BUFFALO, N.Y. — The ride down Jefferson Avenue is a bumpy one, both in terms of the roads and the lack of development within this prominent East Side neighborhood.
Local government is looking to change this with the Jefferson Streetscape Project, which will see improvements in the streets and walkways down the avenue from Main Street to Best Street.
The city has been looking for community input, with three workshops having taken place in December.
One of those were held at Canisius College, where community stakeholders gave their feedback on what they wanted to see come from this project the most.
“Obviously, people want a safer streetscape,” Mary Rockwell, PhD, New Buffalo Institute at Canisius College director, said. “The crosswalks here are very, very dangerous; they’re way too wide and the traffic moves at a very fast pace. There’s four lanes of traffic that go through here coming off of Main Street with a wide turn.”
Some of the plans including reducing Jefferson Avenue to two lanes for on-street parking and installing bump-outs to protect pedestrians. There are currently some safety measures in place for those utilizing sidewalks and crosswalks, but not enough.
“This one down here also, by Science Hall, this is the most traveled intersection with our students, and somehow, there are these beacons on both sides, but they rarely turn them on,” Rockwell said.
While many are optimistic about the project, the history of development plans on Buffalo’s East Side may make skeptics of others.
Most people surveyed about the streetscape project reported using the street and public space to work or get to work, to drive, and to walk. However, answers you might expect to be popular like patronizing businesses and socializing, were the two least popular responses.
While not confirmed, the responses could call into question whether the majority of those surveyed are actual residents in the area or people who pass through for work or other purposes.
Also, as seen on Jefferson, a contrasting environment between new structures and the rest of the area, for example, a Northwest Bank built just three years ago and surrounding areas.
While lack of community input has been an issue with prior major projects in the city, there may be hope that the streetscape project will prove more beneficial since residents are voicing their opinions.
“I’m not sure they can do everything we want, but I think that they’re trying to listen and trying to incorporate elements of what makes this community special into a new streetscape,” Rockwell said.
Another area of concern is green infrastructure and pollution reduction, which Canisius will also have a hand in improving with plans to demolish its now-obsolete parking ramp that has been in the area since the sixties.
“The city is also talking about a sewer tank underneath it so we’re coordinating with the city about how to work with waste water runoff, and once they have figured out a plan, we can demolish it and work with them to improve that whole corner on Delevan and Jefferson and make it a much more beautiful space,” Rockwell said.
While still in its design phase, many eagerly await to see what will transpire from the Jefferson Streetscape Project, and who will reap the benefits.