I would have to agree....the park is nice, but where is the overall plan for the area?
The west side, which is still dense when compared to the east side, would be perfect for a program to hehab the houses and sell them to people on the east side in areas that are mostly vacant and ripe for land banking. Try to consoldidate investment and services will they will be the most efficient and have the most effect.
Speaking of parks, the 3-acre public park that is in the plans for the northwest corner of the Buffalo Creek Casino/Hotel would be a great addition to the Cobblestone District. The architects landscape design for this park is very impressive. It will create a unique and much needed green space for that location. Mature size trees will be planted and a creek will run through the park.
Hopefully this focus a central part of Massachusetts Avenue will include attention to the rest of the devastated street. There is an article in today's Bflo News about city help being offered to propertiy owners facing tax foreclosure in October.
Mass Ave is one of the most troubled (& most-flipped) westside streets with 18 properties already city-owned & about 20 more scheduled for sale at the October tax auction. Ironically, one house on the list (#353) directly across from the new park is a $50K rehab by WSNHS (Neigh Housing Service) which has spent considerable resources on the street, without making a visible impact, then abandoned it.
There needs to be a comprehensive foicus on troubled neighbohoods such as Mass Ave, not just occasional 'ribbon cuttings'.
A place to start is a systemmatic review of the 20 properties facing tax foreclosure to see if they can be 'saved'. Then inspect the 18 city-owned properties & pressure the city to correct problems or demolish buildings beyond saving.
For tax-foreclosed properties by street & zip code, SEE: http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/applicat...g/default.aspx
You can see all city-owned properties via this link provided by Bflo News: http://www.buffalonews.com/314/story/383565.html
Here are city-owned properties on Massachusetts Ave:
http://www.buffalonews.com/314/story...43102514345947
Street Number Street Property Type Property Value 151 Massachusetts Description unavailable Value unavailable 217 Massachusetts Apartments Value unavailable 219 Massachusetts Vacant residential lot Value unavailable 223 Massachusetts Description unavailable Value unavailable 229 Massachusetts Vacant residential lot $3,200 264 Massachusetts Vacant residential lot $2,800 319 Massachusetts Single use small building Value unavailable 330 Massachusetts Vacant residential lot $3,500 335 Massachusetts Description unavailable Value unavailable 336 Massachusetts Two-family residence Value unavailable 339 Massachusetts Description unavailable Value unavailable 341 Massachusetts Multiple residential building Value unavailable 345 Massachusetts Vacant residential lot $3,800 363 Massachusetts Vacant commercial building $3,200 383 Massachusetts Vacant residential lot $2,900 397 Massachusetts Description unavailable Value unavailable 398 Massachusetts Description unavailable Value unavailable 458 Massachusetts Vacant residential lot $2,100
And here are the Mass Ave properties currently scheduled for auction in October:
Quote: http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/applicat...g/default.aspx SBL House Number Street Primary Owner 0995700001019000 36 MASSACHUSETTS COLON MIGDALIA & MIRANDA View Details 0995700002021000 86 MASSACHUSETTS SNELL ASRIC K View Details 0995800001008000 114 MASSACHUSETTS TONAWANDA LLC View Details 0995000007023000 154 MASSACHUSETTS RIVERA DOMINIGO JR. View Details 0995000007020000 160 MASSACHUSETTS KNOWLES JOSEPH F View Details 0995000007019000 162 MASSACHUSETTS BROWN CLINTON L View Details 0995000004004000 217 MASSACHUSETTS WERNER ROBERT E JR View Details 0995000003027000 224 MASSACHUSETTS ESTEVEZ JOSE RAMON View Details 0995100003001000 247 MASSACHUSETTS 842688 ONTARIO LTD. View Details 0995100003005100 261 MASSACHUSETTS 261 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE View Details 0995100001008000 274 MASSACHUSETTS DILL JAMES L View Details 0994300004008000 347 MASSACHUSETTS GERVAIS FED View Details 0994300004010000 353 MASSACHUSETTS CORREA CLARYBELL & JULIO View Details (WSNHS $50K rehab) 0994300003034000 394 MASSACHUSETTS VERNON RYON View Details 0994400001023000 416 MASSACHUSETTS WINNING DAVID View Details 0994400002001000 446 MASSACHUSETTS TRI-STATE DEVELOPMENT, LLC View Details 0994400004001000 457 MASSACHUSETTS CHANG GERARD View Details 0993600005027000 518 MASSACHUSETTS DI JOSEPH LINDA View Details 0993600007014000 521 MASSACHUSETTS DI JOSEPH LINDA M View Details 0993600005023000 526 MASSACHUSETTS BRUNO DANIEL J View Details
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When was the city swimming pool, originally behind the demolished building, removed? Was it eliminated when the fire-damaged buliding was demolished?
Good project. It would be better to locate trees so that they provide shade to benches and picninc tables.
Contrary to popular belief Buffalo ranks at bottom of list when ranking amount of parks and green space. More green space is needed in most areas of the city. Fllowing such a vision would do more to help the city than always looking for the big silver bullet (I know, it's only part of the big picture).
Will be a nice and needed addition to that part of the west side. There are not very many places where I think new parks are necessary or warranted but this is a very dense area without much access for residents to a park. The best part is MAP's oversight of the space will ensure that it continues to be a maintained, functional and educational place.
The pool was filled in several years back.
This is good news, I hope the City keeps the community involved as there were several groups/congregations interested in projects at the site. It sat vacant, with broken glass all over the play area, for years.
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