Cop Training Center or Animal Shelter, What Should Happen On Paderewski

Just like many parts of the Empire State are experencing what many feels is like a K-shaped economic recovery, Buffalo is also at a crossroads. Not just with the financial condition of its people and government, but with one building in particular that we the people just can't decide what we should do with.

The former Matt Urban Hope Center and American Legion Adam Plewacki Post No. 799, located at 385 Paderewski Drive, has been getting a lot of attention over the last year or so.

When news broke that the Buffalo Police Department were looking to turn the former community center, which has served in this capacity for more than 70 years, into a police shooting range and training facility, people in the neighborhood were up in arms. What was once a place where people would be able to go for help and assistance was feared to become a cop city.

However, thanks to the persistance of the group Liberation For One, Liberation For All (LOLA), it seems the building is on the verge of having the cop gun range plans cancelled. But those that were hoping the community center was ocming back should not get their hopes up as another idea looks like it's sitting on the drawing board.

It seems that instead of a police training facility, the more than 21,000 square foot structure may be on the verge of becoming the next Buffalo Animal Shelter.

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The city's current shelter is functionally obsolete and in need of some serious repairs. The current facility on North Oak Street in Buffalo is over capacity and the general conditions in the shelter are considered to be poor at best. Plans had been mode for the facility to move to Niagara Street but those plans have been scraped.

Now there seems to be a concerted effort to move the facility to former Hope Center on Paderewski Drive. Several community groups have come out in support of the move, but there is also a large vocal pushback by residence around the Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood building demanding the community center be brought back.

Given the history of this building as a center for the community to gather, one has to ask why are so many people focused on making it into something other than what it's always been.