If you've driven over Buffalo's skyway lately you've probably noticed the Memorial Auditorium is missing some big chunks. That's the result of the asbestos removal process, and now the rest of the building is set to come down too.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation has authorized a $1,489,078 contract with Buffalo-based Ontario Specialty Contracting, Inc for the demolition work. The cost of the project is less than half what the ECHDC originally estimated and will save taxpayers more than $2.25 million.

"Given the cost of concrete and steel, a lot of it is going to be salvaged by the contractor to be able to sell which is one of the reasons bids have been so inexpensive," explains Jordan Levy, chairman of the ECHDC

Ontario Specialty Contracting, Inc. is same company that did the May 2007 implosion of an old medical tower on High Street in Buffalo, but the Aud won't be coming down quite the same way. "We're not imploding it," says Levy, "The Hamburg drain runs under the arena so you've got to be very careful otherwise the people in the First Ward and South Buffalo won't have water for a while."

Instead, the Aud will come down piece by piece starting next month and the whole thing, as well as the old Donovan office building next door, is expected to be completely down by May.

Built into the cost of the project is money for salvaging certain architectural elements of the Aud. "We're going to save the seal and the original sign in front of building, and the cornerstone. There's some discussion of other items," says Levy.

Where those items will be displayed has yet to be decided. Meanwhile, the ECHDC is making sure nothing of value is still left in the Aud. "We don't want to find a lot of contents of building are on Ebay or other places that people can go buy," says Levy.

Much of the stuff that's already been salvaged from the Aud will be available to the public for purchase at an auction November 15th and 16th at the Buffalo Convention Center.