CLIENT
The Niagara Frontier Food Terminal
LOCATION
Corner of Clinton & Bailey in Buffalo, NY
DATE
2023-2024
SUPPORTERS
Erie County
Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski
Councilmember Bryan Bollman
Arts Services Initiative of WNY, Inc.
The historic Niagara Frontier Food Terminal (NFFT) is a complex of architecturally significant historic market buildings in the Clinton/Bailey neighborhood on Buffalo’s East Side. After years of struggle, the NFFT is working to reinvent itself as a place for small, local food and beverage startups, specialty food suppliers, and ethnic food retailers. Most notably, the NFFT is also home to over 25 artists leasing affordable art space.
With a goal of heightening the sense of vibrancy and shared ownership at the complex, SAIRA Creative solidified funding through Erie County to renovate the building facade. Renovations include fixing the crumbling cement dock, adding tenant signage, retail lighting, a new door, and a paint touch up at building 177 at the NFFT. These renovations will restore the look of the deteriorating building and bring a heightened sense of safety to the tenants and customers who frequent the NFFT.
In tandem with the redevelopment, SAIRA Creative organized a series of workshop events in spring 2023 to bring together stakeholders of the food terminal complex and surrounding community. Through this process, the group came to agreement on the themes and identity of the building. Coordination of a community mural and paint day is underway, along with added pedestrian amenities (ie. benches, bike racks, etc.) Stay tuned! Estimated to arrive Summer 2024.
Saira organized a community workshop to develop a mural at the NFFT, which demonstrated her dynamic abilities. She effectively inspired others to elicit their own creativity as they brainstormed themes for the mural that resulted in high quality ideas. She has the rare ability to execute bold visions through her community development expertise. Moreover, she has a constant motivation to make her community a better place using her problem-solving methods and techniques.
Matt Wattles, NFFT Property Manager, Niagara Frontier Food Terminal