The master plan to revamp the Central Terminal in Buffalo was revealed to the public on Thursday. YNN’s Kate McGowan tells us about the vision the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation has for this historic structure.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – "It's so important to the area because everybody has a memory of it. Everybody came through here," said Paul Lang of the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation.

Lang said the Central Terminal is an iconic structure that holds memories for multiple generations.

"It's just a piece of Buffalo history and it kind of reminds you how grand the city used to be, but also points to the potential of what the city could be again, or what the building could be again,” said Lang.

As a member of the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, he is working with others to revitalize the nearly century old building. The group has put together a multimillion dollar plan to redevelop not only the building, but the surrounding neighborhood.

"Their plan, I think, is a realistic plan. It's not just one magic bullet coming in and saving everything. It's a lot of incremental, a lot of different ideas coming in," said David Franczyk, president of the Buffalo Common Council.

The Restoration Corporation divided the entire project into four focus points, including construction to the concourse, the baggage building, the tower, and the transportation section. A focus on fixing the tower is the first step.

"Restoration of the brick work, the various parapet roofs, to basically make it weather tight once again, so you don't have the water infiltration which would only increase the rate of deterioration of the building,” Lang said.

The plan includes constructing a museum, exhibition space, and restaurant in the main concourse. A three acre habitat will be added in front of the Central Terminal, acting as a learning experience for the entire neighborhood to enjoy.

"Understand that the income level in this community, a lot of these children can't even afford to go to the zoo, let alone to the Finger Lakes or Adirondacks. We're going to bring that right to them here, and it's going to be an open air classroom," said Dave Majewski of the Urban Habitat Project.

Lang said the corporation has no plan to change the outward appearance of the terminal because it adds to the grandeur of the building.

"All those elements are what make the building what it is. If you were to take away a lot of those components, which unfortunately already a lot has been removed, you lose a certain essence or sense of place,” said Lang.

The corporation is hopeful the project will be completed in the next five to ten years.

"We can never build a building like this again. You can't replicate it, and people from all over the world are going to come. They already are, to look at this building,” said Franczyk.

Buffalo Central Terminal