Author: Buffalo Rising

Sometimes the authors at Buffalo Rising work on collaborative efforts in order to cover various events and stories. These posts can not be attributed to one single author, as it is a combined effort. Often times a formation of a post gets started by one writer and passed along to one or more writers before completion. At times there are author attributions at the end of one of these posts. Other times, “Buffalo Rising” is simply offered up as the creator of the article. In either case, the writing is original to Buffalo Rising.

An exciting and transformative idea is taking shape in our city—the NFTA Metro expansion. This ambitious project has been a topic of discussion since as far back as 1979 and aims to extend high quality transit from University Station through Amherst and Tonawanda to the UB North Campus and I 990. One of the main goals is to drive economic growth and enhance accessibility by providing a convenient 15-minute commute from University Station to UB North Campus with ten new stops. At last Thursday’s drop-in listening session, the air was thick with opinions and aspirations. Project manager Jeffery Amplement encapsulated…

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Two dozen market-rate apartments have been added Elmwood Crossing, the multi-phased redevelopment of the former Children’s Hospital campus. The apartments are located at 140 Hodge Avenue and join 54 affordable senior apartments People Inc. recently opened on Hodge. “We are thrilled to introduce the next phase of the Elmwood Crossing project to the Elmwood Village and greater Buffalo community. We are proud of the finished product here and we hope it honors the great history and special personal connection many have to this space,” said Nick Sinatra, Sinatra & Co. CEO. The 24 apartment homes have unique one- and two-bedroom…

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Cedarland Development is kicking-off its newest city project, this one on Delaware Avenue across from Canisius High School. The former Emerald South nursing home which Cedarland purchased in 2022, will be renovated into Park75, an 84-unit apartment building and one commercial space. The circa-1973 building will include efficiently designed studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Thirty percent of the units will be fully furnished. Embracing NY’s green initiative, Park75 incorporates energy-efficient systems, reclaimed materials, and resident-focused amenities like a water filtration system, rooftop garden, solar energy, bike storage, sauna, fitness center, and EV charging stations. CEO Kevin Dagher states, “We…

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Governor Houchul has announced that the University at Buffalo has been selected to host Empire AI, a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence Center and at the same time announced Tesla will invest $500 million over the next five years to install a new Dojo supercomputer at its Riverbend Gigafactory to Power Autonomous Vehicles. Empire AI is a consortium of public and private academic partners that will build and utilize a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center that will be located at the University of Buffalo to facilitate innovation, responsible research and economic development. Over $400 million in public and private funding has been…

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In commemoration of the 51st anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, New York State the Senate Democratic Majority, has passed a comprehensive set of laws aimed at strengthening reproductive rights and improving maternal health for all residents of New York. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins states, “While reproductive rights are under attack and the U.S. maternal mortality crisis continues to worsen, we are leading the way by passing legislation to address this crisis, and by taking steps to combat the unacceptable racial disparities in maternal mortality.” This significant legislative package, which passed the Senate, tackle a wide range of…

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DACI Development is seeking to convert two vacant City-owned buildings into commercial and residential space. The City is considering a one-year designated developer agreement with the Buffalo-based company to purchase and renovate the side-by-side buildings at 2969 and 2971 Bailey Avenue at Phyllis Avenue. The developer plans to redevelop the first floor space into a café/coffee shop with outdoor seating. The upper level will be converted into five affordable housing units consisting of one- and two-bedroom affordable (up to 80 percent AMI) apartments. 2969 Bailey is a two-story, circa-1928 building with2,763 sq.ft. of space. Neighboring 2971 Bailey is 3,360 sq.ft.,…

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Author: William Graebner Continue the series on walking Buffalo, from the intrepid couple who walked every day—no matter the weather—in the first 3 years of covid. They think (without being systematic) they walked every street in Buffalo, and many in other cities and towns, taking some 25,000 photos, shared in this series. While not itineraries, we hope to encourage others to “walk the walk,” to see, observe and appreciate Buffalo—and beyond. William Graebner and Dianne Bennett are also 5 Cent Cine’s film critics, here. Today’s Photo-Essay: The One-Pole Entrance Our last effort—The Bills—was, we assume, accessible and relevant to most…

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In the vibrant and diverse culinary scene of Buffalo, two standout restaurants have garnered attention for their creativity and exceptional dining experiences. Southern Junction and Waxlight Bar a Vin, each with its own unique character, have been recognized as semifinalists in the esteemed 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards presented by the James Beard Foundation. This prestigious accolade serves as a testament to their unwavering dedication to culinary artistry and providing an exciting atmosphere for diners. Southern Junction: Where Barbecue Meets Innovation Nestled in the heart of Buffalo at 365 Connecticut, Southern Junction, under the helm of Ryan Fernandez, is not…

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The first phase of the Marine Drive redevelopment project is being reviewed by the Planning Board next week.  Initial work will take place along Erie Street where an existing 370 space parking lot will be replaced with a 12-story, a seven-story, and a three-story apartment building, a three-story parking garage with 185 spaces, 5,000 sq.ft. of commercial space and a 25-space surface parking lot.  252 residential units are planned in this phase along with a new road to connect Perry Boulevard with Marine Drive Loop Road. The development team selected to lead the effort, The Habitat Company and Duvernay +…

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SAA | EVI is moving forward with a second phase of development on The Forge site located at 490 Broadway. Twenty-two for-sale townhomes are proposed including two six-unit buildings along Mortimer Street and two five-unit buildings along Sycamore Street. Each residence will include three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and rear driveway parking. The 158 apartments in The Forge opened in 2020. Silvestri Architects designed the apartments and proposed townhomes. The Planning Board will review the project on Monday.

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