Your article, “Eds and Meds” (Artvoice v7n25) again points to the gigantic failure of locating the largest unit of the State University of New York in Amherst, 15 miles from downtown Buffalo, New York State’s second largest city, where most of the cultural and architectural treasures of Western New York exist, which belies the point made by former UB President William Greiner in his new book, Location, Location, Location. In 1966, the Committee for an Urban University, which I chaired, stated that there was nothing of the size and magnitude to energize Buffalo and its lagging development than to put the University in downtown Buffalo.

The total investment in the Amherst campus and its surrounds including the university, the infrastructure and the private development today is probably $3 billion, all of which could have gone into the city, yet the students are isolated from Buffalo and its resources that could enhance their urban experience. Although some have suggested that the campus be converted to a minimum security prison, and rebuilding the university in downtown Buffalo, that idea is not feasible. However, there are things that could be done to integrate the university and the city.

There is a billion dollar golden thread under Main Street that extends over six miles from downtown Buffalo to the University of Buffalo’s South Campus. It is the light rail transit line, the first new line developed in the country. It was supposed to connect the Amherst campus to downtown Buffalo. With the cost of gasoline rising, and with ridership up on the light rail transit line and public transit all over the country, now is the time to complete the line which would connect the university to the city, and, equally important, connect the city to the university.

President John B. Simpson agrees that every great city has a great university. In his 20/20 plan, he proposes adding 10,000 new students and 750 new faculty. Why not locate those students and faculty in Buffalo near the Buffalo Metrorail rapid transit stations, where abundant land exists due to disinvestment in a city whose population has shrunk from 600,000 to approximately 250,000, smaller than it was in 1900, in 50 years, rather than on the Amherst campus, so that the students have access to the city of Buffalo and its rich cultural treasures as well as Amherst.

Yes, Buffalo needs the University, but the University also needs Buffalo.

Robert T. Coles, Architect
Buffalo

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