Equality State News

Mayor Byron W. Brown’s Office of Strategic Planning (OSP) today released the results of its 2022 Development Report. The report shows the city has reached a significant milestone of an estimated $9 billion in citywide public and private development since 2012, helping to create and retain jobs and further strengthen the local economy.

“What a great vote of continued confidence in our city, that we can celebrate reaching over $9 billion in total new investment over the past ten years,” said Mayor Brown. “Since 2012, we’ve worked tirelessly to increase the city’s participation in development and to encourage more private development throughout the city of Buffalo. I look forward to the continuation of this upward momentum we’ve been experiencing.”

In 2022 citywide development was valued at more than $428 million. West Buffalo and East Buffalo were the top two areas of development in the city last year. The types of development include affordable housing, market-rate housing, mixed-use, office, retail, industrial and commercial development. 

Last year a total of 126 new development projects were approved by the planning board or permitted. The residential projects will bring 519 new market-rate housing units and 492 affordable apartment units to the city of Buffalo.

Dollar Value of Development in 2022

• East Buffalo: $116,035,185
• West Buffalo: $197,674,873
• North Buffalo: $37,239,933
• South Buffalo: $17,475,000
• Central (Downtown & Waterfront): $60,256,630

Additional OSP Development Updates

• Climate Action Plan: The city of Buffalo has hired Climate Action Manager. This is a new position that will lead the way in creating the city’s very first Climate Action Plan. The plan will guide our inter-departmental efforts to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and plan for how Buffalo will embrace a greener and more sustainable future.

The city has obtained $260,000 in funding from the Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities Grant. The funding will help develop the Climate Action Plan. Looking forward to 2023 the city is planning community workshops to help develop a Climate Vulnerability Assessment. The assessment will help determine the placement of climate-related services in the city.

• Smart Streets Design Plan: The Smart Streets Design Plan examines ways to technologically enhance the roadways in Downtown Buffalo to better accommodate a wide range of modes of transportation including e-bikes, e-scooters, smart cars, electric charging stations, curbside charging and more. The Smart Streets Design Plan is in the initial planning stages for public engagement, which includes conversations with stakeholders and planning a community meeting in March.
• Downtown Waterfront Plan: The Downtown Waterfront Plan looks for ways to better connect the city with the waterfront and make it easier for residents and visitors to access the waterfront. The plan will examine the street design, new trails, public spaces, lighting and will also consider creating improved accessibility to the waterfront to make it easier to get there. The initial planning stages are underway for public engagement, which includes conversations with stakeholders and planning a community meeting in March.
• City of Buffalo American Rescue Plan Request for Applications: The city of Buffalo has completed the technical review of all applications and is quickly moving into the eligibility and evaluation review phase. Preliminary award announcements will be issued on a rolling basis by funding category in the coming weeks.
• Four-Year Strategic Plan: The Four-Year Strategic Plan consists of 4 priorities, 18 goals, and numerous actions framed by equity to advance us in improving the quality of life across the city of Buffalo. The goals were formulated through a process of community engagement through Envision Neighborhoods, City of Buffalo Department of Citizen Services and Recreational Programming. The plan focuses on building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable city by creating thriving neighborhoods with sustainable infrastructure, economic opportunities, and mobility.
• Development Projects in the Predevelopment Phase: The Hispanic Cultural Center project at the corner of Niagara and Hudson Streets, the Ike and BG’s Mixed-Use Development at 1652 Genesee Street, and the new African American Cultural Center on 350 Masten Avenue.
• BMHA: The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority is hosting a public open house/meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 28th at the Marine Drive Community Room. The resident-driven design plan for Marine Drive will be discussed. The draft plan will be revealed at 6 p.m. on March 2nd at Seneca One. BMHA is also continuing its work on the Commodore Perry Homes Redevelopment. The project is in the design and environmental studies phase.

Planned Business Growth for 2023

• John Kam Malt House Adaptive Re-Use: The location of this project is at 356 Hertel Avenue and 42 Foundry Street in Buffalo. The $32 million project involves acquiring and transforming the structures into multi-use buildings with 82 apartments.
• Tortilla Line Expansion: Father Sam’s Bakery is expanding its location at 105 Monsignor Valente Drive in Buffalo. The $8.6 million expansion will allow for warehousing and manufacturing. Also, the company will be installing a new fully automated pressed tortilla line that will increase their tortilla output.
• Top Seedz Foods LLC: The cracker company that currently is located at 247 Cayuga Road in Cheektowaga is relocating to 101 Oak Street in Buffalo. The $2.5 million project features a company expansion because of rising demand for its product. The move will allow the company to produce 6 million boxes of crackers per year.

Public Infrastructure Improvements Planned for 2023

Definition: The city of Buffalo defines its streetscape work as improvements that could include the following: Street resurfacing, sidewalk and curb updates, LED lighting replacement, new signage and striping, potential bump-outs with improved crosswalk zones, bicycle accommodations, green infrastructure enhancements, ADA compliant pedestrian pathways, street trees, site furniture and public art.

1. Jefferson Avenue: The City has secured $25.65 million in funding to complete a streetscape project for the entire stretch of Jefferson Avenue from Main to Swan Street. The project is currently in the design phase, which consists of designing the streetscape from Main to Best Street. Phase 2 of the project will feature the design of the streetscape from Best to Swan Street.
2.  Bailey Avenue: The City has secured $15 million in funding to complete a streetscape project along Bailey Avenue from Winspear to Delavan Avenue. The project is currently in the design phase.
3.  Middle Main (Goodell Street to Kensington Avenue): The City has secured $50.52 million in funding to complete a streetscape work on Main Street from Goodell Street to Kensington Avenue. The city is currently designing phase 1 of the project, which includes Main Street from Goodell to Ferry Street. Phase 2 of the project features streetscape work on Main Street from Ferry to Kensington Avenue.
4.  Fillmore Avenue: The city recently completed a paving and sidewalk upgrade on Fillmore Avenue between Ferry and Kensington Avenue. The project featured an expansion of previous streetscape upgrades on Fillmore Avenue between Ferry and Genesee Streets. The city plans more paving and sidewalk improvements on Fillmore Avenue between Genesee and William Streets starting in 2023. Those improvements are estimated at $1.5 million.
5.  Niagara Street: A streetscape project was completed in the fall of 2022 on Niagara Street between Hampshire Street and Hertel Avenue. This work included the city’s very first protected cyclist lane. Looking forward to 2023, the city has secured $6 million in funding for streetscapes along Niagara Street between Hertel Avenue and Ontario Street; also $7 million has been secured for improvements on Niagara Street between Porter Avenue and Hampshire Street.
6.  Cars Sharing Main Street: The city has secured $55 million in funding to continue the car-sharing project on Main Street from Exchange to Mohawk Street. Currently, the design phase is underway. Also, preliminary coordination and work with NFTA have been ongoing.
7.  Abbott Road: The city has secured $7 million for a streetscape project along Abbott Road, from Meriden Street to Dorrance Avenue.
8.  Tifft Street: The city has secured $25 million for infrastructure improvements on Tifft Street between Furhmann Blvd. to Mckinley Blvd.
9.  Parkside Avenue: The city has secured $3 million for streetscape improvements on Parkside Avenue between Amherst Street and Hertel avenue.

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