By Michael Hargrave:
UPDATED PHOTOS – People United for Sustainable Housing’s (PUSH) Campaign Kickoff meeting last night covered myriad topics, from the housing projects that the organization is most well known for, to green housing initiatives and a campaign to get a better housing weatherization program from National Gas.
New housing rehab plans were announced for 99 Chenango and 562 W. Utica (photos below), as well as PUSH’s first ground up build that will fill the vacant lot on 335 Massachusetts (photo below).
Amongst the stations in the round-robin style meeting (held in the gym of the Boys and Girls Club 370 Massachusetts Avenue) was PUSH’s new commercial development program.
The relatively new program, which at the moment centers on 460 Massachusetts Avenue and the old Club Utica building at 527 W. Utica Street, is currently in the planning stages, and was the source of much discussion.
During last night’s meeting, several ideas were put forth by community business members and community activists from the Five Corners neighborhood that is home to Club Utica.
While PUSH has mentioned the possibility for a health clinic or community center in the first floor space, the feedback from the attendees of the meeting was largely in favor of some sort of retail space.
Amongst the ideas put forth were:
• A restaurant
• A grocer or corner store with fresh food
• Small business co-op along the lines of the West Side Bazaar
• A theater or art space
• Temporary art installations while waiting for a permanent resident to be found
Blair Woods, a community activist who lives in the Five Corners area has been working for some time on finding a good use for the Club Utica, was particularly in favor of finding a retail use for the building and continuing to build the area as a retail corridor.
“You could put a clinic on the corner of Brayton and Mass, and it’s not going to be any less accessible,” said Woods. “We want something (in Club Utica) that’s going to draw business and be more healthy for Urban Roots and the bakery. As far as what the community wants, the community wants first floor retail.”
At the moment, PUSH has made no announcements concerning solid plans for the space. Instead they are going to continue meeting with community members while they work to close on the Club Utica building and secure funding.
The next PUSH planning meeting will be held on Saturday, May 26th at 3pm at 271 Grant Street.
PUSH can be reached at www.pushbuffalo.org or by phone at (716) 884-0356.
^New housing rehab plans were announced for 99 Chenango and 562 W. Utica
^ PUSH’s first ground up build that will fill the vacant lot on 335 Massachusetts