Elmwood Avenue is known for lots of things. Among others, it’s one of the city’s prime commercial districts that is considered a shining star in the city. Unfortunately, there is a section of Elmwood Avenue that is very tarnished at the moment. It’s the same section of Elmwood that we have been pointing to for years, because it has never realized its full potential. The section that I am referring to starts at the corner of Lexington Avenue and extends to Summer Street.
Over the years, we’ve mainly discussed the vacant storefronts on this wayward section on Elmwood Avenue. Yes, there have been some nice little investments such as the Thin Man building, Musical Suites, and the Elmwood Crossroads project, but even these investments haven’t led to any significant resurgence of these blocks.
Problematic corners such as Rite Aid and 7-Eleven definitely contribute to the blight of this stretch. These convenient stores are where much of the trash and litter emanate from.
Trash and litter is one thing. Crime and drugs is another. Recently, I became aware of some pervasive problems on Elmwood – once again, between Lexington and Summer.
Let’s start with the corner of Elmwood and Lexington. This is where the Elmwood Heights apartment building is located. Over the last few months, there have been countless incidents ranging from knifings to drug related problems. The predicament has gotten so out of control that a number of neighbors recently met up at the back room of The Place restaurant, where they expressed their concerns to Councilman David Rivera and members of the Buffalo Police Department. The group relayed their concerns, and felt that the issues might finally get some traction. But weeks later, the problematic building continues to raise major concerns. Unfortunately, there is an out-of-town owner who doesn’t seem to care what happens to his property in Buffalo. A number of the nearby residents have been attempting to learn more about the building’s state of flux, to see what sort of solutions might be possible. Apparently, the building is in arrears for taxes, and is now on the City’s radar for crime. Therefore, this is the perfect time to strike, while the iron is hot.
Across the street from The Elmwood Heights is the Speedway gas station. Compounding the problem, a drug dealer has been stationed out of his car for months, which is readily known to neighbors. The City and police have also become aware of the problem. The employees of Speedway turn a blind eye, and say that there’s nothing that they can do. Between the blatant drug dealing at Speedway and the crime spree at the Elmwood Heights, neighbors are avoiding the corner at all costs, which is not acceptable.
Along with the Elmwood Heights and Speedway, a couple of problematic houses in close proximity to the corner have been identified as operations for drug dealers. Unfortunately, the longer the bigger issues are left unaddressed, there will be a ripple effect into the community.
Moving on to the corner of Elmwood and Summer, we come to 7-Eleven. Neighbors have reported that an active drug “flea market” is taking place in the wee hours of the morning, once the convenience store closes. I am told that the drug dealers are well aware that the community knows about the problem, but feel that the City will not interfere with their enterprising market.
These mounting concerns for Elmwood have come to the point where a community meeting has now been set up. On Tuesday, February 21, residents and business owners will be able to air their concerns to a broader arena, including public representatives and the media. In the end, the exercise will, hopefully once and for all, solve the problems at hand. The public meeting will also – God willing – demonstrate the tacts and procedures that need to be taken to better safeguard the community. Whether it’s Elmwood or any other commercial street in Buffalo, residents should not feel helpless. They should be given the support that they need from the City, especially if they are willing to put the work into identifying the illegal issues that are plaguing their neighborhoods. I am heartened that this upcoming public meeting will finally lead to tangible results for the neighbors who are completely fed up with the blatant crime that should have been addressed by now.
Community meeting to bring to light the problematic issues of Elmwood Avenue, between Lexington and Summer.
WHEN:
Tuesday, February 21
6:00 p.m.
WHERE:
Lafayette Presbyterian Church
875 Elmwood Ave., 14222
WHO:
Elmwood Village Association and residents of Lexington Avenue block club attending, among other block clubs. Surrounding street residents encouraged to attend.