Article: Darwin Martin House

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:14 am

A wounded Frank Lloyd Wright home in Buffalo, N.Y. gets put right

David

jmcnally · Post by **jmcnally** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:38 pm

They have done an amazing job with the restoration and reconstruction.

Here are a few of my photos from the construction phase five years ago: http://www.flwright.us/FLW100.htm

Wrightgeek · Post by **Wrightgeek** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 4:38 pm

I wholeheartedly agree that the results at the DD Martin Estate are spectacular, and I applaud all involved for their efforts. But $60 million (give or take a few million dollars here or there) does go a long, long way.

Compare the amount of dollars invested versus the results achieved at DDMartin against what has been done just down the road aways at Greycliff, with probably 10% or so of the budget of DD Martin. And I fully understand that this is akin to comparing apples and oranges, but even given that tired analogy, we are still comparing one fruit to another.

Money may not cure all evils or solve all problems, but it sure does help. And by no means is this an indictment of the group behind the miraculous reinvention of the magnificent DD Martin complex. They have shown an amazing capacity for raising funds, and for that they and the City of Buffalo are to be commended.

I guess I just wish that some of the wealth that is being lavished on this project could be dispersed towards other worthy FLW projects in need. Or at the very least, let's get these folks from Buffalo out there on the road to share the knowledge and skills they have obviously mastered in fundraising with other FLW groups. Spread the wealth, I say!

Unbrook · Post by **Unbrook** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:46 pm

I think that the Buffalo community has shown us the way. A restored Frank Lloyd Wright property can be an asset for a city.

I remember peering over a chain link fence to see the Martin house, during the 1980's and I never thought I would see the complex restored.

Paul Ringstrom · Post by **Paul Ringstrom** » Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:10 pm

Buffalo has indeed shown the way and Mason City is now experiencing the same spirit of renewal and civic pride that comes from a fully restored historic icon.

The naysayers on the Hotel/Bank project have disappeared from the Letters to the Editor in the Globe Gazette.

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 6:01 am

As a native Buffalonian, I am quite proud of my former home. It amazes me that the same city that so senselessly destroyed the Larkin Building is now capable of this. My, how the pendulum does swing.

Wrightgeek · Post by **Wrightgeek** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 7:34 am

Paul R.-

Funny, I have noticed the same thing. In the recent articles in the localpaper extolling the virtues and benefits of the completed Park Inn Hotel project I no longer see the laundry list of hateful comments from disgruntled locals in the comments section following the story.

I must admit, it was actually sort of fun to read some of those comments following the earlier stories. Some of those folks needed to get a life. And maybe that is just what happened to some of those negative commenters. Maybe now that the hotel is open, and the local economy has gotten a shot in the arm, maybe those naysayers got new jobs as a result? Maybe even working at the Park Inn Hotel or another segment of the travel and tourism industry in north central Iowa? Wouldn't that be ironic?

Please forgive me for this brief flight of fancy.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 1:31 pm

I may have brought this up before (one tends to repeat oneself as one gets older), but when Martin finally gets the mosaic done on the fireplace, I would like to take the Grand Tour (assuming I will still be alive!) from Zimmerman to Taliesin, hitting all the FLW sites open to the public in between. Not so long ago, there were very few places open, but now there are over 50 public or semi-public structures, house museums and overnights available just in that swath of real estate. The various owners should get together to formalize regular tours, which would help certain sites that are often overlooked because they're out of the way, like A. D. German Warehouse, Frank L. Smith Bank and Fabyan Villa. Another tour could begin at Taliesin West and end at Hanna, driving up PCH.

Rood · Post by **Rood** » Fri Aug 24, 2012 1:42 pm

Roderick Grant wrote:I may have brought this up before (one tends to repeat oneself as one gets older), but when Martin finally gets the mosaic done on the fireplace, I would like to take the Grand Tour (assuming I will still be alive!) from Zimmerman to Taliesin, hitting all the FLW sites open to the public in between. Not so long ago, there were very few places open, but now there are over 50 public or semi-public structures, house museums and overnights available just in that swath of real estate. The various owners should get together to formalize regular tours, which would help certain sites that are often overlooked because they're out of the way, like A. D. German Warehouse, Frank L. Smith Bank and Fabyan Villa. Another tour could begin at Taliesin West and end at Hanna, driving up PCH.

What a wonderful idea, Roderick.