University Heights Buffalo News Article

THE UNIVERSITY DISTRICT/BUFFALO

A diverse, walkable community

While the district is primarily a residential area, it also is home to the South Campus of the University at Buffalo and has two commercial districts, Bailey Avenue and Main Street. There are several parks and an involved, diverse population, which, according to Buffalo Common Council Member Bonnie Russell, has increased by 5,000 people since the last census. Housing in the district ranges from developments to single-family homes.

What makes it unique:

Its diversity. Because of the campus, there is a large student population. According to several residents, it’s not unusual to see the students shoveling driveways for the district’s seniors. It also has several active community groups, including block clubs and crime watch neighborhoods. It’s a walkable community.

Where to go:

There are many stores, shops and restaurants for residents to enjoy, including O’Connell’s Clothing, Ming Cafe, Shango’s and the Lake Effect Diner. There are several parks in the district — including Shoshone, Roosevelt and McCarthy parks — as well as Linear Park, a small “pocket” park. There is also a full-service supermarket, Budwey’s, in the University Heights area.

A person you should know:

Cassandra Hayes, known to just about everyone in her neighborhood as Candy, moved to the University Heights area of the district in 1975. Retired from her work as a medical technician at Roswell Park, Hayes spends much of her time looking out for her neighbors as chairwoman of the Heath Street Block Club, which she co-founded.

Q: How did you get involved in community service?

A: After I retired, I noticed the area had been changing somewhat. There had been a few burglaries. I realized we really needed to know each other. Cheryl Rybicki saw a need for improvement at the same time I did, and we got together and started this block club for the protection of the neighborhood about four to five years ago. It’s just better that you know your neighbors.

Q: How has the neighborhood changed over the years?

A: It’s improving. Young families are moving into the district. They’ve made the choice to live in the city and to live in this area. They plan on staying and raising their children here. That’s what keeps a neighborhood vital.

Q: What do you see happening in the district in the future?

A: For a while, people were getting lackadaisical. Now we’ve kind of spruced up. And we’re not running to the suburbs. It’s just a very, very good place to live.

hjones@buffnews.com

Operation Student Safety

Please pick up a copy of the "UB Neighbor", at Allen Hall, if you haven't received yours by mail. Great article on the efforts of UB and the University Heights Community to hold landlords renting to students more accountable. Please advise Dan Ryan, Director of Off Campus Students Affairs of your comments and concerns. His number is 716-829-3536.

Templeton Park, University Heights

Gingko Tree, Templeton park -photo by patrick Willett

University Park Historic District- One of the finest neighborhoods in all of the city of Buffalo.

PBN newsletter article on this nomination (.pdf) portions of Larchmont Road, Niagara Falls Blvd, Radcliffe Road, University Ave, Allenhursst Road, & Pellhan Drive in Buffalo.
The University Park Historic District is a remarkable, intact example of an early 20^th century planned residential subdivision in the city of Buffalo. In the broad context of the city’s turn of the century development, the location and development of University Park reflects the importance of the streetcar and the rise of automobile use which determined much of the city’s expansion. The themes of suburbanization in the city of Buffalo are covered extensively in the National Register Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF), Multiple Resources Associated with the Suburban Development of Buffalo, New York. For Residential Subdivisions to be added to the MPDF, the registration requirements state: The property type must represent the range of residential subdivision structures associated with the growth of the city into a new form during the period between the Civil War and World War II (1860-1945).

http://www.preservationbuffaloniagara.org/buildings-and-sites/preservation-resources/national-register-listings/

Housing Issues Addressed

The City of Buffalo and UB are collaborating on an effort to address issues relating to the housing stock in the neighborhood. "Operation Student Safety" has brought City and University officials into the neighborhood on Saturdays to ask students and other renters to allow licensed building inspectors into their apartments.

WIVB reported on the effort here, and the Buffalo News ran a story here.

The project will be discussed in greater detail at an upcoming UHC meeting.

South Campus, a neglected jewel

Photo © Patrick Willett

UB's South Campus, also known as the Main Street campus, located on 154 acres in northeastern Buffalo, is the former grounds of the Erie County Almshouse and Insane Asylum, of which four buildings still remain (Hayes Hall, the former insane asylum; Wende Hall, a former maternity hospital; Hayes D; and Townsend Hall, a former nurses' quarters).The college was designed by architect E.B. Green in 1910, and was intended to resemble Trinity College, Dublin.

Adjacent to the UB South Campus is the UB Anderson Art Gallery, a converted elementary school with an all-glass atrium exhibit space.

Stay classy UB!

This piece from UB's "operation Doorhanger" really helps to class up UB's image in the University Heights neighborhood.
My first reaction was -"are you serious"?

Promise Neighborhood Community Meeting

A community meeting to learn about the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood and give your input will be held Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 10:00am – 12:30pm at the Westminster Community Charter School 24 Westminster Avenue, Buffalo, NY.

A continental breakfast will be served at 9:30am.

Featured Speakers are Honorable Byron W. Brown, Mayor, City of Buffalo; Mark Czarnecki, President, M&T Bank and Dr. Yvonne Minor-Ragan, Principal, Westminster Community Charter School.

RSVP: Buffalo Urban League 716-250-2400

Buffalo was only one of 21 communities around the country to receive a competitive neighborhood development planning grant last October from the U.S. Department of Education’s $10 million “Promise Neighborhoods” program. The local partnership, called Buffalo Promise, will receive a total of $750,000 from the federal government and local funders, including M&T Bank and the John R. Oishei Foundation.

Source