Author: LM
Think, for a moment, about the future of the city’s East Side. As we see the West Side reviving by the day, it’s only natural that people will soon start looking at the East Side as a place to buy properties, invest in neighborhoods, open businesses and build infill. We’ve seen it happen in other cities in similar distressed neighborhoods, and soon we will see it in Buffalo. Already, if you talk to certain real estate people in Buffalo, they will tell you that they are starting to invest in the East Side in targeted pockets.
Those investments might appear to be premature, but thanks to Larkinville and the Medical Campus, they are not. Even a number of developers are eyeing the East Side, looking for the safe investments, while attempting to stay under the radar for now. I am of the belief that neighborhoods can reinvent themselves, especially if the residents have a stake and a say in what the future looks like. I have my own vision for how the East Side should play out, given the fact that some neighborhoods can be completely reinvented if the right people head in the right course. Who are these people, and where will they come from?
Aside from poor public schools, inefficient city snow plowing, potholes and ticketing… what are the big reasons why some people prefer suburbs to city living?
-Lack of safe areas and safe supervised play areas for children and teens
-Land for swimming pools, gardening, backyard grilling, playgrounds, wooded land, etc.
-Some city properties have no yard and no parking, while other city properties have nice sized yards and perhaps a garage.
Suppose developers could create areas in the center of blocks, where neighborhood-controlled properties could be created? Everyone living in these neighborhoods would have access to the land, to do with it what they deem appropriate. The neighborhood would become a small community where shared ideas would become realities through communal programming. Different enclaves could have different programming that branded the areas, thus drawing in new residents due to the respective appeal.
We all know what gated communities are. That is not what I am talking about. Rather, the creation of these distinct neighborhoods would be tight-knit through the common goals pursued. One block could be built around gardening. Another, art. Yet another, recreational activities, such as tennis or cycling. New infill houses around the block would create inner sanctuaries that the homeowners would have access to, but would not be considered “open to the public”. The land would be considered private (similar to a series of typical backyards, stitched together).
This idea would be impossible on the West Side due to existing density issues, but on the East Side there are opportunities to join empty parcels together to create unique vibrant identities that would differ from block to block.
Most likely it would take a developer to invest in a number of properties, in areas with little density.
Buffalo already has a number of cul-de-sacs that function in a loosely similar manner. These cul-de-sacs are very popular places to live because they create small communities, the kids are safer (than playing near the street), and neighbors share resources to keep the circles and entranceways looking nice.
This is the type of creative thinking which addresses the reasons why some people avoid living in the city, I believe. If we can provide amenities which can attract urban and suburban homeowners then we can help to mitigate sprawl and change the way we think of urban infill and development.