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RIVERROCK TIMES

Vol. 6 No. 15 Thursday, July 23, 2026 Covering the Northwest Corner of Buffalo

Ignore the rumors: Shaffer Village

upgrades still moving forward

By Amber Healy
espite the naysayers, the
long-promised renovation
Dand upgrades at Shaffer
Village are still a priority for the
Buffalo Municipal Housing Au-
thority and are still in the works.
Sharon Linstedt, spokesperson
On with the show! for the BMHA, affirms that the
project “has not been ‘unfunded’
By Amber Healy while supporting new businesses, or dropped from BMHA’s rede-
riving through Black like Corneille Caribbean Kitchen, velopment schedule. Any time
Rock, the signs are still and old favorites, like Hot Ma- projects take longer than original-
Dup in front of businesses ma’s Canteen. ly forecast, the delays generate
on Amherst Street, enthusiastical- “Black Rock, and Grant-Am- rumors in the community, espe-
ly promoting the first Amherst herst really, this neighborhood has cially a project like Shaffer Vil-
Street Live event originally sched- really become a hub for music in lage, which will have such a
uled for last Friday, July 17. Buffalo,” Maniaci said previous- positive impact on the residents
Unfortunately, the heavy wild- ly. “Hot Mama’s is right there, and the surrounding neighbor-
fire smoke and poor air quality they have a lot of live music; Al- hood.” Renderings from the Shaffer Village Redevelopment & Neigh-
that blanketed Western New York lentown Music here, we opened In 2024, the Buffalo Common borhood Master Plan in 2021.
and other parts of the eastern Unit- up as a full-service music shop. Council cleared the last hurdle for
tending Chadduck and Henrietta
ed States last week led to the event The Fretted Buffalo over there is a work to begin at Shaffer Village, “The project is next in the avenues to Isabell Street to allow
being postponed out of an abun- world-class guitar shop, and then voting to approve a rezoning ap- queue and is very much for better traffic flow.
dance of safety. there’s the Showplace Theatre on plication on the property, catego- alive. We are continuing to “The project is next in the
But the evening, a night of Military Road too. rizing it now as residential. At the queue and is very much alive. We
local music played in front of “And, when you go a little time, North District Councilmem- relocate residents from the are continuing to relocate resi-
small businesses, was not out of further, as far as entertainment, ber Joe Golombek said Shaffer rowhouses and plan for
dents from the rowhouses and
the spotlight for long. now we have Gather and Game on Village was among the first proj- demolition,” Linstedt says. plan for demolition,” Linstedt
On Sunday afternoon, the Amherst for people who like to ects he worked on when elected.
In March, during a Believe in says. The redevelopment plan for
Grant Amherst Business Associa- play board games. We really are a Shaffer Village has not changed,
tion announced the show will go music and entertainment spot and Black Rock community meeting,
Black Rock Riverside Alliance and we will be holding a resident
on as originally intended, from 6 - I don’t think people realize we update session in the near future.”
9 p.m. on Friday, July 31. have all this.” executive director Anne McCooey
told the group that she noticed Last year, Alex Carducci, in-
The brainchild of GABA pres- The event also is supported by terim president at Bridges Devel-
ident, and owner of Allentown Erie County Legislator Michael Nominations open for some boarded-up buildings on the opment, an affiliated arm of the
Music, Joe Maniaci, the night is Kooshoian and North District Shaffer Village campus. BMHA. said the new construction
intended to be a fun opportunity to Councilmember Joe Golombek. Coaches Honor Roll The intent for the complex’s at Shaffer Village has an advan-
hear live music in Black Rock Awards & Dick residents has been to make them
move only once: into a newly con- tage over the Perry Street redevel-
Gallagher Lifetime structed building, after which their opment, another BMHA effort,
New inspector provides Service Award old apartment building would be and Marine Drive.

knocked down. This round-robin “Each one of these projects is
roject Play Western New so different from the other. De-
updates on Riverside PYork announced July 17 that style approach makes for a more spite the success and the speed and
nominations for its Coaches Hon- efficient process for residents but the pace that Perry’s going for,
By Amber Healy or Roll Awards and Dick Gallagh- might make the overall efforts Perry (was) totally vacant…
here’s plenty of action hap- er Lifetime Service Award are take longer. It’s the same ap- something like Shaffer or Marine
pening in Riverside – and now open. Individuals and organi- proach currently being taken at the Drive, you’ve got more logistics
Tplenty to keep not one, but zations from Western New York Marine Drive apartment complex, to handle; ultimately relocation
two building inspectors busy. are invited to nominate youth another BHMA effort. from old to new. The other matter
Allen Shubbuck, a building sports coaches from non-scholas- Shaffer Village project will is just working through the best, or
inspector and rental registration tic programs for the recognitions. include tearing down the existing seemingly best, financing strategy
specialist with the city’s Depart- To be considered for a Coach- building and construction of ap- critically when it comes to HUD,
ment of Permit and Inspection es Honor Roll Award, coaches proximately 217 new housing because there are different ways to
Services, is joining Mike Dillion must receive separate nominations units, in addition to a community reposition the public housing units
in making the rounds in the neigh- from two or more people. A fel- center, utility building, 150 on- to affordable units, generally. It’s
borhood. Shubbuck spoke at the low coach or youth organization street and 222 off-street parking a balancing act,” he said last sum-
Rediscover Riverside meeting, on leader must submit one of these spaces and a larger green space for mer, referring to the federal De-
July 15, about what’s been on his nominations. Nominees must cur- an enclosed playground or open partment of Housing and Urban
checklist lately and some projects rently coach kids ages 13 and un- area. The proposal also includes Development.
that will be coming up soon. Allen Shubbuck. der in a non-scholastic setting, on reconnecting the village by ex-
The Kwik Fill station on Ni- a volunteer basis.
store and mechanic shop. His con-
agara Street, for starters, is going cern was people driving through Submissions should describe Henderson is new North District
to be temporarily closing as the how the nominee demonstrates the
his parking lot to avoid the light
gas station looks to expand and on Niagara Street, and he was qualities of a great youth sports school board member
build a small store, he said. coach who is focused on youth
worried that they were going to
“They broke ground, you can run over one of his customers, so development, promotes sports- uffalo Board of Education 30 days of the date when such
see when you go by, there’s some manship, and demonstrates lead- President Dr. Kathy Ev- vacancy shall have occurred). The
he put tires out” as a kind of make-
machinery there,” Shubbuck said. shift barricade. However, that ership and integrity. Coaches Bans-Brown announced Ju- Board of Education began its ap-
The addition of a new conve- honored will also exemplify the ly 21, the appointment of a new pointment process well before the
doesn’t allow for enough room if
nience store should be positive for a fire engine needed to access the values of Project Play WNY, North District member. She stat- Mayor’s July 19, 2026, letter to
the community, as the longstand- which aims to provide a more in- ed: “After a thorough interview the Commissioner. The first no-
property, Shubbuck said. “We’re
ing 7-Eleven on the corner of Ni- working on it. He seems like a clusive and supportive environ- process, I am pleased to announce tice of vacancy for application
agara Street and Hertel Avenue ment for youth in the region. that the Buffalo Board of Educa- went out in the Buffalo News for
good guy.”
closed – and that building recently Among other updates: The Dick Gallagher Lifetime tion appointed Mr. Roscoe Hen- the public on June 30, 2026 and
sold as well, he said. Service Award recognizes an indi- derson to fill the vacant North closed on July 13, 2026, and six
Charter School for Applied District seat. As a retired BPS qualified individuals submitted
“I don’t know what the long- vidual who has used their platform
term plan is” for the former 7- Technologies on Kenmore Ave- as a youth sports coach or youth School Resource Officer (SRO), applications for consideration.”
nue is in the process of drilling board member of various arts pro- The board did run a notice July 2
Eleven, Shubbuck said. “Hopeful- sports organization leader to sup-
ly it’s somebody that’s going to do five wells for geothermal heat on port, recognize and advocate for grams, substitute teacher, and vol- about the vacancy in the River-
its property, to allow for a more unteer, Mr. Henderson brings Rock Times as well.
a complete rehab,” as the building youth athletes both on and off the
could use some repairs and up- environmentally friendly and eco- field, for a decade or more. The decades of commitment to public Dr. Kathy Evans Brown also
nomical heating and cooling sys- service and a dedication to sup- said, “Following my conversation
grades. award honors the legacy of Dick
He’s also spent some time tem for the school. Gallagher, a tireless youth sports porting youth and families. He with the commissioner, I under-
Three boats that had been will be an advocate for our BPS stood that the board could proceed
working with the owner of Niaga- advocate and Buffalo Sports Hall
ra Ontario In-and-Out Tire, a questionably parked at 620 On- of Fame inductee, who also dedi- students, families, staff, and pub- with its established process and its
tario Street have been removed lic education. On behalf of our legal responsibility to fill the va-
new tire repair and installation cated his professional life to help-
business. and the grass has been cut down, ing young people struggling with board members, we look forward cancy. Accordingly, the board
addressing a community eyesore to working with Mr. Henderson to continued the process that had al-
“We’re working out some of addiction.
the kinks with some of the things. that had drawn complaints for at Nominees for the lifetime ser- move our district forward together ready been initiated to fulfill its
least a year. The building on that for all those we serve.” responsibility to ensure that the
There’s a semi-trailer parked there vice award must currently coach
that really shouldn’t be, so we’re property is “still in court,” he not- or must have previously coached The official swearing-in cere- residents of the North District
ed. mony was set for July 22. The seat have full representation on the
working on getting that out of young athletes 13 and under in a
there,” he said. Enterprise Folding Box non-scholastic setting. To be con- became vacant in June when for- Board of Education. I also note
Company, the largest manufac- mer board member Cindi McEa- that, if the board failed to comply
The new owner “didn’t know sidered, nominees must receive
all the regulations with the tire turer and distributor of pizza box- separate nominations from three chon resigned citing concerns with its legal responsibility to fill
es in the country, is expanding, as about a lack of transparency by the vacancy by July 24, 2026, the
initially announced in May 2025. or more people, with at least one board leadership. Board members Education Law would have autho-
nomination submitted by a fellow
Closure of Kensington ramp The property, on Isabelle Street, coach or youth sports organization Erik Bohen, Adrianna Zullich and rized the Mayor to do so.”
to Scajaquada set will be adding a warehouse. leader. Larry Scott abstained from the Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan re-
The New York State Depart- Shubbuck also asked neigh- Nominations should be sub- vote to appoint Henderson. portedly sent a letter dated July 19
ment of Transportation is advising bors if they were aware of a com- mitted online and are due Aug. 31, On July 21, Dr. Kathy Evans to NYSED Education Commis-
munity garden on Esser Brown, board president, respond- sioner Dr. Betty Rosa regarding
motorists that the Kensington Ex- 2026.
pressway (State Route 33) west- Avenue, where the property has The nomination forms for the ed to public comments that the the appointment of a member to
become overgrown. Buffalo Board of Education acted the board. Dr. Rosa said the mayor
bound ramp to the Scajaquada Coaches Honor Roll and the Dick
Expressway (State Route 198) The property, once owned by Gallagher Lifetime Service in defiance of correspondence recommended “the board refrain
Black Rock Housing but now from the New York State Com- from filling a vacant position until
westbound in the City of Buffalo, Award, as well as a full list of
Erie County, will be closed begin- owned by Rochester-based Neigh- criteria and eligibility informa- missioner of Education regarding the board resolves pending allega-
borWorks Community Partners, the appointment process. tions against a board member and
ning at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 24, tion, can be found at
until 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, has been the subject of several 311 www.projectplaywny.org/thank- She stated, “That characteriza- former superintendent" as he felt
calls over concerns about the high tion is simply inaccurate.” it would consume district resourc-
to facilitate construction. you-coach.
The DOT says drivers should grass and general condition of the Award winners will be an- Consistent with Section 2553 es and detract from ongoing inves-
location. of the Education Law requires the tigations into sexual harassment
expect delays and consider alter- nounced in the fall and celebrated
nate routes when possible. “I talked to him to get (the at Project Play WNY’s annual board to fill the vacancy (such claims against a board member
grass cut), and I went by there vacancy shall be filled by a major- and just resigned board superin-
Construction activities are Thank You Coach event.
weather-dependent and subject to today and I wanted some insight,” ity vote of the remaining members tendent Dr. Pascal Mubegna.
change based on conditions. Continued on page 4 of the Board of Education within