BRO submission by Chris Brown:

Heavily-utilized Porter Avenue, one of Buffalo's most historic streets, is scheduled to receive a $1.8 million make-over in 2009 to return it to its former splendor as an Olmsted Parkway.

Porter Avenue is one of Buffalo's oldest streets, pre-dating Joseph Ellicott's design for the village. It was once an ancient Indian trail, in use since the Revolutionary War. It was called "Guide Board Road," and was a passage from Main Street to the Niagara River and a ferry that would carry British loyalists to safety in Canada. The street was later called North Street, being the northern-most boundary of the Village of Buffalo at the time of its creation.

The street played a prominent role during the War of 1812 when the British and their Mohawk Indian allies arrived on Dec. 30 1813 to burn the villages of Buffalo and Black Rock to the ground. It was one of the few streets that were in use during that early time and the British used it to invade. A battle was fought on the street, approximately between where West and Plymouth Avenues intersect today, and it was a bloody defeat for the Americans. The street was laid waste with dead, scalped soldiers' bodies. A=2 0historic marker erected on Porter Avenue in 2008 commemorates the bravery of Job Hoisington, a Buffalo militia-man, who attempted to hold back the British during the conflict.

The street layout was changed in the 1820s, its original route, which continued in a straight line westerly beyond West Avenue, was terminated when the old Black Rock streets were laid out. In the layout, York Street intersected the street at West Avenue.

As a thoroughfare, the street grew significantly in prominence during the late 1860s when Frederick Law Olmsted "created" Porter Avenue by utilizing the portion of York Street from the Niagara River to West Avenue and then the portion of North Street from West Avenue to Richmond, calling it "Porter," named for Fort Porter, at the northern boundary of his new park, "The Front." Porter Avenue would connect The Front to Symphony Circle and Richmond Avenue, and ultimately to Delaware Park.

As the decades passed, Porter Avenue became home to beautiful mansions, stately public architecture and the world-famous Kleinhans Music Hall. The street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places by virtue of it being part of the Buffalo Olmsted park system. A portion of the street is also included in the Allentown Historic Preservation District.

Despite all this grand history, Porter Avenue, especially the portion between Symphony Circle and the Niagara River, has been neglected during the past several decades, but no more.

The City of Buffalo will be implementing major improvements to Porter Avenue between Niagara Street and Symphony Circle in 2009. The project which is being overseen by the City of Buffalo's Department of Public Works, has contracted Watts Architecture & Engineering to prepare the design and associated studies for the reconstruction. This is a federal-aid project, requested by the Mayor's Office and Niagara District Councilman.

The project's goal is to restore look of Porter Avenue as historic Olmsted parkway as much as possible.

The scope of the work is expected to include:

- a mill-and-inlay of the pavement (not full-depth reconstruction)

- replacement of the sidewalks, curbs, gutters, hydrants, drainage inlets

- lighting

In addition, approximately 45 new trees will be planted along Porter Avenue. The new sidewalks will be made of exposed aggregate. All existing 100+ year-old slate sidewalks are planned to be removed and it is hoped that the existing slate sidewalks will be reused at bus stops. The new lighting will be the historic-style "Central Park" luminaires (like those in Symphony Circle).

It is expected that there will be crosswalks at major intersections; the intersection of Porter/Jersey/Normal is particularly dangerous. The newly constructed roadway will include one lane for cars, a bike path, and parking on both sides of street. Retention of the brick gutter alongside the curb in the roadway will also be accomplished, a distinctive feature of Porter Avenue.

The Olmsted Conservancy, who is participating in the Porter Avenue reconstruction, would like to see a uniform parkway from Niagara St. to Symphony Circle. The parkway "right of way" includes sidewalks, the grassy area from sidewalk to curb line and a few feet of what people consider their "front lawn." Design elements that the Conservancy believes are inappropriate in lawn area include (but not limited to): privet hedges, fencing, etc.

The project team also includes representatives from Wendell Duscherer, who is also reconstructing Porter Avenue from the I-190 Thruway to the Niagara River/LaSalle Park. The team hopes to begin construction in July 2009 with completion 4-5 months later.

A public informational meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 from 5-7 PM at D'Youville College, Madonna Lounge, inside Madonna Hall. From 5 to 6 PM there will be an open house where attendees can discuss the project with City of Buffalo staff and the design consultant team. A short presentation of the project will be given at PM with questions and comments following.

For such an important street, it is high-time that these improvements are taking place. It is often the first impression of Buffalo that visitors receive after crossing the Peace Bridge from Canada.

Related Articles:

The Birge Mansion - Then and Now

Four Corner Improvement Project

Olmsted's Corridor Of Light

Cinderella of Symphony Circle