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What might the New Year bring Thursday, January 9, 2025 • • 5

from page 1 which were installed last summer in
areas and then creating a long term front of Radha Baked Goods, Allen-
focused and doable plan for chang- town Music and Nick’s Place, all on
ing the current narrative will be a Amherst Street, with three more
key part of driving economic devel- awaiting installation. The grant also
opment to fill in vacant storefronts paid for a series of metal historic
and address the housing issues that marker signs through the neighbor-
will bring in new residents to help hood and two new “Black Rock”
support those new businesses. metal signs, one of which has been
Probably the most important installed near the edge of the Polish
thing I am looking forward to in Cadets at the intersection of Grant
2025 is the opportunity for this dis- and Amherst streets and Ladder 12
trict to really influence the future Fire Department. The grant also
direction of the city by establishing paid for the installation of five new
our community needs as a priority stainless steel trash receptacles
for mayoral candidates and by the along the business district.
community flexing its strength in Bill Butler, president, Black READY FOR 2025! The Northwest Buffalo Seniors recently celebrated New Years and extended
numbers to secure priority status for Rock Historical their best wishes to all!
the district. We can do this if every Society
voting-eligible resident understands “1. State / significance, which will be submit-
that by showing up and voting in Federal Certifica- ted to the New York State Office of
both the primary and general elec- tion of the Lower Parks, Recreation and Historic January 2025
tions, our community can and will Black Rock His- Preservation, in addition to the Na-
become a priority for the next ad- toric District by tional Park Service, for consider-
ministration. And while our council the NYS Historic ation. When the review is
member has been a strong advocate Preservation Of- completed, a consultant will host a
for the community in City Hall, our fice - This is a group of 12 buildings community meeting to discuss the
historically low voter turnout has on Niagara Street (straddling Ham- evidence and submission and re-
been a hindrance for him and others ilton St) that represent the only re- view potential tax credit opportuni-
when it comes to getting city focus, maining Erie Canal-era streetscape ties for reusing and preserving
funding and development to be a in Buffalo. important properties and buildings.
priority for previous administra- 2. "Breakfast with General Joseph Golombek, North Dis-
tions, yet when pushed to get out LaFayette" (June 7, 2025) - Com- trict Council Member
and vote this district can strongly memoration of the 200th anniversa- “The continued growth of the
influence the outcome of an election ry of General LaFayette's farewell community groups
as seen by the last mayoral race tour of the United States and his I think is impor-
when the North District helped de- breakfast at Peter Buell Porter's tant, whether it's
liver the office to a write in candi- home in Black Rock. This event is the Little Leagues
date. High voter turnout will show scheduled for the Buffalo History or the business as-
candidates that they need to get to Museum and will include re-enac- sociations or the
know our community firsthand and tors, music and food. other grassroots or-
deliver on what our needs are if they 3. "Erie Canal Heritage Market ganizations that are
want to get and retain office.” at Market Square" (August 23, filled with volunteers. In my opin-
Joe Maniaci, 2025) - Immersive event celebrat- ion, that's the strength of this neigh-
president, Grant- ing the 200th anniversary of the borhood and I'd like to continue to
Amherst Business opening of the Erie Canal with ven- work with all the different groups
Association: dors, crafts demonstrations, music, and help us move forward.
The three re-enactors, hay rides, walking Development of residential and
things I'm looking tours, and games.” public spaces will be a big issue and
forward to or Other festivities to celebrate the one that could bring excitement and
would like to see canal’s bicentennial include the growth to both neighborhoods. “Es-
happen in 2025, launch of the Seneca Chief, a full- pecially for Black Rock and River-
more specifically size replica of the ship that original- side, getting more residents living
in Black Rock: ly opened the canal in 1825. The here. (The proposed new replace-
1. To finally finish our BMSI Seneca Chief will set sail later this ment project with apartments in the
Streetscape Grant by installing the year, traveling the length of the ca- former Voelker’s bowling alley), I
remaining Trash Receptacles and nal from Buffalo’s marina to New think it needs to be a smaller project
Benches on Amherst Street and York Harbor in celebration of the than is currently proposed, but
Grant Street in Black Rock. milestone. that’s what we’re negotiating right
2. To see our neighborhood con- As for the historic designation now. I do think it’s a positive, and
tinue to move in a positive direc- of Lower Black Rock, the Black that’s one of approximately 10 proj-
tion. Including the opening of new Rock Historical Society received a ects in Black Rock and Riverside
businesses that are under construc- grant from the Preservation League that are near completion or at the
tion, and the redevelopment of of NYS for $7,568 last year toward very beginning stage. (In River-
Volkers… done in a way that will documenting the preservation ef- side), I think the splash pad is very
be beneficial to the neighborhood as forts for the district, believed to be important for Riverside. Schaffer
a whole. the only remaining Erie Canal-era Village is still moving forward. I
3. I would also like to see the streetscape in Buffalo. The area think that’s very important because
city make improvements to infra- considered Lower Black Rock has that will change the look and feel of
structure, including traffic calming historically contained the land north Riverside. It will make Schaffer
to help make our neighborhood saf- of where Scajaquada Creek meets Village look like part of the com-
er and more walkable, while at the the Niagara River near Tonawanda munity.”
same time, not causing traffic Street and Forest. The Historical Ultimately, there will be chang-
problems/congestion.” Society has worked to compile re- es on the horizon. “There will be
The Streetscape grant in Black search into the origins of this part of change that takes place with these
Rock, worth $25,000, already has the community in addition to col- developments. I’m still trying to
provided for three new benches, lecting documents and photos of allocate funds for a major traffic
study for the West Hertel, Grant and
Amherst neighborhoods. I think it’s
Showcase Your important,” because as more hous-
ing units become available, and as
Business or changes are made to traffic patterns
like the recently re-striped section
of Amherst Street in front of Weg-
Organization! mans, it’s going to impact the lives
and commutes of people who live
and work in these neighborhoods.
Golombek promises to continue his
ADVERTISE in the longstanding practice of working
RiverRock Times! with both community organizations
and developers on proposed proj-
Call Roxie at ects in order to try and find a way
835-9455 x 102 forward that makes the residents
feel heard and understood while
Or email still providing an opportunity for Coupon Expires 1/31/25
roxieriverrock new growth to take place in the
neighborhoods.
@email.com
To be continued . . .