Legislator Tim Kennedy says, "The South Park Avenue Revitalization Project is coming together fast and greater than I thought it would. The committee, along with the businesses and community are working together with the city and public and private concerns to fast-track the project, and it's going great."
Kennedy says that the committee and block club leaders and
residents have been meeting once a month since August, and the progress is
astounding. Meetings for the $2.32
million project have moved from the Tim Russert Children's Garden, to
Holy Family Church, and now Sorrento Lactalis, http://www.answers.com/topic/sorrento-lactalis employers of 500
locals, have opened up their South Buffalo Headquarters to the meetings, where
25 to 30 people are typically in attendance. "And we get free cheese at
end of meeting," Kennedy said.
The neighborhood advocates have been engaged from day-one, and they continue to make decisions and do homework between meetings to make educated decisions," Kennedy says. To the credit of Kennedy and his staff, one of the reasons so many well-informed decisions on pressing issues come about is that, at each meeting, an agenda is handed out for the subsequent meeting the following month.
"We've had some major recent announcements that will make this bigger and better project than anyone thought originally," Kennedy states.
"National Fuel is putting $2 million toward replacing pipeline to the neighborhood, so the streetscape won't be disturbed. They're committed to having that done so that we can start our project in early September of 2009 and be done late September of 2010," Kennedy explains. "And there will be a moratorium on digging for 5 years after we're complete, so all of the utilities are doing their infrastructure repairs now."
Kennedy also praises the city, saying, "John Bidell, the City of Buffalo Engineer and Tom Duk and Steve Stepniak from the DPW are working at an aggressive pace, thanks to Mayor Brown's commitment."
Kennedy says that a project of this scope could typically take over a year in the planning process, but that the South Park project is moving faster because of the efforts of those involved. "We're ahead of the game with 6 or 7 months of planning," he explains, "and then a year to implement."
According to Kennedy, the finished project is going for "large visual impact--trees will line South Park, replacing the sporadic trees." Re-Tree of WNY is cooperating with us and made this project great. There were 28 trees out of this office in the 2-mile stretch, but now there will be 400. Paul Maurer of Re-Tree, met with us 3 months ago and we asked for help in making this business strip beautiful. he was immediately engaged, went to his board, and they decided to make this their signature project in WNY." Kennedy says. "And it's not easy to do. The DPW gave Re-tree the green light and a blank slate to ensure that when the trees go in, they're all uniform, and the city will assist them in that. It's all about money and expedition. We'll bid out the job of making spots in the concrete for the tree wells, and the city has said that if sidewalk block needs to be replaced, they'll do it."
Kennedy rode the two-mile stretch recently with Maurer and City Forester Jeff Brett, and says, "these men have great respect for the issues in this project and what we're trying to achieve. Re-Tree will utilize their relationships and resources to make sure that we get trees that will do well here, in this sort of traffic, in this neighborhood. Right now we're looking at flowering trees that will reach around 20 feet."
Kennedy says he's awed buy how private entities have reacted to the community. "These are perfect accents to the larger project," he says. "It will be bigger and better. The new streetlights will have banner arms, flag holders, and teardrop lights. They're expensive but grand. We'll have designated bike lanes next to parking lanes, and this has been designated as a high-hazard biking area in the past. Our hope and goal is to beautify the streets and make them safer, slow traffic down. We want to make drivers more aware."
In addition, the crosswalks will be stamped concrete, design and color to be decided by the committee. There will also be 20 to 25 metal benches. "I want this to be their project, let them discuss it and come to their own conclusions," Kennedy said.
"Senator Bill Stachowski, Assemblyman Mark Schroeder, Representative Brian Higgins...they're all working to secure more funding, to tie South Park to Tifft and the waterfront," Kennedy stated. "We're anchored by the Basilica, Botanical Gardens...we want South Park to support tourists. We want to make the businesses stronger and bring others in."
It's nice to see South Buffalo getting some overdue recognition for it's part in the treasure that is Buffalo. It's especially nice to hear the words of Tim Kennedy who works very hard to keep his district (and all of Buffalo) a place where people not only want to come, but want to stay.