ADM/Great Northern silos-Buffalo

What does ADM ultimately want to do with the property? Selling is only an option if there's another property commensurate with their objectives, and I'd guess there isn't anything else on the canal for sale.

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If this was on a separate piece of property, away from their active operations, it might be a different story. No idea what they would have planned for the space this occupies, but I still content it's nothing but a liability for everyone involved including traffic on Ganson St. if another wall would collapse. The only fast use for the land would be additional room for trailer parking or storage.

And I rarely take the side of corporations..........

It's a structure engineered and built for a single purpose - transloading grain to/from ship and train. Redeveloping it would cost untold millions. Making it a museum would have staggering preservation, restoration and operating costs - not to mention the liability.

Plus as a museum, who's the target demographic and market? Too niche for widespread appeal to attract enough people who's admission fees would sustain the operation. Just not practical.

The time to save it was decades ago - but even then, it's owners were trying to get it demolished because of structural issues.

Admin note

There’s been some housekeeping. Stay courteous and thoughful, please.

Once again a judge has determined the building can be demolished.
In the article the company says they can preserve a number of articles
“ Among the items that may be feasible to preserve from the grain elevator are a small bin, the locomotive, the spiral staircase and repurposed bricks”

Is there a captive yard engine?

Never saw one except for a wheeled car mover, not a locomotive.

Great Northern/ADM had a GE 25 and GE 35 ton. I think the 35 ton is the one they are talking about.

While I certainly understand the financial drag it would cause, Buffalo is so good at erasing our individual history there won’t be anything left.

I suppose that if ADM is going to expand the facility then it wouldn’t bite so much.

We’ll have to wait and see.

FYI; They have started tearing down the building a couple of weeks ago starting with hose interior 'tanks'.

Here are a few pics from todays drive by:




The funny thing with this is I don’t think this is as weak as ADM claims. Look at my first posting and pic. Last December and still standing. No epic collapse.

Can't wait until they start on the river side.

I'm wondering if they'll wait until all the sailboats are pulled from the water across from the elevator? Usually October 15th is the "pull them out of the water" date.

Tonight I took my last sunset run on the boat. It comes out of the water tommorow. While cruising back to my slip I noticed the moon over Great Northern. This is a crappy picture but this is likely the last time a full moon is over the Great Northern. (iPhone XR)

That pic is a keeper.

Few more from 120 years ago ( no not by me)

How far along are they with the demo?

That looks like a fascinating article! Where's it from?