BUFFALO, N.Y. — There are new developments in Buffalo’s Great Northern grain elevator saga.

The Campaign for Greater Buffalo was once again granted a temporary restraining order that prohibits the City of Buffalo and the building's owner, Archer Daniels Midland, from demolishing the building.

The conversation many Buffalo leaders are having isn't just about if it should be fixed or demolished — talks are to how the building can be brought into the modern era, if it stays standing.

There’s no denying the history of the 125-year-old local landmark. It is the last of its kind in the country — potentially in the world — standing as a representation of an interim period in grain elevator development that happened right here in Buffalo.

But the years weren’t kind to it, and the massive hole caused by a storm in December didn’t help.

“This building leaves a lot to be desired in terms of its current image, because the reality is that it hasn't been used since 1981 as a grain storage facility,” explained Gregory Delaney, a clinical assistant professor at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning.

Since the December damage, it’s been a back and forth fight over demolition or historical preservation.

Delaney says it goes beyond just that.

“I think it has the greatest potential of all of our grain elevators to be used as the kind of site of a museum, a site of learning," he said. "I think it could throw all together a lot of collective and more public programs that also play a role in teaching the public, engaging the public, in this history. Because it is our history.”

The outer wall isn’t part of the primary structure of the grain elevator. It’s more protective.

Delaney sees potential in turning that into a glass wall, opening up some of the inside to the public, and helping this historical site thrive in the modern times, not going through with a demolition the region might regret.

He would like to see the area lobby for the site to even become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“We just want to make sure that we don't make a hasty decision right now, in just a matter of a few months, that would permanently halt any and all of those conversations,” said Delaney.

He wants the building’s current owner, ADM, to be more vocal with the public about the process.

“It'd be great to see that enthusiasm and interest across this mutual history,” said Delaney.

All of these are important conversations to have, since this structure is much more than just a pile of bricks.

“We know photographs aren't enough, from our own history and from our own conversations in Buffalo," said Delaney. "What we want to do here is to save the building, because there's nothing more powerful than the building itself in its entirety.”

Delaney says if the silo is demolished, there needs to be a plan so that something can be done with the materials from this historical site.