Buffalorising has been redesigned.

Black Rock is highly under-rated and under-appreciated!

Ive often thought that there needs to be a group dedicated to Niagara Street from HealthNow at the foot of Main Street all the way to GM Powertrain. Niagara Street should be filled with corporate offices with riverfront views which would provide alot of employment for the local community.

My guess is that once HealthNow is finished businesses will start to rediscover Niagara Street as a place for corporate offices just as Elmwood and Delaware are now. However, if a group was organized then the West Village, Westside, Black Rock and Riverside communities could work together to change a major corridor into an engine of growth in their community.

I grew up in Black Rock (it's two words, by the way), attended mass and CCD at the very church above, and have many good memories of the neighborhood. I still go there for Gondola Pasta and to run the dog at Riverside Park, and I wish there wre more errands to run over there.

I understand your plight being a westside pioneer. All I can say is that it takes time. Plus you may try cloning Chris Brown who is the knight in shining armor for my neighborhood. Stay vigilent, be patient and accept some setbacks. It's not a part-time job. Check out other blockclubs too and find out their success stories. You're on the right path and I commend your spirit.

Black Rock also has some of the city's best turn-of-the-century factory buildings, which would make great---factories! Loft apartments! Nightclubs! Roller skating rinks!

Black Rock definitely deserves designation as a historic district.

great---factories! Loft apartments! Nightclubs! Roller skating rinks!

Yes but unfortunately new apts, clubs, and rinks are made much less feasible by Buffalo's declining population. Every year there's thousands of fewer potential customers for those kinds of things.

Even if apts, clubs, or rinks are created in those empty factories, it'd just subtract business from our exising housing and leisure businesses. That's not real economic growth.

Real working factories, however, would be terrific and actually provide good jobs to help our population problem. They'd provide real economic growth and not just re-shuffle around existing rent and leisure money that's already here.

Unfortunately opening factories here will happen much less often than in many other U.S. areas because we'll be continuing to have the highest state and local taxes in the nation for the forseeable future (even after Spitzer's small tax cut and new marketing guy), as well as the among the highest costs in the U.S. for many other business costs (insurance, workmen's comp, etc.).

Maybe we could turn the empty factories into federally subsidized graffiti murals? Ahem. Mrs. Clinton. Ahem! Yes, over here please! We need just one more favor before you hit the road...

Wow, I'm thrilled at the positve feedback on the area. There are wonderful buildings on Niagara St with interesting facades. Just go to the Riverview Restaurant (nice family run diner) and look out the window. Obersheimer's Marine store and Ingersoll Painting co. are housed in great buildings. Gothic City is a cool place to explore for old house parts. Gondola Pasta is the best! Niagara St. could be developed, carefully and with respect for the historic feel of the streetscape. I believe it would strengthen the nearby neighgorhoods. It would be great to get more foot traffic on Niagara's nice, wide sidewalks. I think that the residential neighborhoods also boast interesting architecture. I know in the past there have been architectural tours of Black Rock, I'd love to see them going again. There are sweet, little worker's cottages, large Victorian's and some very nice colonial houses. The converted firehouse on Amherst is beautiful. We have our own Garden Walk for Black Rock, already two years old. What we need, though, are young (or young-at-heart), motivated and civic minded people to come here. I hope to share more photos of Black Rock in the near future with you.

One of the things that I find most frustrating about living is Buffalo (moved here 6 years ago) is how many great undiscovered neighborhoods there are. It would be great to be able to live in each of them on a rotating basis. Black Rock would be near the top of the list.

Unfortunately it's all I can do to find time to work on two houses in the same neighborhood and try to make that better. Viva Buffalo.

Investors needed? Let's say you have an extra hard-earned $10,000, $20,000, maybe $100,000. And you could put it anywhere...the stock market, start a business, florida property, williamsville property, under the mattress, savings bonds... but you could lose it too. Would YOU put it into Black Rock? What about you and your neighbors? Do you believe in the neighborhood enough to save your money to purchase another house in Black Rock? Have you started a business in Black Rock?

I am not dissing you, I am just suggesting that your sales pitch should include more information on how someone could make money in Black Rock. It's about more than river access and good quality of life. People don't spend money to come and "save" people or neighborhoods. That is just a nice bonus. Money is a life or death thing for many people, and who wants to lose even $1000, much less $50,000 or $100,000? So are they going to make their money back? How? If the situation does not look good, why? What would make investing in Black Rock make sense? What would make lots and lots of people want to move to Black Rock? If you think like this and offer some real, researched answers, maybe you will get some investment in black rock. Maybe what you need to do is start an organizing committee to start to sell businesses on the benefits of locating in Black Rock. That will make the real estate demand go up because people want to work near where they live. So who would want to locate in Black Rock? What about Canadian companies wanting a US presence? What about NYC Companies wanting a cheaper place to do business in NY State? What about an industry or agency that works with or around (or that depends on) waterways? Could a company serving the growing biotechnology industry in Buffalo locate in Blackrock? What about West Coast firms that want an East Coast presence? Any Seattle or Portland or San Francisco companies that need an East Coast headquarters? Buffalo's subcultures are remarkably similar to some of those cities. Anyway, get a group together to do work on finding companies that could really benefit from locating in the area. Then you'll benefit. But they are not just going to come out there for the sake of keeping your neighborhood wonderful so you can continue to enjoy it. You have to make things a win-win situation, in life, in business, and in trying to sell the area. So be more focused on letting people know what is in it for them. And make sure that much of your answer has to do with money as well as quality of life. We can't - most of us anyway - we can't just do things that make us feel good but which lousy economic sense. But we love to do things that make us feel good AND make great economic sense. And that's my 2 cents. Keep plugging away and good luck

Couldn't the whole above long post be said about any neighborhood/district/whatever in WNY? One would think Black Rocks river access would be very inviting to new office buildings with a view.

The KEY to the West Village, the Westside, Black Rock and Riverside is Niagara Street.

Lets not forget that Niagara Street is no slouch in Buffalos economic engine since it contains HealthNow, Rich's, Bristol Myers (new name), and GM Powertrain.

The challenge for Niagara Street is extending the corporate presence into a seemless and integrated street of corporate offices and retail.

One interesting suggestion I heard was to change Niagara Street into an Olmsted type Parkway with strategic circles, and tree lined median making Niagara Street much more community and business friendly (as well as hiding some of the decay that scares people off).

Maybe when locals invest in Buffalo, others will follow suit. Buffalo seems unwilling to take the risk itself but expects outsiders to do so.

Let's see Buffalo money, of which I'm told exists in great quantity, start investing in poor neighborhoods. A fraction of this city is thriving - the rest is in depressingly deep decay. Buffalonians won't touch property on the "other" side of Richmond or the "wrong" side of Main, then cry when outside investors buy up the cheap houses and become slumlords.

When will the City of Good Neighbors live up to its name and start investing in the city (and I don't mean EV or Allentown) it supposedly believes in?

If neighborhood associations and business associations along Niagara Street from the West Village, Westside, Black Rock and Riverside joined together and united with all the Buffalo Common Council Districts then they could team create a one stop shop to incentivize developers and get the infrastructure development to rebuild Niagara Street with new sidewalks, cobblestone streets, turn of the century street lights, tree lined median, etc.

Uniting all the change agents can change Niagara Street into a corporate office magnet....but somehow everyone needs to get together under a common umbrella

Niagara Street is much easier than lets say Broadway or Genessee

I began a new job eighteen weeks ago where I am, literally, across the state in just about every city and the urban blight and lack of employment opportunities is not exclusive to the Buffalo region.

Rochester, Utica, Syracuse, etc all have incredible amounts of urban decay. My position requires that I work from Watertown which has all of the same economic problems as any of the other cities that I have mentioned.

If not for Fort Drum, Watertown would dry-up and blow away.

Compounding the problem is there is absolutely no culture in Watertown, whereas, Buffalo has theater, museums, arts, etc.

The only exception is New York City.

Not exactly profound statements, but, I would love to return to western New York but after a series of dead-end jobs I was forced to look outside of the area. The only positive is that I did not have to leave the state like so many others but I miss my home.

I am an Industrial Design Draftsman with almost twenty-years of experience and I was forced to work for dumbass companies like Quackenbush, who, amazingly remain in business despite the total lack of management skills or designing commercial kitchens for a company that lost it’s ass on every large project and only keeps afloat through the Buffalo Schools Projects.

The only people I know who ALWAYS find work are accountants…perhaps I should have changed my career to counting beans instead of designing!

I am fortunate to be working so please excuse my frustrations and I know there are hundreds of people reading this who can relate to what I am saying…

Moot point, though….

If one is going to talk about the history of Buffalo, Black Rock is a good place to start! Nice post here - I never hear word one about Black Rock. Kinda depressing.

I think back to the post a few days ago, about understanding the Buffalo real estate market. It seems that Black Rock would be a good place to start if one is thinking about city living.

I'm all for the "coming together" of an intense group of folks from the WV to BR/Riverside regarding the development and enhancement of Niagara Street. All we have been getting from various entites is "Look at the Queen City Hub plan"....yada, yada, yada. Yeah, we can "look" at the plan - but when are we going to actually put some of it in motion?

Yes, there are GNPAs in the area - BR/Riverside has been touted as a strong group and I am aware that they are (since I speak with a few members now and then regarding the merge issues that need to take place for our collective areas). However, they are controlled by the city, guided by the city, massaged by the city.

It is good that we have this city input, don't get me wrong. However, a group such as suggested by Chris and Lou needs to be formed to assure we are all on the same page and have the energy, determination, and those who will stick to the group rather than losing interest.

I would suggest that every neighborhood group or block club that depends on the renaissance (sorry - not a shameless plug, but a truer word could not be found) of Niagara Street come together with representatives of each of the busineeses and those interested in becoming part of the solution for the area.

Here's the kicker, though...EVERYONE has a stake, no leaders except for chairs of sub-committees, ad hoc's, whatever. Too often we allow the few to take charge and then lose the identity of those who are stakeholders.

THEN, we can work along with the city councilmembers (Brian Davis, Nick Bonifacio, Joe Golombek - all three tremendous personalities with a drive to see their districts thrive), along with the GNPAs, etc. BUT, let's get the PEOPLE's ideas and dreams to the forefront instaed of being lead by some who may not even live in the area. We live here, we are impacted by the area's progress or lack, thereof, and we need to have a voice.

Anyone want to say that we already have a voice with the GNPAs? Well, why would this be an issue if one of the strongest GNPAs (BR/RVRSD) hasn't been able to do what this reader submission has stated, thus far?

It's the PEOPLE, not just a governing body. Doesn't everyone feel they have a right to be heard?

There is a meeting of the Black-Rock Riverside GNPA tonight at 6:15 in the Northwest Community Center, Please come I think your input would be very valuable in helping us complete our goals.

Remember when trying to encourage renaissance that you sell your neighborhoods' advantages and you sell the financial advantages. I don't mean to sound like scrooge here but that's what "investment" means. Again, Buffalonians have to get their minds around that idea - newcomers should be able to make (and save) money, make a profit, and improve the neighborhood as a result. I would definitely start by trying to attract businesses first. Focus there, because that's what starts migration and population change. Some folks may fling themselves from place to place without employment, but it's a tiny minority of people. If you want a neighborhood to revitalize and people to buy and enjoy and care for residential property there, attract lots of businesses (and not just new retail, by the way - but real offices where people have careers)...

I agree that Black Rock has tremendous potential. A historic neighborhood, with great houses and commercial properties that are affordable. Near the Niagara River and Buffalo State College.

What needs to occur in my opinion is a marketing campaign to highlight the assets of Black Rock. Such a campaign needs to be focused perhaps on Amherst Street or Niagara.

Amherst Street has an intersting mix of current businesses consisting of music at the Sportsman bar, a wood working businesses, an architect, art studio, hair salon, restaurant, european sausage place. Mixed in are vacant buildings that present opportunities to create an interesting an vibrant street scene. The street is small enough for a doable project.

Housing and business opportunites could be marketed to immigrants, gays, Buffalo State College, artists, police and fire employees as they are going to be required to live in the City with new labor contracts. The affordable housing allows for the ability to create a great diverse neighborhood.

Excellent point Malooga. Black Rock has tons of history, none of it being utilized. By investment, I'm talking about small businesses and homeowners for the area of Black Rock that is north of Forest. Niagara St. south of Forest is industrial and I think that is where previous posters are talking about corporate investers. I'm an artist, I invested in a house and moved my business here. I know of several other creatives, artists, architects, artisans who have moved here to live/work. I just want to get the word out and keep Black Rock in the conversation. It's true that no one talks about Black Rock when they talk about revitalization. It is part of the city and yet absent from almost every discussion about it. I hope that this story and hopefully others to come will help keep the area in people's minds.

It boils down to what we want our area to be.

Do we want it to be a sprawling area with a decaying center where no ones investment is safe for long anywhere because we all are runners?

Or do we want to have one stong nucleus where we are all in it together like a team. One strong whole instead of a bunch of weak parts. Constantly building of each others sucesses.

Those currently taking the greates risk will have th eopportunity for the greatest return. Look at what happened to the Days park area. Early 90's going for 30K now going for 4-5 times that.

What is need today are people with a vested interest in having everyone succeed and grow. instead of worrying about just there own little pile of dirt.

I bought my house with two boarded up houses down the street and most certainly drug dealers as close as one street over. Most will call me a sucker, but I saw an opporunity to help perserve and regrow a neighborhood while owning a house that cost at least half what it would if I were a "location location location" whore. In the few years since one of those boarded up houses was totally gutted and renovated. To me its something that I need in my life. I need to feel like I accomplished something more than buying a house in a third ring suburb where everyone else is running to. I find great satisfaction in taking the risk to contribute to something that could be great, but just as easily could fail. Perserving a history and adding to it. Obvisouly there a few other left that feel the same way.

Just imagine if all the money that has been poured into developments in Clarence, Orchard Park and Lancaster were done in the city. Imagine what a beautiful and strong city we would have. Or even if we could do it half-way and just make on resource sharing metropolitan area.

The cities in our two counties that everyone refers to as "stains" are all of our making. Just because you or your parents once upon a time decided to move across some invisible town boarder doesn't resolve you from what was left behind. This area is one continuous entity that we are all responsible for directly or indirectly. Our choices determine what becomes of it. Though many will find it easier to just blame thier hired scapegoats (politicians).

One thing to remember is that the original village of Black Rock was originally on the west side of Buffalo. What is currently considered Black Rock does have a very wonderful historical record (possibility of the first ship, the Griphon, on Lake Erie being built in the 1680s, fitting the ships for the US navy during the War of 1812, the Battle for Buffalo/Black Rock during the War of 1812 was fought at roughly the intersections of Tonawanda and Niagara Streets, underground railroad, Fenians, ethnic melting pot, one of the first RC Churches in the Diocese of Buffalo, etc...) This is to name just a few.

The GNPA and block clubs have worked with elected officials to designate the area "Historic Black Rock" for these reasons. There is great potential there but it will take some risk by entrepeneurs to get things started. Perhaps the money being offered to Bass Pro could be spent in our communities instead.

I'd just like to make clear that I would be happy to show anyone around Black Rock who is interested. I'd love it to be local people who want to build neighborhoods and businesses. I don't expect outsiders to care about our area or be the best caretakers for our area. Grant-Amherst Business Association is doing an excellent job of stabilizing their area and attracting new businesses to it. I only wish that Niagara st. business owners were doing the same. Sometimes it takes visitors to see things differently. We've had friends from all over the country and world stay with us in Black Rock and they are amazed. There are people who are getting priced out of big markets and who are looking for affordable cities with interesting neighborhoods. Buffalo in general can benefit from this. As long as tours of the city are being given, why not Black Rock? Maybe I should make bumper stickers that say that. So all of you local people who want to rebuild our city neighborhoods, here's another area for you to consider. Why not Black Rock?

Joe G.

...it was the Griffin...

Lori D.

Great passion for your neighborhood. Neighborhood tours are always important and I would encourage you to consider doing them on a regular basis. I've been doing tours of what I affectionately call Artspace's Backyard for the past 3 months every Saturday at 11. And a ton of additional ones as well. More in the last 6 months than in the last 10 years...

Dear Mr. Golombek,
thank you for posting and reading BuffaloRising and Id like to offer a few suggestions for you to consider discussing with your fellow council members and the mayor.
1) Why not build on the four pillars of Niagara Street: HealthNow, Riches, Bristol Myers, GM Powertrain and gather together as Chris, Lou & Marilyn advocated the Common Council representatives for the West Village, Westside, Black Rock & Riverside sections of Niagara.
2) Together Niagara Street can be marketed as an alternative to Elmwood and Delaware and Main for residential (apartments), commercial (office and retail) and light industrial (former factories and warehouses).
3) Together Niagara Street can be redeveloped into another Olmstead (like) parkway with rotaries and statues, period lighting, cobbletones, sidewalks and riverviews.
4) The Aud is 230,000 sqft and considering that the city and county have hard control boards its unlikely that funds for a new convention and conference center will be found anytime soon and even if they were fund a new facility would not approach the size of the Aud. Therefore, why not take a clue from the Ellicott Building with its glass atrium and peripheral offices (I believe the Aud had the same architect as the Ellicott) and add 2 to 3 floors with a glass atrium to the Aud. We could very cheaply get a 230,000 to 460,000 to 690,000 sqft (depending on floors added) convention and conference center with a glass atrium for pennies of what it would cost to build new! And we could get it now rather than 25 years from now! Plus its light rail accessible and its in the prime location of the Western Terminus Wharf District and Cobblestone District.

If the Aud were converted to the Convention & Conference Center together with HealthNow would could encourage office and retail developments all the way up Niagara Street to Riverside.

5) Buffalo State has a boat building program and it would be a wise investment for the Erie Canal Wharf if ships like the Griffon, an1812 Warship commanded by admiral Perry built in BlackRock, Canal Barge and Freight Schooner could be added to our city.

As Marilyn of West Village said
"THEN, we can work along with the city councilmembers (Brian Davis, Nick Bonifacio, Joe Golombek - all three tremendous personalities" where the fate of Niagara Street is critical to each of their communities.

If anyone has a potential development project, that is profitable!!!, please forward a summary to me, Tara, at ashlandlee@yahoo.com

Must include a market and financial summary and less than 2 pages. Photos are encouraged.

I do not have time for idealist who think "if you build they will come". You need hard cord numbers even if they are estimates. Look to comparable neighborhoods, say with comparable incomes or progress.

The e-mail subject line should state "Development Project".

I see the amazing potential of Black Rock and recently purchased
a store front property on Amherst Street between Elmwood and Grant. I was warmly greeted by GABA (The Grant /Amherst Business
Association) and as a new member I can say that we recently discussed issues such as street banners and lighting on the street.
I am a native of this area and invested my money in this neighborhood. I bought this property as an investment but I am also
passionately concerned with helping to bring back this street. It has beautiful store fronts and so much potential. To motivate Buffalo State College students to explore this street ,I am hosting a Buffalo
State Colllege student's Masters ceramic show in my space (the former Howie's Appliance) on Friday, February 16 from 7-10. All are welcome. It is located a 464 Amherst Street. I would love to meet all
the people in my new hood. Black Rock rocks!!!!!!

P.S. I potentially have a tenant for the store as of March 1, but I would love to host a happy hour to promote and discuss all our ideas
on Wed. Feb. 21 from 5-8 at 464 Amherst.(Howie's Appliance) Contact me if interested. scholewa2003@yahoo.com

Susan,

I'm down...great party last time. Who catered it, again?

MOVE THE 190 EXPRESSWAY TO THE VAST RAILWAY RIGHT OF WAY THAT RUNS WEST OF MILITARY ROAD. THIS WILL OPEN UP BLACK ROCK AND RIVERSIDE TO THE WATER. IF THIS EVER HAPPENS THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WILL IMPROVE VERY QUICKLY

David, Mr. Golombek - It was the Griffon. Built on Cayuga Island.
And Grand Island was part of Black Rock until the 1850's I believe.
I come from the Island to grocery shop in Black Rock. THe Wegman's there has the best selection around. and then there is Spar's. What more can I say?

Yeah, I want to move to Black Rock! I want my kids to learn the fine art of grafitti. I want my daughter to learn how to 'defend' herself against her ex-boyfriend by stabbing him in the eye with a screw driver. I want my kids to have high paying jobs working at the only growing industry in blackrock/riverside....the arab deli!!! I want to stay in shape by eating at all the fine dining establishments...er Pizzaeria's in the neighborhood. There are only a few good places that should be considered to live in the city....and black rock is not one of them!!!!

Radial plan - You talk about moving roads and buildings as though this was one big game of Sim City. Just plow it down and start over because you like the river view. I really hope that your weren't serious when you posted that crap.

Yo, buzz kill, from your post, taking out the reference to the neighborhood posted here, I would assume you wouldn't want to live ANYWHERE in the US.

It's true believers like Lori, Joe, and Paul who make things happen. I knnow a few others who have organized in this 'hood, and have every faith that they will succeed. Know why?

They believe.

Yep, just like the Baltimore, MD concept a few years back. All you need to do is start on square one - Believe.

Monsieur Buzz Kill,
I've met nothing but awesome people on Amherst Street in Black Rock!! Also, there is a European deli (Spar's) in Black Rock and
as well as grafitti, there is Art Sphere. But keep promoting the negative vibe, it's working for you!!!

Excusez- moi,
I didn't mean to be sexist, you could be Madame Buzz Kill. Either way, you're invited to the Happy Hour on Feb. 21 from 5-8. I'd love to meet you. Howie's Appliance(464 Amherst).

Well, I bought my house in the Black Rock area exactly 20 years ago, for $33,000. If I had bought US Savings Bonds, which then paid at least 5%, I would now have $88,706. Instead, I have a house assessed at $26,000 IF I could sell it - but the drug house directly across the street and the 2 others on this block kinda make that unlikely.

Can you tell us again, about eager investors?

As I approach my fifth year on Amherst as owner of Artsphere Studio and Gallery, I can testify to the potential that this area has to offer particularly in the arena of art related ventures. We already have a gallery, two recording studios, two photographers' studios, a boat builder, an architect and eight artists working within six blocks. For anyone interested in checking us out, Artsphere at 466 and Susan Cholewa's shop next door to me at 464 Amherst will both be hosting openings on Friday, Feb.18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

As I approach my fifth year on Amherst as owner of Artsphere Studio and Gallery, I can testify to the potential that this area has to offer particularly in the arena of art related ventures. We already have a gallery, two recording studios, two photographers' studios, a boat builder, an architect and eight artists working within six blocks. For anyone interested in checking us out, Artsphere at 466 and Susan Cholewa's shop next door to me at 464 Amherst will both be hosting openings on Friday, Feb.18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.