A $2.2 million Fillmore Avenue Streetscape Project is now complete. As part of a push to reenergize the street, new infrastructure was added/upgraded that includes road repaving, new sidewalks, crosswalks, bike sharrows, curb bump outs, decorative lighting, new trees and benches. The plan is part of an even greater design to enhance the surrounding MLK neighborhood. Here’s the breakdown of improvements in the area:
A ribbon cutting was held, upon which time Mayor Brown stood with Majority Leader Demone Smith, Congressman Brian Higgins, and nearby business owners and residents. Funding for the project streetscape project came from $1M Federal, $800K CHIPS, $300K BSA, and $100K Water Authority.
While many of these improvements are nice to see, the street lighting could have been made to be more residential-friendly (to human scale) instead of the giant “decorative” style chosen. We need to start paying attention to lighting sidewalks as much as the street – Allentown is a great example of effective, ornamental neighborhood lighting. While the bump-outs are interesting, dedicated bike lanes (over sharrows) would have been better if the street width allowed for it.
Since 2006, a number of other investments have been made in the MLK Park area:
• $4.5 million Splash Pad at MLK Park
• An additional $900,000 in roadway improvements to Humbold Parkway
• $800,000 MLK Park Shelter House Improvements
• $350,000 MLK Park Picnic Shelter
• $16 million St. Martin Village Project
• Over $500,000 in street paving
• $700,000 in signal system improvements and the demolition of 131 blighted structures, at a cost of $2.1 million.
• City is a partner with the “The Better Schools/Better Neighborhoods Collaborative”. The Collaborative is a demonstration project that seeks to build a comprehensive, integrated model of community development in the Martin Luther King, Jr. neighborhood.
“Fillmore Avenue is one of Buffalo’s significant business, community and cultural areas and today residents have a safer, slower and more walkable street that will further enhance the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park community for many years to come,” said Mayor Brown, noting that this project is part of a much larger plan for the MLK area. “The $2.2 million Fillmore Avenue Streetscape project brings better roads, sidewalks, decorative lighting, new trees and benches to this important corridor. We worked closely with residents and business owners to move this project forward. I am proud to stand with them today to celebrate the completion of this streetscape project, reinvigorating this community and attracting new residents and business owners who want to live, work and invest in our city.”
“Fillmore Avenue serves as the gateway to MLK Park and has the potential to become one of the most important commercial corridors in Buffalo,” said Majority Leader Demone Smith. “This neighborhood is already a desirable neighborhood and these improvements to the business strip further enhance its appeal. I thank Mayor Brown, the city and citizens for working together on this coordinated and strategic project that is transforming this historic neighborhood into a vibrant and diverse community, spurring additional development opportunities and job growth.”
“The Fillmore Avenue improvement project lays a new foundation in the MLK Park neighborhood providing both community enhancements and economic opportunities,” said Congressman Brian Higgins. “This project represents a significant federal investment in the City of Buffalo and again demonstrates the value of infrastructure investments as a means to improve our transportation network, business districts and neighborhoods. I commend Congresswoman Louise Slaughter for initiating funding for the project and was proud to support this allocation in Congress.”
*One 15-foot shared lane (for bicycle and vehicular use). Green infrastructure improvements to the City’s sewer system were also included as a part of this project.