In our weekly WBFO segment of the Buffalo Rising Roundtable with News Director Mark Scott, we again lamented the loss of the Orchard Park Pedaling History Bicycle Museum, looking for a last-minute solution worth about $4 mil. Newell pointed out that though the bikes are American made and some have roots here in Buffalo, it would be a national tragedy to lose it to an overseas entity that would split its contents up. Carl Burgwardt, owner of the museum was set to take a check on Friday. Newell is still trying to reach him for confirmation.
Remembering the Aud. We put it on the cover of our current issue, with a great story by Dan Fisher, and here Newell and Mark relive some Aud moments too. I had never heard of the Poorman’s Aud Club, but Newell remembers it well.
There’s been a lot of back and forth recently between the PBA and Columbus Park Community residents. Ron Rienas of the PBA claimed that the nine houses that the residents want brought up to code or taken down (depending on who you talk to) are not historical, are not going to be fixed and are the responsibility of the city to take down, insisting that there is a ratified document to attest to that. Deputy Commissioner of Inspections and Licenses James Comerford said that that statement was “sketchy”.
“It was more of an agreement about a series of improvements. Our objective right now is code,” Comerford said. “Our inspectors will look at the houses, inside and out, and come to some sort of agreement with the structural engineer who looks at it.”
I had said I thought that the problem with resolving the neighborhood/truck plaza issue was one of emotions vs. logic. Allow me to amend that after speaking with Harvey Garrett, Jim Comerford and Tim Tielman; this may boil down to the problem of a refusal to update 20-year-old plans and look at other options. More on that later.
Next we talked about the Elmwood Village Association’s ads about shopping local. Spend your holiday shopping dollars here! There are small businesses that are counting on you to make or break their year and ultimately keep them in business. Take the time to do the shopping locally and make your money count where it matters most.
Lastly, Newell talked aboutPrish Moran’s Sweet_Ness 7 Cafe on Grant Street. First Guercio’s, then Mum’s and Daisy’s Flower Shop and now Sweet_Ness all make Grant Street a destination and bring focus to the area. Newell makes the point that parts of Elmwood weren’t doing much better than Grant Street 15 years ago. It takes a few dedicated businesses, a good community group and a hand from the city with street improvements, and then you’ll see the area flourish.
queenseyes
Newell Nussbaumer is 'queenseyes' - Eyes of the Queen City and Founder of Buffalo Rising. Co-founder Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts. Co-founder Powder Keg Festival that built the world's largest ice maze (Guinness Book of World Records). Instigator behind Emerald Beach at the Erie Basin Marina. Co-creator of Rusty Chain Beer. Instigator of Buffalo Porchfest, and Paint vs. Paint. Founder of The Peddler retro and vintage market on Elmwood. Instigator behind Liberty Hound @ Canalside. Throws The Witches Ball at Statler City, the Hertel Alley Street Art Festival, and The Flutterby Festival. And his latest adventure... FigBuffalo, with the intention of creating a Buffalo United Fashion Front (BUFF). Contact Newell Nussbaumer | Newell@BuffaloRising.com