Buffalo, NY on NPR . Check it out.
Is there a Superdelegate in the Broadway - Fillmore area? I am surprised to see Senator Clinton working on anything that has to do with her current job. This is a welcome surprise.
We are excited about this in B-F land...thanks for posting on article about it Elena...
If individuals or organizations are interested in sending a letter in support, here is the address...
Mr. Ronald Anzalone Director Office of Preservation Initiative Preserve America Communities Advisory Council on Historic Preservation 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 809 Washington, D.C. 20004
:-)
Besides the CT and maybe a few commercial buildings on B-way, what's there really to preserve in this neighborhood?
Monorail, ask and ye shall receive:
http://broadwayfillmorealive.org/2.0/intensive-level-historic-resources-survey-of-broadway-fillmore-neigborhood/
Clinton Brown & Associates identified 479 historically or architecturally important buildings in the district.
I don't get it either. If it's about putting a plaque on a few street corners that's one thing but if it's about allocating money to this area well that's entirely different. Money isn't going to bring this part of Buffalo back, maybe a few pet projects like the Terminal, but why is this section more historic than the central core, the west side, Central Park, etc.
It's about qualifying for grants, not putting plaques on street corners.
And geez, no one said it was more historic than anywhere else in Buffalo. I'd settle for being recognized for being as historic as anywhere else in Buffalo, instead of being ignored like it has been in the past 4 decades or so.
What is the plan for Broadway - Fillmore?
This area has a lot of history and tremendous potential that is wasting away due to neglect and apathy. Do we have a plan that people can latch on to? I am heartbroken over the destruction and devastation, but I honestly don't know what I can do besides volunteering at the Central Terminal. It seems like this is probably the least, or one of the least, desirable areas to live in the City of Buffalo, what needs to be done to reverse this?
I like what David Torke has done with the near East Side, and I like what Broadway Fillmore alive has done, but I don't believe that it is enough to really enact meaningful change and growth in the area. If someone wanted to get involved, what would you recommend? What is the long term plan and how do we achieve it?
If anyone wants to take a tour of the neighborhood, please contact BFA through our website.
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You know...all of Buffalo is historic...every part of this city should fight to preserve its history and historic buildings...it is not about this neighborhood vs that neighborhood...the people in BF applied to get the designation as away to assist in the ongoing preservation and revitalization efforts...ain't nuttin wrong with that...I wish efforts were taking place all over the city and in all neighborhoods to do the same...
100 years from now or 200 years from now it would be great to have things remaining from B-F's past to show people how this neighborhood and part of Buffalo came to be...
Well, there are several efforts that need help: St. Ann's on Broadway, the Sattler Theater is being restored and they need help, the terminal of course.
I think that this is step #1 and then we can work with area and neighborhood groups to develop a workable demolition and preservation plan. Unfortunately, not everything can saved.
Currently, we are in the loop with the demo lists that go before the preservation board, so we can see what's upfront on the list and lobby for taking it off, if necessary.
I honestly think the neighborhood's predominate housing stock is more of a liability than asset to the future of this part of the city. Many of these telescoping worker cottages have no basement, are cursed with awkward un-adaptable floorplans and were not even built all to well. These type of houses were an ad-hoc solution to an exploding immigrant population back in the day.
Compare that with the gorgeous Victorians decaying in Torke's neck of the woods. At one time they were indistinguishable from the much-admired homes we find in the Elmwood Village. Sorry to say, but not all of Buffalo's neighborhoods were created equal.
The plan now should be focused on helping the PEOPLE of Buffalo, not just focusing on leftover architecture. What can be done to help better the lives of those people who are stuck living in the B-F area? The CT or leftover churches won't put the residents people to work or find them better life opportunities.
Any vacant storefront or commercial building offers the potential of new jobs for the people in the neighborhood. The Central Terminal at one time employed over 1,000 people, many directly from the neighborhood.
Is the plan to save and preserve a few of the more historic sites as islands in the sea of decay?
I agree about the housing stock, but what is the solution? Should we petition the Mayor to focus and concentrate demolition efforts on this one area of the city, or should we go the other way and ask him to focus on another while attempting to relocate residents here? Is anyone looking at the broader solution or just site specific renovation and renewal?
I know this sounds negative; however that is not my intention. I would really like to know what the average Buffalonian can do to change this area. Most people in the city and suburbs avoid this area of the city, what can we do to change the perception through meaningful and calculated change? Is this effort already underway or is this a good place to start?
True, every neighborhood has a history and some relevance to somebody or some group but as Monorail suggests the east side was not, is not, and probably will never be a "cornerstone" of Buffalo. I realize that for the people involved there's great meaning but really it's pretty much the designated slum of Buffalo. Every American city has to have a place for those on the econoimic fringes and this is ours.
"True, every neighborhood has a history and some relevance to somebody or some group but as Monorail suggests the east side was not, is not, and probably will never be a "cornerstone" of Buffalo."
Pretty much every immigrant group began by living on the east side. That makes it very much a "cornerstone" in my book.
Yes buildings provide 'potential of new jobs', but I think Monorail's point is those buildings aren't likely any time soon to help many people currently living in B-F. The problem is, this question Monorail asks is difficult to answer:
What can be done to help better the lives of those people who are stuck living in the B-F area?
Many people might answer 'education', but public school spending is already rising through the roof.
What else? Maybe push for some new charter schools to be allowed in B-F? Funding for an adult literacy program in B-F? Or to somehow help seniors who live there? I think those are the kinds of things Monorail is suggesting are more important funding priorities than preserving buildings. That's not to say preserving buildings has no merit, but it's expressing a relative priority.
Einstein, I lost a whole long post in response to your last reply and I don't have time to rewrite it, but the gist of it is that Buffalo (Broadway Fillmore as much as Elmwood) needs a comprehensive preservation and demolition plan that unites all the individual preservation causes, as well as necessary demolitions.
Until that occurs, the only choices to affect change are the individual causes.
"I think those are the kinds of things Monorail is suggesting are more important funding priorities than preserving buildings. That's not to say preserving buildings has no merit, but it's expressing a relative priority. "
Do you stop one effort and wait for the other to begin?
People are always more important than buildings, but often they're harder to help with volunteer efforts. I think that both need to occur simultaneously, but I'll let someone more qualified than I, take up those causes.
mmiller - Agreed, one priority doesn't mean the other has no value and must wait. It's not meant to criticize your efforts of course, but just a context to consider when public funding priorites are considered. It seems a lot of the public discussion about Buffalo focuses more on buildings than people is all. Not blaming you for that. It's wide spread and has been going on a long time.
mmiller - you've got to start using the right-click "copy" function for your posts, in case it disappears, until BRO improves their technology. I believe the site times out after a while on the same page.
btw... former worker in the BF area. Great architecture in the churches and some remaining commercial structures, but I agree with Einstein, and with mmiller. The homes were almost built to be temporary, but some marked with city graffiti, ie the BIG RED SQUARE, look significant. At least get ReUse in there to deconstruct.
And someone make Paderewski Drive a historic landmark.
Immigrants? Again, every city has some section that was home to immigrants (translated as poor people looking for jobs) and as such these areas were usually laden with poverty. So you may argue that our city was built upon the backs of these immigrants (ehhh, not really) but it's history ain't much more than a ghetto or home to a big population of unskilled labor.
"mmiller - Agreed, one priority doesn't mean the other has no value and must wait. It's not meant to criticize your efforts of course, but just a context to consider when public funding priorites are considered. It seems a lot of the public discussion about Buffalo focuses more on buildings than people is all. Not blaming you for that. It's wide spread and has been going on a long time. "
No, I didn't take it as criticism, Atwater, I respect your points of view. They're usually very fair and honest and hard to disagree with. I make my points more for others who may not understand them as well as I think you already do!
Immigrants? Again, every city has some section that was home to immigrants (translated as poor people looking for jobs) and as such these areas were usually laden with poverty. So you may argue that our city was built upon the backs of these immigrants (ehhh, not really) but it's history ain't much more than a ghetto or home to a big population of unskilled labor.
There are a number of groups/organizations with initiatives underway and ongoing in the neighborhood which focus on people...
Matt Urban Center, RTLC, St. Luke's, YWCA, Catholic Charities, 4 Senior Centers, Mid Erie, People Inc, Weed-n-Seed, East Side GNPA, Ladies of Charity are some...all of which receive a lot of money, government or otherwise, to help people and work on the livable community aspects of B-F...BFA not only supports preservation initiatives but all types of community based groups and efforts...
Unfortunately, things like Dyngus Day or the Market at Easter get more play in the media as opposed to the 50 people taking GED classes at the RTLC or a basketball program for children at Polonia Hall to keep them off the streets...it is not only that way in B-F, but around all of Buffalo...
The Preserve America designation is not only about preserving buildings...it is about using your historic properties, etc as educational and economic assets...something that could help prop up the neighborhood...any type of rebirth of the area is going to be a mix of different efforts....people based, etc...
What we do on BFA is give people a deeper look into the neighborhood and what goes on...
Another unfortunate aspect of things is that B-F didn't get bad overnight...you can't fix 30 years of decline overnight either...but there are all types of things happening in B-F, big and little, which point to better days...
I find what the CTRC is doing equally important as what the folks at the Senior Center at Lincoln Playground do...both help the neighborhood...not in the same way...but both in a way that enhances life in it.
I'm not going to take any one person to task or debate them on their misrepresentation of what our Senator has done or not done for the City of Buffalo and Western New York, but suffice it to say that she has never forgotten us here and that she continues to set us as a priority. Her local staff, New York staff, and in Washington work tirelessly daily at her behest to accomplish an aggressive set of priorities for/and with us. Go on her Senate website and see the work she has done; talk to our local leaders, and keep an open mind. Far to much cynicism permeates our collective minds when it comes to seeing what actually exists all around us! Personally, I want to thank the Senator for her work promoting Buffalo and the Niagara Region- even if Andrew Rudnick sees it differently!
Pretty much every immigrant group began by living on the east side. That makes it very much a "cornerstone" in my book.
That was quite a long time ago. How can this be made relevant to people today? What does historical nostalgia do for people who live in this neighborhood today?
I'm not trying to attack you and you group's efforts at all. I just think those questions need to be considered in the "WHY" aspects of any goals to improve this neighborhood.
Clinton does nothing for Buffalo, never has and never will. Her website lists the things that she has voted for, but there are very few items of merit that she has sponsored and pushed. She is a Senator for the sole purpose of running for President. She doesn't care about Buffalo and B-F any more than she cares about the people of any other state. She is a career politician who will do whatever it takes to perpetuate her ego trip. We need a real leader for our City, not a chronic campaigner who does the obligatory drop-in on occasion.
Monorail: "That was quite a long time ago. How can this be made relevant to people today? What does historical nostalgia do for people who live in this neighborhood today?"
It is relevant today. The area still contains Vietnamese, Muslim and Latino immigrants. Why not encourage it to continue being the affordable area for immigrants?
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