BRO submission by Lorne Opler:
What are some of the thoughts that cross our mind in the course of any day? How about, "What am I making for dinner?" or, "I hope my rent check didn't bounce." How about, "Why can't this country have universal health care?", and then there's the ubiquitous, "Am I too fat?" Recently, another question crossed my mind, "How are things on Elmwood these days?"
What prompted this thought was my realization that it's been two years since I moved out of my beautiful attic apartment on Ashland near Bird, returning to the "True North Strong and Free." There are a lot of things I miss about Buffalo, but top among them is EV.
From the first time I landed there, I felt at home. Sure, there are other nice parts in the city; North Buffalo and Allentown are two. But for a newcomer to Buffalo, Elmwood was much more than a "strip". It clearly did feel like a village. It provided me a sense of place and comfort, and for an out of towner wanting to feel the "vibe" of the city, this was the address for me.
But EV was not just about comfort, or the convenience of living near so many stores. It was the sense of connection I felt with my environment. Coming from Toronto, where most in-town urbanites use their feet to get around, (when they're not on the subway, streetcars or buses) , Elmwood's walkability was a real draw. Another reason why "village" seems an appropriate moniker for the neighborhood.
Beyond it's "ped" friendly feel, one other factor endeared me to EV; The Lexington Co-op. I knew about the co-op long before they moved to the new site, but when I actually saw it for the first time, I was bowled over by its beautifully modern design. It was bright, clean, airy and has a fresh, streamlined effect. The co-op became my home away from home. It was a place where I could actually have a nice conversation with the check-out clerks, or the floor staff. It was a place where I found even the shoppers were more approachable and friendly. No question that is due to the fact that many people who frequented The Co-op were not just shoppers, they were shareholders, creating a sense of community and ownership that we don't feel when we shop at Top's or Wegmans.
If Elmwood is a village, then in my mind, The Co-op is its anchor. With the store on the east side of Elmwood, and Delish on the west, this one block always seemed busy with foot traffic, reminding me of street life in Toronto.
But I can't ignore the fact that EV was also about its people; friendly, unpretentious and down-to-earth - that's what village people (no, not those ones) are known for being. Case in point; an incident that happened to me in the winter of '07-08. I was at my M&T branch on Elmwood withdrawing money from the ATM for my monthly rent. I clenched the wad of bills in my hand, walked out the front door, when suddenly a gust of wind scattering my $20 bills all over the street, the bank's driveway, the parking lot, and even in bushes on the opposite side of the Elmwood. In shock, I frantically ran all over the place trying to scoop up whatever cash I could grab. Just then the bank's security guard came out and began running around helping me retrieve as much money as possible. Miraculously, I gathered just about all the money I lost, in no small part to the efforts of the security guard. Without him, I would have been hundreds of greenbacks in the hole. What better of a story to highlight the kind of people I met in EV.
But for all its greatness, nothings is perfect. EV can get even better. How? Well, here's my wish list for what I'd like to see added to the street. I've kept my list realistic. Sure, we'd all like to see an H&M, and Apple Store, a Whole Foods Market. But in the likelihood these do not pop up, here's what I want to see:
1) a good butcher shop
2) a kitchen supply store
3) a hardware store
4) a real bakery (not a bagel place or a coffee shop that sells pastries)
5) bike sharrows
Another thing I always felt would make an elegant addition, is a signature archway at each end of the village, letting people know, in no uncertain terms, they've entered a special place.
Finally, for any in-town neighborhood to be truly livable, it needs good transit. Unfortunately, this does not exist in EV. When I had to spend about an hour waiting for an Elmwood bus to arrive in the middle of a weekday afternoon, it's enough to make someone want to visit a car dealership. Fortunately, until transit improves, EV is lucky to have the Buffalo CarShare cooperative as a sustainable, enviro-friendly option to get around the neighborhood.
Some readers may conclude I am looking at EV through rose colored glasses. But to any naysayers, I say, rose is a beautiful color, and that's the memory I have when I think of Elmwood; a place that no matter where I live will always be close to me.
Following are some recent Elmwood developments:
Blue Monk
Lu Modern
Zetti's
Penzey's
Spot Coffee
Coffee Culture
View image
What are some of the thoughts that cross our mind in the course of any day? How about, "What am I making for dinner?" or, "I hope my rent check didn't bounce." How about, "Why can't this country have universal health care?", and then there's the ubiquitous, "Am I too fat?" Recently, another question crossed my mind, "How are things on Elmwood these days?"
What prompted this thought was my realization that it's been two years since I moved out of my beautiful attic apartment on Ashland near Bird, returning to the "True North Strong and Free." There are a lot of things I miss about Buffalo, but top among them is EV.
From the first time I landed there, I felt at home. Sure, there are other nice parts in the city; North Buffalo and Allentown are two. But for a newcomer to Buffalo, Elmwood was much more than a "strip". It clearly did feel like a village. It provided me a sense of place and comfort, and for an out of towner wanting to feel the "vibe" of the city, this was the address for me.
But EV was not just about comfort, or the convenience of living near so many stores. It was the sense of connection I felt with my environment. Coming from Toronto, where most in-town urbanites use their feet to get around, (when they're not on the subway, streetcars or buses) , Elmwood's walkability was a real draw. Another reason why "village" seems an appropriate moniker for the neighborhood.
Beyond it's "ped" friendly feel, one other factor endeared me to EV; The Lexington Co-op. I knew about the co-op long before they moved to the new site, but when I actually saw it for the first time, I was bowled over by its beautifully modern design. It was bright, clean, airy and has a fresh, streamlined effect. The co-op became my home away from home. It was a place where I could actually have a nice conversation with the check-out clerks, or the floor staff. It was a place where I found even the shoppers were more approachable and friendly. No question that is due to the fact that many people who frequented The Co-op were not just shoppers, they were shareholders, creating a sense of community and ownership that we don't feel when we shop at Top's or Wegmans.
If Elmwood is a village, then in my mind, The Co-op is its anchor. With the store on the east side of Elmwood, and Delish on the west, this one block always seemed busy with foot traffic, reminding me of street life in Toronto.
But I can't ignore the fact that EV was also about its people; friendly, unpretentious and down-to-earth - that's what village people (no, not those ones) are known for being. Case in point; an incident that happened to me in the winter of '07-08. I was at my M&T branch on Elmwood withdrawing money from the ATM for my monthly rent. I clenched the wad of bills in my hand, walked out the front door, when suddenly a gust of wind scattering my $20 bills all over the street, the bank's driveway, the parking lot, and even in bushes on the opposite side of the Elmwood. In shock, I frantically ran all over the place trying to scoop up whatever cash I could grab. Just then the bank's security guard came out and began running around helping me retrieve as much money as possible. Miraculously, I gathered just about all the money I lost, in no small part to the efforts of the security guard. Without him, I would have been hundreds of greenbacks in the hole. What better of a story to highlight the kind of people I met in EV.
But for all its greatness, nothings is perfect. EV can get even better. How? Well, here's my wish list for what I'd like to see added to the street. I've kept my list realistic. Sure, we'd all like to see an H&M, and Apple Store, a Whole Foods Market. But in the likelihood these do not pop up, here's what I want to see:
1) a good butcher shop
2) a kitchen supply store
3) a hardware store
4) a real bakery (not a bagel place or a coffee shop that sells pastries)
5) bike sharrows
Another thing I always felt would make an elegant addition, is a signature archway at each end of the village, letting people know, in no uncertain terms, they've entered a special place.
Finally, for any in-town neighborhood to be truly livable, it needs good transit. Unfortunately, this does not exist in EV. When I had to spend about an hour waiting for an Elmwood bus to arrive in the middle of a weekday afternoon, it's enough to make someone want to visit a car dealership. Fortunately, until transit improves, EV is lucky to have the Buffalo CarShare cooperative as a sustainable, enviro-friendly option to get around the neighborhood.
Some readers may conclude I am looking at EV through rose colored glasses. But to any naysayers, I say, rose is a beautiful color, and that's the memory I have when I think of Elmwood; a place that no matter where I live will always be close to me.
Following are some recent Elmwood developments:
Blue Monk
Lu Modern
Zetti's
Penzey's
Spot Coffee
Coffee Culture
NO gateway arches please. Those are for places that need to tell you they are special. If a place is truly special it won't have to be announced.
plus, if we install arches how do you expect real estate agents to continue surreptitiously pushing the boundaries of the "elmwood village" past the other side of forest, over the cemetery and into the niagara river?
Agents spent a good 30 years trying to steer people away from the dreaded "West of Richmond"; maybe it's time for their industry to expand some boundaries.
Living on the west side of Richmond, I'm inclined to agree. Though there does seem to be some discrepancy as to how to brand the area as to make it seem more appealing. Ie, continuation of EV (most people won't buy it), the "Grant Street Market" (Guercios's?), the "Upper West Side?"
So true. A gateway arch seems forced in a way, and it's something I've usually seen incorporated in superficial streetscape project in a struggling neighborhood or town. Just like feelgood murals.
http://www.cyburbia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=22077
http://www.cyburbia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=22078
http://www.cyburbia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=22093
http://www.cyburbia.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=22097
Yup, that arch really helped downtown Cairo, Illinois. Uh huh.
You mean like the "Broadway Market Village" signs on Fillmore? Major wishful thinking going on there...
The big archway welcoming you to Rochester's Center City is nice-looking but I doubt it has done anything to improve downtown Rochester's vibrancy. See also the big arch at the entrance to "Buffalo Place".
The Grant Avenue arch to chinatown in SF is legit. But that's maybe it....
here's a few more pix of arches in towns, mostly california.
http://roadsidephotos.sabr.org/rp/arches.htm