Buffalo Rising Online

Jun 28th 2007, 4:19pm By Jeff Brennan

Even as declining population hurts the City of Buffalo and continues to weaken many neighborhoods, there are some neighborhoods that, although they have seen hard times, are making a return to strength and stability. This is largely because of their proximity to the prospering Elmwood Village and the commitment and hard work of the residents both long-time and new. Call this a story of hope in a shrinking city. One such area that demonstrates such hope is just west of Richmond Avenue.

In the seven years I have lived on Brayton Street I have seen vast improvement in the condition of my block. It is part of a general renaissance being experienced in the blocks near Richmond. If you cross Richmond Avenue to the west between West Ferry and Connecticut Street you will find small streets like Essex, Chenango, Brayton and Ripley. All have seen significant investment and increase in owner occupancy in recent years.

My block of Brayton Street is what I know best and so I will tell you about it. When I found my cottage there, it had been vacant for years. In fact, fully 25 percent of the houses on the block were vacant. While it did not happen over night, the block is now fully occupied and is even devoid of absentee landlords. It is a family-friendly street of affordable housing, large back yards, interesting and varied architecture. The block contains both large and small sized homes, has become a GardenWalk destination, and is culturally diverse with great neighbors and a block club (parking is a breeze too). This may not be a thrill to architecture aficionados or people looking for high end Victorians, but this part of the West Side, just 200 yards from Richmond Avenue, is a pleasant surprise for visitors and loved by it’s residents. This is the land of families and houses available under $50,000 –- though some sale prices have been seen considerably higher recently.

Brayton Street is 2 blocks long and is bisected where Rhode Island and West Utica meet. This is also where the new Urban Roots Community Garden Center Cooperative is located, just down the street from popular restaurant, Left Bank. It is a little known fact that Rhode Island Street is zoned largely commercial for this stretch, hence the multitude of commercial buildings of all sizes and shapes that start at Richmond Avenue with Left Bank, Essex Street Pub, Boreanaz Garage/Donna Sturges Pottery Studio, Buffalo Fire Department and Prime 490 Fine Dining. The six-way intersection of Brayton, Rhode Island and West Utica streets form a commercial crossroads and is the end of the commercial stretch of Rhode Island Street. Here, besides Urban Roots, five additional commercial buildings reside. It is beside these larger commercial properties that many small houses were erected. The property lots tend to be very deep and not always narrow.

The southern block of Brayton Street between Vermont and West Utica has 12 houses, seven of which are cottages of various styles. Most are not architecturally elaborate, but all give this unique block character. Not all the houses have been significantly improved on the outside –- yet. The many new homeowners are busy making gradual improvements. Since 2001, seven of the 12 houses have been purchased by friends of those of us already on the block. Two or three of the cottages may hit the open market for sale or rent in the near future, in addition to occasional apartment turnover in the other larger houses on the street. Word of mouth has been the usual way sales or rentals transactions have occurred. You know a place is desirable when that happens. The most exciting trend, though, has been that several renters on the block have recently purchased homes on the same block or just around the corner -- another sign that the neighborhood is strengthening.

With the opening of Urban Roots, Brayton Street has become even more of a Buffalo GardenWalk destination. There are dozens of participating gardens in a two-block radius. One house, 94 Brayton Street, was featured in the GardenWalk book. It is one of the most exquisite flower gardens you will find anywhere –- all on display in the small front yard and porches.

There are plenty of great areas in the city of Buffalo. Brayton Street and its surrounding neighborhood is one that many of us feel is a city gem that continues to be polished. Come visit us during GardenWalk, or any time.

If you are interested in learning more, just stop into Urban Roots Garden Center and tell them you are looking for Jeff Brennan.