The rebirth of a neighborhood business district:
After decades of decline Connecticut Street is coming back. With significant reductions in crime & blight and millions of dollars in new private investment, Connecticut Street is attracting new businesses, homeowners, and praise.
Yes, I said millions in private investment.
The Connecticut Street Association, in partnership with the West Side Community Collaborative, City Councilman Nick Bonifacio, West Side Neighborhood Housing Services, and many others, has been attacking blight, crime, and apathy for the past few years. The result has been an amazing turn-around that is attracting new business and homeowners.
Over the past few years 95% of the facades have been improved, new historically-sensitive street lights have been installed (thanks to funds from Sam Hoyt), 5 vacant lots have been turned into community gardens, Brad Wales and his students have installed a sculpture garden (which was honored nationally by the APA along with his bus shelters), dozens of planters have been installed, new trees have been planted, crime has been significantly reduced, and the air is electric.
The result has been an incredible spurt of new private investment by
businesses and home owners:
D'Youville College has just built a new $11 million dormitory on Connecticut - part of a $30 million dollar investment in the area over the past 4 years.
Mike Christiano, owner of the Left Bank Restaurant on Rhode Island has purchased 334 Connecticut (building on right)and is currently in the process of renovating 8 run down apartments into 4 luxury units and a new retail space on the first floor. He's planning on ultimately spending around $450,000 on the project.
Mark Supples owner of Mothers and Jimmy Macs has purchased a building on the street and is in the process of converting it into a restaurant.
Greater Buffalo Savings Bank is in the process of building a new full
service branch on the street at a cost of over $500,000.
Mineo & Sapio has recently invested $100,000 in their already stellar building.
The Corner Store at 14th & Connecticut has been completely redone over the past couple of years and rivals anything on Elmwood, Delaware, and Hertel.
Two townhouses (in the building below) that were selling for less than $25,000 a few years ago have recently sold for over $70,000 each - another one looks like it may sell for over $80,000. Home ownership on the street is on the rise despite it's commercial reputation.
We recently had a film maker from California purchase a formerly vacant property on Connecticut Street. His original plan was to live here for part of the year and commute back and forth to California. He has since moved here full time and works out of his newly-restored home on Connecticut. He has fallen in love with the area and is in the process of convincing others from California to move here and work remotely.
Although it's way to premature to say out loud since they haven't said yes yet - we are in the process of trying to coax the Barnes & Nobel from inside the D'Youville campus to relocate on Connecticut in the store front below (or another location - we aren't picky).
Surprisingly the best property on the street (Horsefeathers) is still available. I believe the asking price is around $350,000. It's right in the middle of the new bank build and the new Left Bank project. I don't think it will be available after the new bank is built this Winter / Spring so if anyone out there is interested I'd suggest you jump on it now. New lofts between the new bank and the new dormitory?
While to many this will look like it has occurred over night, it has taken several years, a good plan, and a lot of players. The Connecticut Street Association, West Side Community Collaborative, West Side Neighborhood Housing Services, City Councilman Nick Bonifacio, the Buffalo Police Department, Erie Count District Attorney's office and Health Department, Housing Court, Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, many business leaders on the street - more individuals and entities than I can recount here.
Although the City helped here and there (especially Nick Bonifacio), this effort was primarily driven by the neighborhood. Connecticut Street and the larger West Side Community Collaborative area are tremendous examples of how residents, business owners, students, and all the other forms of Buffalo citizen really can turn this City around.
The Connecticut Street Association under the direction of President Robin Johnson, is continuing to focus on improving the area and is currently working with the West Side Community Collaborative to further improve it's side streets.
Stay tuned - there is a plan in the works for Grant Street to be next! Who wants to help with Grant? We are putting the plan together now.
From some of the projects I've seen in the works, a few of the East Side Commercial Districts aren't far behind.
Connecticut Street Association
Robin Johnson
President
716.884.2892
West Side Community Collaborative
Harvey Garrett
Executive Director
716.603.9762
West Side Neighborhood Housing Services
Linda Chiarenza
Executive Director
716.885.2344