Buffalo Rising Online

On the surface I think this project is a great idea, I just want to think about it from a different angle. This project is going to involve the building of new infrastructure, which is going to have to be maintained. From plowing service to garbage service, these new streets will cost the city money. The city has plenty of existing streets where it could rebuild houses. This almost feels like a form of sprawl. Any thoughts?

C'mon. Think urban. Suburban patio style homes in this area? Although Buffalo could use the additional people and tax this isn't such a good idea IMO. I think "Northern Trails" is the better idea of the two.

Good project.. new houses are going to get built regardless so it might as well be near the geographic and political center of the area. I don't think its sprawl like it nature... as far as the additional infrastructure i'd assume it would cost a pittance compared to the price associated with putting this little development in Clarence or Pendleton for that matter.

and watch the Rocco comments.... this has got nothing to do with him

Why is this such an important opportunity for Buffalo that city residents shouldn't screw up? It is just a couple more homes, in an area that is looking population. Yes maybe Buffalo might gain some more residents but odds are they are just moving from somewhere else. Tonawanda, Cheektowago, Elmwood, Amherst. We are only growing one area at the expense of another Granted the suburbs have been doing this for 30 years so it is nice to go the other direction a little bit but in the end the region is still producing more infrastructure for fewer people to maintain.. that is why we all have some of the highest taxes in the state and country.

I would rather see these open areas organized as such to improves the peoples lives around them and their property. Quality of life improvements pay more dividends in the long run than an injection of new construction. in an area that is already stable. what happens when we run out of old railroads to build on?

If we can attract suburbanites to the city and consolidate our regional population we can't we craft more vibrant urban places with higher population densities? Bike paths and small parks seem nice but won't 134 new families better support local economies and culture?

Good point with the light rail extension.... I as a wny'er would love to see something done with the crappy rail system in this area. Aside from the fact that development is actually being solicitated and it appears to be on its, I just think it'd be better left alone.

Maybe some day the nfta will get their stuff together and realize that one of the components of this regions successful future lies in a quality, available rail transit system.

Unfortunately I don't see this happening in the future at all.... so with that... sally makes a good point on the recent job gains in amherst and how it would be a good idea for the city to capture its piece of the population pie.

sbrof.... public space and more parks would be nice... but in this area wouldn't healthy tax gains in a previously established section of town be much... mMUCH BETTER

The property in question is "Y" shaped- extending from the light rail station/parking lot about where Custer dead ends and extends NNW to Kenmore Ave. It also bends and follows the curve of Taunton to Starin. You can see the former rail lines in the aerial image.

As with the Colvin Estates property between Colvin and Starin, the Northern Trails property will also have the right of way preserved for the North Buffalo Bikeway which in turn could eventually be converted for a light rail line or busway. This is not a one or the other situation. There is a lot of land here and the ROW will be preserved so we can have both a development that will benefit the city as well as a potential future extension to the transit system. Not to worry.

Great project in that it creates a new tax revenue for the city and takes advatage of some condo/HOA laws. Personally I don't believe that Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency should be involved at all but I guess we need to keep the mayor's friends in a job. BURA will most likely give the property away like at City Centre and down on Waterfront Circle, but, hey, at least something is built. How many of you in favor of the bikepath have ever used the bikepath in Hamlin Park?

When the subway was built the NFTA spent several million dollars to build the "Tonawanda Turnout" an underground intersection for the subway. The logic was to build the turnout now to utilize the exsisting rail tracks for a future extension. If the tracks are torn up for this project it would be just another blatant waste of tax dollars, not that the "turnout" would be built in our lifetime.

"...but in the end the region is still producing more infrastructure for fewer people to maintain.. that is why we all have some of the highest taxes in the state and country."

No it isn't. There are far greater tax burdens than infrastructure. Layer upon layer of social welfare designed to shift wealth from one segment of the population to another is one of the biggest reasons we have such high taxes, but that's a discussion for another thread.

Just to clear up a few things: 1. This ROW is not for the Amherst completion of the LRRT line, its for the Tonawanda corridor. This is a separate line which is in the Long Range plan as a higher order transit alternative (likely light rail or BRT) but is not planned to be built until after 2020. Yes, the Tonawanda turnout was started but they are just small lead tunnels that were never completed. They only run less than a hundred feet from the main tunnels from the information I have seen. 2. There is no existing rail in this corridor. It was ripped up years ago. Right now there is just the old railroad grade, which is not necessary for any light rail extension since complete grade separation is unnecessary. The site can be leveled, the ROW for transit can be maintained, and new housing can be built. Even the Citizens Regional Transportation Council had plans for a similar development along this corridor dating back to the early 1990's. Once again, this is not a either or situation, the city can benefit from both. And as to the new property owners suing to prevent a future rail line, they would have a hard time winning their case since the ROW is being preserved for that use in the future. They would be advised of this before they purchase their property, so there is a reasonable expectation of a rail lines' existence.

> Even if by some miracle the money were to become available > for new metro rail lines, this spot would be pretty damn impractical > for such a thing.

Up until 1937, it WAS used for a rapid transit right-of-way: two tracks for the IRC Buffalo-Niagara Falls High Speed Line, two additional graded berms intended for future express tracks (which were never built), and two tracks for the Erie Railroad. Walk along the ROW today, and you'll see concrete blocks every 50 feet or so. These were the supports for the electric catenary which powered the High Speed Line.

If the ROW was wide enough to support a planned six-track right-of-way, it'll easily accommodate a two-track light rail line.

> The parcel is part of the New York Central Belt Line

The old Belt Line is closer into downtown.

This was the ROW for the IRC Buffalo-Niagara Falls High Speed Line, IRC Lockport interurban, Buffalo Lockport and Rochester interurban, and the International Bridge division of the Erie Railroad. It provided the main access to the International Bridge for freight trains from mainline railroads from the east and south.