Work continues on creating the Urban Habitat Project at the Central Terminal. It will be a living inner-city demonstration classroom that features habitat restoration, native plants, and sustainable site development/construction while explaining the benefits of bio-diversity is planned for three acres of unused property at the front door of the east side landmark. The Buffalo Urban Habitat Project and Classroom is seen as a Buffalo first and a model that can be repeated elsewhere as greening and urban farming gain favor in a shrinking city. Construction started earlier this month.
The project is seen as more than just a landscaping effort. The improvements will remediate the site, create habitat, become a learning lab, and will enhance efforts to restore the Central Terminal and unify the community.
"This isn't your typical feel-good, look-good, get-more-money type of community block club garden project," says project coordinator Dave Majewski.
The urban habitat will demonstrate Regenerative and Ecological Design - RED - principles; the next generation of sustainability and "green." It will feature water conservation/re-use/recycling and utilize soil remediation.
The bioretention cell was about 80 percent complete before recent rains delayed work. An alfalfa meal is being spread across the whole parcel to amend the soil by adding protein and nitrogen. Two groves are being put in place- one with hawthorn and sumac, the other with pine and serviceberry. The new trees will join a wide range of other plantings to benefit wildlife.
The project joins other area "green" developments including the Wilson Street Farm, South Buffalo brownfield restoration efforts at the foot of Fillmore Avenue, Larkin District redevelopment, and the rooftop gardens at the Broadway Market. Looking at the big picture, a "green zone" is taking shape in Buffalo.
I watched some guy poking piles of dirt with a long stick, about a week ago. Poking the hell out of that dirt. What was he doing ?