East Community Workshop

Broadway-Fillmore,
Emerson,
Kaisertown,
Seneca-Babcock,
Lovejoy/Iron Island,

Broadway-Fillmore

Assets: Broadway Market; neighborhood green space at MLK park; Storefronts/buildings along commercial corridors (Broadway) - great architecture and potential for redevelopment; Central Terminal - seen from everywhere and icon of neighborhood; churches as community anchors; large tracts of vacant land - potential for redevelopment; Matt Urban Center

Strengths: Broadway "Buffalo's 2nd downtown", still many walkable and dense neighborhoods; good bones; urban farming - local entrepreneurial economy; 500-900 Fillmore Avenue - strong housing/rehabs/new residents; cultural diversity; historic churches; greenway and green infrastructure at Paderewski/Central Terminal

Weaknesses: Decrease in density due to demolition/vacancies; gap toothed streetscape in business districts; fragmented neighborhoods; poor condition of public infrastructure (sidewalks); high crime in areas; suburban style housing and businesses do not fit

New directions: Capitalize on history of neighborhood; Zone urban agriculture; traditional mixed-use along Fillmore and Broadway small businesses; improve pedestrian and bicycle access; redensify residential neighborhoods while maintaining green space; new commercial structures built to curb; incubator and live/work space

Emerson

Assets: Good access to public transportation; Emerson and MLK Park - well maintained, community programming, connection to nature; vacant school building provides redevelopment opportunity

Strengths: Broadway Market block; Cemetery - green space/mini park; front porches on houses encourages community

Weaknesses: Vacant lots - magnets for crime and trash; need more affordable housing - aging population; abandoned industrial buildings - keep the land use but fix the building; more parking along Broadway/Sycamore corridor

New Directions: Vacant lots utilized as additional green space; job training - local jobs for neighborhood residents; utilize vacant parcels for commercial/retail (grocery store); both pedestrian and auto-oriented mixed-use along Genesee, Broadway, and Sycamore

Kaisertown

Assets: Houghton Park; access to the Buffalo Creek; local churches; thruway provides easy access; community amenities — Machnica Center, Clinton Library; well-known local businesses — Guzzo's, Pumpernick, Wiechec's.

Strengths: Houghton Academy and Machnica Center act as community anchors, Clinton-Bailey Market; clusters of strong residential — brick streets, nicer homes, larger lots; Parks and green space actively used; landmark buildings

Weaknesses: Vacant housing a haven for drugs; Vacant storefronts along major commercial corridors (Clinton Street); Roads and sidewalks in disrepair; absentee landlords; churches closing; apathy among residents - need more involvement

New Directions: Bike path/public space along Clinton Street, pocket parks; improve access to public transportation; maintain walkability; redevelop industrial sites to keep manufacturing jobs in community; Seneca-Babcock

Seneca-Babcock

Assets: Stable businesses provide neighborhood jobs; Food Terminal; Farmer's Market; involved and tight-knit community (Seneca/Babcock Street); parks and community gardens; local institutions like churches and community center
Strengths: Proximity to Larkin District; manufacturing = jobs; Seneca and Clinton provide commercial core to serve residential; Enjoy nature at Seneca Bluffs; potential reuse of vacant buildings; stable clusters of residential

Weaknesses: Vacant housing attracts drugs/crime; vacancies and absentee landlords; vacant land; former industrial sites that need remediation, inappropriate businesses (bars, adults shops, etc.); poor condition of public infrastructure (sidewalks and streets)

New directions: Medium and large lot residential infill that is APPROPRIATE to neighborhood; pocket parks and green space to support residential clusters; mix of passive/active neighborhood amenities; Seneca Street more mixed use and pedestrian scale (lighting); Business districts more "family friendly"

Lovejoy/Iron Island

Assets: Local churches and spiritual diversity; safe neighborhood; local businesses serving community; innovative new school - new social fabric; community amenities - community, youth, and senior center; baseball diamond (recreation)

Strengths: Designated neighborhood centers; variety of residential architecture; industry employs a lot of residents; reuse of churches by other organizations; well preserved historical buildings

Weaknesses: Mix of incompatible uses (automotive and residential); vacant housing; undesirable businesses; dilapidated buildings should be demolished or rehabbed; improve gateways to neighborhood

New Directions: Traditional mixed-use development along Lovejoy; want walkable business corridors with proper sidewalks, more public and private green space