We recently wrote here about our newly elected VN board president, Chris Platt. You are invited to meet with him during our office hours:
2nd Wednesday of the month, 9:00 am, Golden Lion Coffee House.
4th Wednesday of the month, 12:30 pm, West Side Bazaar.
Bring your ideas or concerns, we’d love to hear from you and have a chat.
Shop Small Business Saturday is a nice opportunity to show your support for local businesses. This year, the official date is November 29th but we can show our love all year long for these special shops and organizations. Every time we have an event in our neighborhood, folks express surprise at how many delightful businesses are here. Take a stroll and check them out for yourself.
Here’s just a sampling:
We love our Niagara Street cycle track but it could use a bit more love from all of us. Although the City of Buffalo does some maintenance, and the Buffalo Sewer Authority works on the stormwater gardens, trash, glass and grit builds up quickly. We’re delighted that the Niagara River Greenway is organizing a collaboration of businesses, organizations and individuals to adopt bits of the blocks. Folks will take responsibility for a section of the trail and help keep it in better shape for bicyclists and pedestrians.
March 23rd from 10am to noon, teams will spread out from Busti Avenue to Hertel Avenue on Niagara Street for a spring clean up. Gloves, garbage bags and high-vis vests will be provided to volunteers. Folks can pick one of three sections to help out:
Lunch options with discounts available at Mint Mojito Bar, Free Street Tavern, West Side Bazaar* (*limited swag bags) and Turning Bridge Tavern.
As seen in the image above, highway ramps dominate the western section of the Scajaquada corridor, Wasted land, cut-off neighborhoods and a polluted creek are a few of the conditions as a result of Rte. 198. As part of Scajaquada Corridor Coalition, we studied maps, collected input and envisioned a different landscape.
GBNRTC presented recommendations for the Scajaquada corridor and we couldn’t be more pleased. With the help of Stantec, a global consulting firm, they analyzed the region in terms of its people, rather than just cars. The data and analysis is available for examination on GBNRTC’s website. The preferred plan calls for a two-lane boulevard, connecting neighborhoods and Olmsted Park and the removal of these ramps.
Questions and comments can be made on-line. We’re pleased that Hal Morse, who led the project for GBNRTC, will be attending our January 24 meetup. Bring your questions and comments. Spread the word and your support for this generational change.
What’s next in the process?•Public engagement regarding recommendations •Assemble full report and documentation •Reconcile project to environmental review process and funding •Prepare a detailed traffic analysis to assess impacts of traffic diversion and recommend mitigation measures necessary to address the impacts •Obtain stakeholder and public consensus on the recommended mitigation measures •Determine projects owners and resource needs •Build Action Matrix of key stakeholders to implement all initiatives •Establish continuing mechanism to ensure timely completion of project
Something amazing is happening on the West Side. Kamil Gerald offers free signing lessons at various locations. The photograph of Kamil conveys just a smidgen of her enthusiasm and effectiveness. She began her project “to bring hearing loss awareness to the community and how to communicate with the hearing loss community effectively.” We became aware of Ms Gerald’s work through Creative Mornings’ founder, Kelly Atkinson. If you don’t know about CM, check them out, too! We’ve met amazing people in the community thanks to their monthly programming – the 2nd Friday of the month.
Kamil Gerald was recently awarded a grant through the Awesome Foundation. She will also have an event at Community Beer Works this Friday, October 21 6-10 pm. Fall Festive REMIX.
May 4th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Buffalo State Alumni Center
Four mobility scenarios will be presented. Roads, cars, bikes, people, water, land, neighborhoods, air, space, quality of life….the list goes on regarding the future of this corridor and our city. Public comment will be part of the decision making which is why we all need to be part of the process.
Presentation will be by GBNRTC.
Scajaquada Corridor Coalition has developed a vision for the corridor that is community based and compelling. Our Niagara Street corridor is impacted by the #198 which is why Vision Niagara is part of the Scajaquada Corridor Coalition and its vision.
Our beautiful Broderick Park is ready to be spruced up for summer events. Friends of Broderick Park is lining up a packed summer of music, art, and performance.
We’ll be at the park April 30, from 10 to 1:00 pm, weeding, mulching and tidying up. It’s work but it’s fun, especially because our volunteers are enthusiastic about the park.
We’ll have lunch and take-home goodies for our volunteers this year, thanks to a grant from Air & Waste Management – Niagara Frontier Division. And, once again, Rich Products has donated mulch!
Register here.
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Vision Niagara welcomed a crew from Buffalo State College for their Bengal’s Day of Caring. This terrific crew came out and learned about Niagara Street’s stormwater planters and green infrastructure from Scott Steinwald of the Buffalo Sewer Authority (BSA). BSA was involved in the design of the planters and now has a terrific workforce program that handles the maintenance. Students participated in a cleanup of one Robert Rich Way and Broderick Park and learned about this terminus of the Underground Railroad from Tonya Davis of Vision Niagara. The Underground Railroad exhibit in the concession stand was open, so they toured that as well. Vision Niagara is thankful for the support of Buffalo State College in the care of these tremendous assets.
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper is undeniably our community hero. Their advocacy and projects have impacted the region tremendously. Join us and them for the September Scajaquada Sweep. Events are fun and meaningful.
