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$1.25 million in Buffalo Building Reuse Project (BBRP) funds be invested to advance three key infrastructure projects downtown.
by chocieni
Directors
of the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation (BUDC) have recommended that $1.25
million in Buffalo Building Reuse Project (BBRP) funds be invested to advance
three key infrastructure projects downtown. Projects set to receive funding:
- Genesee Street Gateway & Streetscape
- Sreetscape enhancements along Chippewa Street from Main Street to Elmwood Avenue
- Advanced design and engineering work for Perry Street, to further design work already prepared by neighborhood stakeholders.
The
funding is part of the $11.25 million allocated to BBRP by Mayor Byron W. Brown
in January 2012 and later partially matched by National Grid.
Funds were awarded to the Genesee
Gateway Streetscape project (images) to plan an extension of the original plan.
The project will now extend to Main Street and to Elm Street, past Catholic
Health's new administrative center that is under construction. The additional
funding will add two blocks to the scope of the project. Original plans called
for work along Genesee Street from Washington Street to Oak Street. A
roundabout at Ellicott/Genesee/Chippewa is no longer being considered for financial
and scheduling reasons.
Projects were selected based on
compatibility with BBRP, a yearlong public/private study of the downtown real
estate market completed by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. BBRP resulted in
several initiatives to increase downtown's competitiveness for private
investment. Considered criteria include:
- Connections with existing and planned infrastructure investments
- Gateway' status, visibility, and impact on downtown's overall image
- Ability to leverage additional private investment
- Mechanisms in place for long-term upkeep and maintenance
These projects are the first
allotment of BBRP funds to infrastructure projects, and will be followed in
subsequent years by additional investment. Both Mayor Brown and National Grid
made multi-year commitments to BBRP.
"This commitment of $1 million
from my $11.25 million commitment to the Buffalo Building Reuse Project for
these three major street improvement projects complements the $1.7 billion in
economic development activity currently underway in Buffalo," said Mayor
Byron Brown.
"BBRP provides downtown Buffalo
a clear and strategic roadmap to become more competitive for private
investment," said Andrew J. Rudnick, president & CEO of the Buffalo
Niagara Partnership. "Infrastructure investments in Genesee, Chippewa, and
Perry streets are consistent with the strategic objectives of BBRP and are
designed to further leverage and enhance and private sector investment in
downtown Buffalo."
"We are proud to be the first
partner in the Buffalo Reuse Project and hope it will leverage further private
sector investment," said Dennis Elsenbeck, regional executive for National
Grid.
Work along both Genesee and Chippewa
streets is expected to start late this year or in early 2014. Funding to
construct the Perry Street upgrades is still being sought.