St. Joseph University Parish

 

 St Joseph University Catholic Church, located at 3269 Main Street, is a treasure of the University Heights neighborhood.  Unlike the average Catholic city parish, St. Joseph has experienced an increase in membership over the last two decades, with a current total membership of over 1800 households coming from over 50 different zip codes.  The parish has dedicated itself to the neighborhood and to community outreach.  One of the more prominent efforts of the parish has been its school.  The St. Joseph University School is the oldest continually operating Catholic elementary school in the city of Buffalo, first opening in 1850.  The school reflects the diversity of the parish and the neighborhood with a student body that is 63% minority and non-Catholic.  This institution provides quality education for its students, as reflected in 100% of graduating eighth graders who were accepted to their first choice high schools in 2012. 

In addition to its school, St. Joseph University Parish takes seriously the Catholic Social Justice Teachings: staffing two soup kitchens on the second Saturday of each month, one located in Black Rock at Assumption RC Church and the other downtown at the Friends of the Night People; providing monthly donations to four different food pantries in the city; collaborating with Sts Columba-Brigid Church on Hickory Street in hosting homeless families through Family Promise; establishing a Habitat for Humanity crew; forming an active VOICE core team dedicated to neighborhood improvement; and organizing a Social Justice Concerns Committee, which educates and works for change at the national and international levels.  St. Joseph also has a variety of social and liturgical ministries that provide parishioners with other opportunities to participate in the work of the parish.  

St. Joseph University Church is an English Gothic building designed by a Buffalo architect, Duane Lyman and built in 1925.  The parish is known for its hospitality, its outstanding music, and it’s challenging homilies.  The Sunday morning 10:00 am service features a traditional church choir and organ; the 11:30 am service has a more contemporary sound with a mix of gospel and jazz.  The parish also provides religious services for students of the University of Buffalo’s South Campus.  

The mission of the pastoral staff and the congregation is “All Are Welcome!”

Public Transportation in University Heights

The University Heights neighborhood contains several easily accessible public transportation options. The area contains two Metro Rail stops, oneat the University Station, located at the University at Buffalo’s South Campus,and the other at the LaSalle station, located at LaSalle Avenue and MainStreet. The Metro Rail travels along Main Street in Buffalo from UB’s South Campus to the First Niagara Arena in downtown Buffalo. With daily rider ship of over 20,000, the Metro Rail is a proven asset to the community. The Metro Rail allows residents of UniversityHeights to travel to their place of employment, or provides access to one of Buffalo’s many entertainment districts, such as Allentown or the Downtown Theater District. Additionally, people who do notlive in the University Heights neighborhood can take advantage of the Park andRide option at both the University and LaSalle stations by leaving their car inthe parking lot (free of charge) and taking the Metro Rail to their finaldestination.

Additionally,local residents also enjoy access to Buffalo’s Metro bus system. The Main Street bus line provides residents with access along Main Street from University Heights to downtown Buffalo. The location of the neighborhood also allows residents access via bus to the surrounding suburbs of Tonawanda and Amherst,as well as UB’s North Campus. The availability of both the Metro Rail and bus lines allows residents ofUniversity Heights the convenience of traveling to many destinations across the city and suburbs.

-Kevin Ryan

University Community Farmers Market (UCFM)

Just a reminder to all of the University Heights Community and our surrounding neighborhoods that the University Community Farmers Market (UCFM) will again be open for business from mid May until mid October. Located at the corner of Main St. and Kenmore Ave., in the University at Buffalo - South Campus Allen Hall parking lot, the Market is held on Saturday between 8:00AM and 1:00PM. Stop by and purchase delicious local grown fruits and vegetables and equally tasty artisans food products. We have a couple of new vendors, educational programs and a few surprises for this year. This is a great venue to meet your neighbors and celebrate spring, summer and fall. Don't forget that we can always use volunteers to help out during the course of our season so if you have some extra time and energy please contact gwillsky@buffalo.edu to sign up.

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"?