Parts of the near East Side are coming back too. Hamlin Park, the medical corridor / fruit belt area, Midtown. Broaadway / Filmore has a lot of potential. You can't get this kind of house or neighborhood anywhere but in an urban area. More and more peoople are learning that with a little effort they can be a big part of bringing Buffalo back.

I also agree that more people are moving in than out of the West Side, vacancies are declining in most of the area, homeownership and property values are on the rise, and crime is going down. The new postal vacancy data shows significant decline in vacancies on the West Side relative to the 2000 census.

We still have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but the momentum is picking up fast.

Such an encouraging post. As I read it, a close friend who is completely unfamiliar with Buffalo, was also reading it over my shoulder. He said, "that looks like a place where real people actually live; there can't be houses for $60,000 anywhere anymore. How pretty."

i agree that the Garden Walk has done amazing things for the West Side. That's why I make a point to go on the Garden Walk every year to see how the energy has spread. Last year I discovered 16th Street and experienced one of the best natural highs I've ever had in my life. I do want to acknowledge one other component of the West Side neighborhoods rebirth and that is Mayor Tony's tax reassessment. That decision made a lot of very nice houses in Buffalo not only affordable but a great deal and most importantly, it ended the "For Sale Sign Epidemic" of the late 80's and early 90's. I was so happy to be able to drive down Richmond and finally not see 5 "For Sale" signs on each side of each block.

Jim, you're not imagining it. I give Marvin Lunenfeld big credit. Garden Walk was the tipping point . Everything chnged after that.

Dude is right, too. Don't apologize for those fabulous cottages for not being big bourgeous Queen Annes--brag about them, for all the reasons Dude gives. They're an endangered species. They're considered expendable because they don't have as much gingerbread or something, but they're ideal for people who cannot climb stairs, who cannot afford a big, needy house, who want to downsize, etc.

And Jeff, good for you for being part of the solution instead of being part of the problem!

The area West of Richmond is really starting to come back strong. We still have a lot of work to do, but block by block we are making tremedous progress.

Harvey

We don't need to sell Buffalo, we just need to show it off. After that, people time and time again will make the same conclusions that this isn't the horrible place they were told about. And it doesn't matter if it is someone from NYC or OP every I show around eventually likes the city. Information is power and the only way we can buck the trend of disinvestment.

Garden Walk was absolutely the start of it all. And there is already a movement to name the Summer / York / Ketchum / 17th / 16th / 15th / etc. area the Garden District or Cottage District, or something similar. The area around Brayten street and Urban Roots Garden Center is being called the 5 Corners.

Place names are important.

Jeff I agree, impressive stuff going on just west of Richmond!

What you guys now need is a marketable neighborhood moniker. Don't be humble. How about something like "Cottagetown" or "Cottage District" or "The Cottage Quarter" that can take the successes of Little Summer, Union pl, Brayton, 16th st, ect. and extend it to encompass a larger improvement district?

The area could be marketed as the perfect cozy spot for young couple who need an inexpensive first home, or nice spot for empty-nesters to downsize their lifestyle, or for anyone looking for a simple old home that's small enough to keep up without sinking a small fortune into it. Oh and yeah....quick walking distance to the Elmwood VIllage!