id be interested in seeing a population breakdown by neighborhood. id bet that many neighborhoods are growing or steady(like this one, for example). id also bet we all know where most of the loss is centered.
id be interested in seeing a population breakdown by neighborhood. id bet that many neighborhoods are growing or steady(like this one, for example). id also bet we all know where most of the loss is centered.
al-alo- I did do some research a few years back while I was the executive director of Forever Elmwood (kna Elmwood Village Associaition) and the Elmwood Village area (mostly zip code 14222) actually grew in population since 1990. At the time I did the research, there were only 3 zip codes that seemed to be growing in the city. With more stability, I think certain neighborhoods will continue to grow in population. Downtown will show an increase in population. I am looking forward to thr 2010 census data. I hope the city works hard to ensure everyone is counted and accounted for in this next census.
I love to see that with the continued sucess and increased prices of homes in the elmwood Village neighborhood has spread to the more affordable, west side, With an abundance of affodable homes, it should continue to attract homeowners.
When I first moved to Buffalo in 1998, Richmond Ave had many homes for sale and many needed rehabbing. Richmond was the furthest west people seemed to be willing to move. Now Richmond looks great and streets going west, like Brayton Street, are making an amazing recovery. My hope is that it not only continues to the Niagara River but also jumps Main Street and the east side.
Thanks for the Garden Walk plugs. You'd think you were on our payroll or something. [Saturday and Sunday, July 28 & 29, pick up maps at Dibble True Value Hardware (Ferry Street) or Lockwood's Greenhouses (Hamburg) or on line at www.gardenwalkbuffalo.com.]
I like to think that Marvin Lunnenfeld's little gardening block club event from 1995 is now a significant contributor to Buffalo's upswing. And, indirectly, has spawned businesses - Urban Roots Community Garden Center; and Buffalo Heritage Unlimited, which published The Garden Walk Book as its first release.
When I lived on Sixteenth Street in the '90s, I put my house on the Walk, it was the only one, and in the middle of the block. Even though hundreds of people were a block away touring Union Place and Little Summer, we had only a slight crowd. This year, with 15 houses on Sixteenth Street on the Walk, there will be lines to get into some of the gardens. (There's also three on Union Place, five on Eighteenth St., six on Fifteenth St., seven on Brayton and 19 on Little Summer, this year.)
Amazing what plants can do.
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."
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
tjc,
i hate to agree that i cant wait unitl the next census as well. mostly because i feel like i should give myself a weggie. :)
i too came to buffalo in the late 90's and saw the same thing. but it seems that the reviving neighborhoods are on the offense. main (downtown or midtown), richmond, university heights and hertel look a lot better today than just 10 years ago. will after richmond, will grant be the next battle ground (hmm, poor choice of words?)
i just hope some of the "push" areas can continue to hold on. Areas like Blk rock, s. buffalo, riverside, parts of north buffalo, bailey, and many more neighborhoods seems like they are stagnant and could go either way.
next stop, retaking the east side!
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
I love these Buffalo cottages and it's great to hear about another afforable re-investment neighborhood. To continue the conversation started in some of the comments above, I'm 28 and I bought a 2-unit fully functioning house in Kaisertown 4 years ago for $30K. Shortly after me a Buffalo school teacher friend of mine purchased a house in the neighborhood right next to his Grandma's and another good friend precedes me by a few years on the street behind me. The young Polacks are moving back in. I too have experienced outsiders pleasant shock that yes, good houses are still available in these price ranges.
Broadway / Filmore has tons of potential. I'm a card carrying member of the Adam Mickiewicz Library and I frequent the market but it's not enough so it always warms my heart when you guys champion re-investment on the East Side. I never thought of myself being in a "push" area as someone mentioned but I'll do my best to keep the torch lit over here.
So to all of you who write articles like this, keep up the good work. Like sbrof said, information is power because articles like this are eye-opening even to myself. Buffalo has a lot to offer all over its city limits. Opportunities like Brayton St. are downright inspiring. Of course, pretty flowers always help.
What do I think? I think there's a little artist in every Buffalonian.
Must say, sounds real different than when I lived on Brayton 25 (rounded) years ago. The house I lived in no longer stands, but that happened after I moved on. I think I will check the area out at Garden Walk.
My block growing up...nice to see it revived. Went to PS #38 when it was first built in 1955 on Vermont Street
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