[Wigs]

Buffalo has come to understand the tremendous civic value of public art.

Spoiler

Erie County, now in conjunction with the city of Buffalo (Buffalo is the county seat) works with the Albright Knox Gundlach Art Museum to beautify the city.

About the Public Art Initiative | Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Art creates spaces that people share, whether neighbors or strangers, alike or dissimilar, Buffalo-raised or from far-flung places. A work of art gives us a moment to pause and reflect, and, when experienced with another, an opportunity to meet and connect.

buffaloakg.org

Here's a sample of the murals, although there's sculptures and installations around the city as well.

Hamilton should do the same!

 

[BCTed]

ok, I mean, sure. That's nice. But considering the state of downtown, is this really a good look? To be spending a bunch of money on things like this when we have a clear and obvious litter problem, to name one thing. As a property tax paying resident of this city, I would have much rather seen the money spent on additional police walking downtown (apparently two were announced today, we need way more than that), and additional litter collection crews. I'd love to know how much this thing cost.

Chris R this is not a slight on your post, thank you for providing us with an update.

Apparently it was an additional four police officers that were announced on top of the original two, unless you are referring to another two on top of the four.

As bad as a lot of things are downtown, I don't think it would make sense to focus on a single issue to the exclusion of everything else. In some senses, I am happy that the city is able to put up things like this even when things are far from perfect.

 

[macro]

ok, I mean, sure. That's nice. But considering the state of downtown, is this really a good look? To be spending a bunch of money on things like this when we have a clear and obvious litter problem, to name one thing. As a property tax paying resident of this city, I would have much rather seen the money spent on additional police walking downtown (apparently two were announced today, we need way more than that), and additional litter collection crews. I'd love to know how much this thing cost.

Chris R this is not a slight on your post, thank you for providing us with an update.

They needed to put something here to protect pedestrians, and a gate was probably going to be cheaper than digging up the whole street to build underground bollards anyway. As for the money spent on the art portion of it, the design firm Make Studio was awarded $115000. I don't know how long that money would pay for police walking downtown but as a property tax paying resident myself, I'm glad we got something nice and practical at the same time.

 

[TheHonestMaple]

Apparently it was an additional four police officers that were announced on top of the original two, unless you are referring to another two on top of the four.

As bad as a lot of things are downtown, I don't think it would make sense to focus on a single issue to the exclusion of everything else. In some senses, I am happy that the city is able to put up things like this even when things are far from perfect.

I'm happy to see it as well. It's just, where are the city's priorities right now?

 

[innsertnamehere]

I noticed today that there seems to be more residents here. Saw several coming and going when walking by this afternoon.

 

[Wigs]

They needed to put something here to protect pedestrians, and a gate was probably going to be cheaper than digging up the whole street to build underground bollards anyway. As for the money spent on the art portion of it, the design firm Make Studio was awarded $115000. I don't know how long that money would pay for police walking downtown but as a property tax paying resident myself, I'm glad we got something nice and practical at the same time.

I don't know for Hamilton, but $115k is like one year salary for ~40% of Niagara Regional Police's workforce.
Whereas you get this art installation for many decades

 

[Chris R.]

ok, I mean, sure. That's nice. But considering the state of downtown, is this really a good look? To be spending a bunch of money on things like this when we have a clear and obvious litter problem, to name one thing. As a property tax paying resident of this city, I would have much rather seen the money spent on additional police walking downtown (apparently two were announced today, we need way more than that), and additional litter collection crews. I'd love to know how much this thing cost.

Chris R this is not a slight on your post, thank you for providing us with an update.

I think this was budgeted for in 2021? I'm not 100% sure. There are surely cheaper ways to close the street though as commented on on my post. This was planned to be installed many years ago though.

 

[Chris R.]

I don't know for Hamilton, but $115k is like one year salary for ~40% of Niagara Regional Police's workforce.
Whereas you get this art installation for many decades

Most people gawk at the price governments pay for things, but most don't realize the true cost of things. $115k is actually not a ton of money for an infrastructure piece.

 

[Chronamut]

It looks weird to have this snazzy thing and a post-apocalyptic ripped off wall face in the background behind it. Why has noone at least resurfaced that building side? Hell put a mural up or vinyl siding - SOMETHING to make it not look like a building burned down and was demolished from it like.. yesterday..

the art piece is still cool though.

 

[Chris R.]

It looks weird to have this snazzy thing and a post-apocalyptic ripped off wall face in the background behind it. Why has noone at least resurfaced that building side? Hell put a mural up or vinyl siding - SOMETHING to make it not look like a building burned down and was demolished from it like.. yesterday..

the art piece is still cool though.

I'll see if Steve is open to that idea. It seems that's Core Urban's building, they would just need permission from the next door property owner to do the mural.

Maybe a mural of someone locally significant like Terry Whitehead or Angry Sam Merulla.

 

[Chronamut]

I'll see if Steve is open to that idea. It seems that's Core Urban's building, they would just need permission from the next door property owner to do the mural.

Maybe a mural of someone locally significant like Terry Whitehead or Angry Sam Merulla.

Yeah, and then whatever is built beside it eventually can maybe incorporate it - it would be wise to style it in such a way that when a building does but up beside it the murals would still be visible on each "floor" giving the new building something to show off vs having to cover up.

Kinda like how part of tip top tailors was incorporated into core urbans addition at the top. I still wish they would repaint tip top tailors - why keep it faded? I'd rather be able to read it properly hehe - we know tip top tailors doesn't exist anymore - although maybe one day a bar or something can go into the top floor named that, then it could have actual relevance - I've seen some beautifully repainted signage - mainly in Toronto.

 

[Chris R.]

Yeah, and then whatever is built beside it eventually can maybe incorporate it - it would be wise to style it in such a way that when a building does but up beside it the murals would still be visible on each "floor" giving the new building something to show off vs having to cover up.

Kinda like how part of tip top tailors was incorporated into core urbans addition at the top. I still wish they would repaint tip top tailors - why keep it faded? I'd rather be able to read it properly hehe - we know tip top tailors doesn't exist anymore - although maybe one day a bar or something can go into the top floor named that, then it could have actual relevance - I've seen some beautifully repainted signage - mainly in Toronto.

Tip Top Tailors does still exist!

 

[TheHonestMaple]

I'll see if Steve is open to that idea. It seems that's Core Urban's building, they would just need permission from the next door property owner to do the mural.

Maybe a mural of someone locally significant like Terry Whitehead or Angry Sam Merulla.

Please do.

 

[Chronamut]

Tip Top Tailors does still exist!

But it doesn't exist THERE lol

 

[Chris R.]

Seems they may have filled this faster than expected, or they're just being.... Uh, particular with the information they share. Was speaking to someone who lives here and they said they were told there were only a few units left by the time they signed their lease. That being said, the southernmost tower definitely wasn't included in that number, and the top two floors of the north building aren't being rented out at the moment, as they seem to be holding onto them to rent higher value later.