

The local and national prominence of this site, combined with its location in the heart of a thriving cultural, commercial and residential area, opens up many opportunities for reuse of the site.