Over the years south buffalo got a bad name for itself. South Park and Seneca street being run down, vandalism, riff raff moving in, etc. Everything goes in circles though. Finally, things are looking up. With a strong chamber of commerce, and new investors and entrepreneurs ( a good portion that are pretty young) south buffalo is starting to get back on its feet. Thanks to Chris for contributing and to the Elena and the others that have been giving SB some much needed attention. I see big things for seneca street. I wish more investors would look at rehabing some of them beautiful homes and buildings, for more business and retail space. I hear there are incentives for people looking to invest on Seneca Street. ... and yes caz coffee cafe rocks! slainte!

I personally live a few blocks from the hospital and I think it is nice that they are renovating and expanding. Anyone who has gone to the ER at Mercy knows that it needs help and I think this is a good start. South Buffalo is a great place to live and I wouldn't live anywhere else in the city. And I agree with the first comment that South Buffalo is is an under-valued, under-appreciated, under-invested and invisable section of our city. That being true, it has its good points and bad points. Good points is that there isn't a whole lot of crime and obnoxious people there and Bad that it doesn't get the attention and funding that a lot of the other areas of the city get. South Buffalo truely is a hidden gem though.

I think its great that you are brining South Buffalo into the spotlight. There are a lot of nice places to eat, shop and have a nice time. The South Buffalo community is very strong and trying to keep the heritage and bring businesses in at the same time. There are many new stores that have opened up that are owned locally and are worth a visit. And if you are in the mood for an awesome latte you definitely have to stop by the Caz Coffee Cafe on Abbott Rd. and if you want to have a nice dinner then The Blackthorn for dinner is a must, located on Seneca St. Don't forget The Buffalo Irish Center for live entertainment every weekend.

Slainte'

I agree 100% with the other members about the under-appreciation of SB (as my friends I would call it). Grew up in North Buffalo my whole life, but had friends in SB....really enjoyed Caz Park, the beautfiul homes around McKinley Parkway. I have kicked around the idea of buying rental property there to add to my North Buffalo properties.....this part of Buffalo hasn't seen the appreciation yet. You probably need some more large projects lije this before you have people coming in and investing in residential properties, but this is a nice start!

I really like driving through all of the parkways in South Buffalo. They've done a good job restoring and beautifying the circles, especially in the summer. Plus, S. Buffalo is home to one the best Easter traditions anywhere in the U.S.: touring the Botanical Gardens.

There's also a great coffee-shop on Abbot (somewhere between Downing and Mount Mercy) but I can't remember the name.

South Buffalo is an under-valued, under-appreciated, under-invested and invisable section of our city. Its about time that South Buffalo gets reported on here at Buffalo Rising. This investment at MERCY is long overdue and much needed.

South Buffalo deserves this investment in services and I look forward to future stories on South Buffalo.

I absolutely agree with chris69. I think that this expansion to Mercy is wonderful, with all the talk that another Catholic Hospital, St. Joseph's is going to close. St. Joseph's had their own expansion a number of years ago.

West Coast - thanks for publishing a South Bflo article.

MSH......Welcome to city living.

I wonder if this is a record - around 20 comments and not one negative !!!!!!!! Let's keep this ball rolling.

On the jaunty side .... I seem to have lost my passport to go to SB; for those of us who grew up north of the City, SB is like another country. We need to spend more time there.

Oh, more from YUM editor, Christa Seychew, just down the street from Mercy Hospital:

http://www.buffalorising.com/story/say_it_with_sponge_candy#sca

I look forward to the day when Abbott and South Park are the equivalents of Elmwood and Hertel

I agree. I bought a house recently and regret not buying in south buffalo. i was born at Mercy and i think that was the last time i was there...

Yes I see a turnaround as well. It is definitely nice to see the new businesses popping up on Seneca St. I didn't want to forget to thank all the groups that help the area. South Buffalo Alive.....Goin' South.....Seneca Rising (http://theargyleclub.com/)....The South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce.....The South Buffalo Blogger (http://southbuffaloblogger.wnymedia.net/blogs/) and Buffalo Rising Online for bringing things to the spotlight. Also don't forget to mention all the volunteers that help the community immensely.

South Buffalo is such a special place and culture. Its totally unpretentious while still having this really intense community pride. I love it!

They are definitely well on their way with all the new businesses opening up that is for sure!

As far as a residential/helicopter conflict - this isn't Children's Hospital. Looks like they're going to put the pad on the new structure which is low. The higher hospital building, parking ramp, Trocaire College, Mercy Center (convent) would buffer take-offs and landings for the residential neighborhoods. Approach and exit would probably be over Cazenovia Park, the community center, ice rink and pool. There's a lot of open space and big buildings there. Exciting stuff.

Caz Coffee Cafe

www.cazcoffee.com

This is an extremely important and much needed ER expansion. Patients go to South Buffalo Mercy from not only South Buffalo, but it is the closest hospital to West Seneca, Lackawanna, Hamburg, Elma, East Aurora, Orchard Park and many other communities. This should definitly take away some of the long emergency room backups so ambulance staff won't have to be sitting in the hallways with their patients sitting on their stretchers for hours. By the way, if you are looking for a job and want to stay in Buffalo, I would suggest becoming a nurse or getting into the health care field because obviously with tripling their size they are going to need some more workers.