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The following are the rough, working notes from the third breakout session convened at the connecting places in the Broadway-Fillmore District of Buffalo meeting held at the Central Terminal on October 3, 2009.
Issue: Coordinating events in the district, establishing a program calendar and a project timeline
Convener(s): Eddy and Rich
Summary of Discussion:
Making people aware of events going on:
· Too much “red tape” to get project going and through city hall
· Share email addresses
· Post it (notices) outside (example – Central Terminal)
· One set person to coordinate calendar
· Repetitive advertising
· Come up with a unified image
· Focus on “your” area (i.e. not entire east side) – If not, “name”
How to select a “Name”?
· Notify Buffalo Police of events (C District – Chief Scott)
· Board leadership cross-overs ( a board member of Broadway Market also serving as a board member at Central Terminal
Restoration Corporation)
· Use workers for all
· Expand to all groups
· Bring events from other (outside) communities: must be “thought out” well; need someone to find and plan them, (e.g. “Parking and Ride” on second level of Broadway Market (NFTA) research and implement)
· Add to existing events (e.g. “Art Deco” fashion show at Central Terminal)
The following are the rough, working notes from the second breakout session convened at the connecting places in the Broadway-Fillmore District of Buffalo meeting held at the Central Terminal on October 3, 2009.
Issue: Restoring the Broadway-Fillmore Area and Re-Inventing Paderewski
Convener(s): Bishop Grosz and Eddy D.
Summary of Discussion:
- Bring in people/keep people
- Preserve the old post office
- Paderewski: NYS/COB/E.C. attend – change laws
- Support each others events
- Creation of a calendar of events
- Need one master plan
- Get a foundation involved
- Urban planner stay involved
- A small group can get things going: talk and share
- Keep “re-entry” initiatives
- Collaboration, communication and planning
- Rebuild on empty lots
- Continue meeting
- Rebuild neighborhoods
- Hit city hall
- All groups work with police (E. Ferry & Fillmore)
- Involve more people
- Get more people to move here
- Unity
- Today – first step-next-develop solutions
- Develop a plan for houses around St. Stanislaus
The following are the rough, working notes from the first breakout session convened at the connecting places in the Broadway-Fillmore District of Buffalo meeting held at the Central Terminal on October 3, 2009. Several topics were discussed, each with their own
notes.
Issue #1: “Successful Re-entry”
Convener: Antwon D.
Summary of Discussion:
- Communication
- Plan
- Help those who come back as good neighbors.
- Help businesses who would do this: politics
- Need help – accountant/lawyer
- Promotion re-entry incentive
- Successful re-entry statistics
- Child molesters
- Make them resources
- Programs to help the comeback
- Occupations in area that need help
Issue(s) #2:”Improving the relationship between the police & the community/Crime & drugs”
Convener(s): Bill C. and Ken K.
Summary of Discussion:
- Police care – know neighborhood, make contact with police, have a “war” on love.
- Abandon Buildings – COB do something
- Drugs & crime
- Absent landlords
Issue #3:”Homeless/Squatters”
Convener(s): Joyelle and Karen
Summary of Discussion:
- Hope Center – help homeless and support network
- Violence against homeless population
- Abandoned buildings – homeless moving in
- Rehab old house/owner occupied
- Helping people
- Volunteers
- Organize
- Jobs in the community
- Money needed
- How do home/business owners find out about $$$
- Council members should be here to help
- Many people want money; help needed to write grant requests
- Strategic planning needs to take a broader look
- Neighborhood needs one large voice
- New generation must be included/involved
- Education
- Have a solution
- Work together
Topic: Indicator development
Original Invitation: http://creativelysustainable.com/?p=10
Conveners: Aaron Gilbee, The Wellness Institute, City of Buffalo
Participants: Phil Haberstro, Larry Brooks,Laura Chestnut, Patrick Braun, David Granville, Yuri Hreshchyshyn, Laura Fitzgerald, Beverly McLean
Overview of note process: the meeting notes have been organized by major category. What has been mentioned is directly below is the dialogue that was captured on paper.
Notes from session
History
In the previous strategic planning process, it was explained during the session that people did explore the idea of developing indicators. However, it was not included.
The League of Women Voters has done an awareness campaign on smart growth several years back.
Psychology
Reactions to questions regarding indicators by people include 3: people have their own perceptions, others have facts, others don’t know.
Why are community indicators important?
Increased community awareness
Can’t improve what you can’t measure
Can’t learn from the past if things are not recorded
Can’t unite people if they don’t have similar understanding
Helps to diffuse myths and misperceptions
Let’s people have a way to know when to celebrate progress
It improves decision making quality
Process Questions
At what point do you get community (average people) involved?
Is there a survey of what has been done before?
Currently, a regional vision exists that focuses on the Buffalo Niagara region that was developed in the 1990s. What has resulted is that there is a regional indicator system hosted by the regional institute at UB and developed with the assistance of John Shepard. However, it does not address the city of Buffalo solely. Buffalo data is included in the database.
The city has developed a strategic plan and vision for 2030. Indicator systems have not been included as a part of the project. Concern was expressed about the current planning system that exists is not led by the community.
The process should start qualitatively and then turn quantitative. First it should start with finding out what is important and then giving it a value.
There is a need to audit the community and agencies.
What opportunities exist to hop upon the efforts of the US Census and the American Community Survey?
Who will investigate?
Can the process enhance our effort?
Can we use it to collect data?
How can we work through the infrastructure of the city’s 450 block clubs?
Should work through city hall and through the GNPAs to the block club leaders.
Bill Park was identified as to having credibility with block clubs . He has helped groups develop numbers to empower the citizens to address housing concerns.
Proposed process: Bill ->GNPAs ->block clubs
Should work through the CBOs.
How are we going to gather the data?
How are we going to educate the citizenry about smart growth and sustainability?
How do we audit the indicators to improve the process?
Logic modeling process has been proposed to develop a method to adjust the indicators project.
WHO has a healthy communities framework to organize and present the data that identifies the indicators in a framework that is easily understood. This includes social capital, economic capital, natural capital, and human capital.
To visualize the data, examples can be found at the periodic table of visualization methods.
What are our goals?
To develop a list of 72 indicators like Sustainable Seattle
Is this project contingent upon legislative districts?
Can we use the WNY Environmental Alliance as a way to collect environmental indicators?
Aaron will explore this question (YES!)
What zoning indicators can be tucked under environmental capital?
What indicators exist for economic?
IBA?
How do we gauage the awareness of citizens about indicators, smart growth and sustainability?
When should we publicly announce this effort?
What is a representative number?
Buffalo is a city of 290,000. 10% is seen as being representative and credible.
How might we reach a large enough sample to make this project relevant?
National grid mailings
National Fuel mailings
US Post Office
How do we connect the indicators to something relevant to the lives of the citizenry?
Current assets
Aaron has developed his website to host this project and to become a clearinghouse of information related to the project. The web site is http://creativelysustainable.com. Access to the web site is public and it is encouraged for individuals who desire to sign up and contribute. The web site has been enabled with features to send out newletters and update people automatically via email. Future development to enable the site to be integrated into individual cell phones is being explored.
Available resources for indicators
US Census Data
The American Community Survey
Parcel data
NRIM
Demolition Stats
Issues that might arise when developing indicators
Privacy data
When going through UB, the process is considered to involve human subjects testing. Thus leading to research concerns that link directly to research subject confidentiality. The IRB process can take 3 months if we decide to go through UB to execute the project.
Issues that will arise
Expenses related to staff, paper, time of execution, and other tangible expenses. Aaron is working out a budget.
Resources concerning similar projects
Examples: Whistler Canada
Agency Sponsors: The Natural Step
Federal Agencies that are relevant: LEED, US Green Building Council
Ashland NC project
Potentials of the project
It might develop into a think tank that provides the data and interprets it for the community. The Center for Disease Control provides obesity data for the public and has watched the numbers for 30 years. Its impact can been seen in the media.
Developing timeline
Ajacent projects: Phil has a project that is determining social capital in the city that could be tucked under this project
Oct. 2009 – Patrick pilots a survey
Feb. 15, 2010 – Collect the indicators
March 1, 2010 – State od the city citizen’s report
What should we do next?
Invite city planners to the next meeting
Promote city discussions on sustainability, smart growth, and indicators
Send examples of indicators and resources to Aaron
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakoutsessions convened at the Open Space Practice Group meeting, May 2009. See also the invitation.
Issue(s): How can we breathe new life into the downtown strip of Main Street? How can citizens assist government with bringing new businesses to and creating jobs in Buffalo?
Convener(s): Laura F. and Richard C.
Participants: Marilyn, Brian, Tremeeka and Erika
Summary of Discussion:
Create more mixed income housing downtown
Bring in more events downtown – There are many events but people do not know about them. There is a need for a consolidated event calendar
Streaming event guide for Buffalo on YNN or Channel 22 or website (i.e. TV Guide )
More events for the whole family
Emphasis on security
Government encouragement/support of events by agencies & businesses
PARKING
- Lower costs
- Free for events
- Free for government meetings (i.e. Common Council)
- 1 or 2 free parking passes promotion
- MAP for parking places and prices
Form a citizen group to liaison between government, business and public
-
- Citizen United for a Better Economy Dowtown (CUBED)
- Buffalo Helping the Economy Recover Downtown (HERD)
a. Facilitate and support OST meetings ongoing
b. Hold networking events
c. Gather all interested parties
d. Start the conversation
e. Create a Facebook/Myspace page
f. Get co-convener – Buffalo Rising?
i. Invitations:
-
Media – YNN, Buffalo News, Artvoice, local magazines
-
Buffalo Place
-
Erie Canal Harborfront Development Corporation
-
Politicians
-
NFTA
-
Local Business Owners
-
Downtown residents
-
Downtown employees
-
Local non-profits
-
Students- particularly downtown students
ii. Hand out invitation flyers at events (i.e. Thursday in the Square, Bison games, Rock the Harbor)
iii. Events at Lafayette Tap Room/Hotel – on a Tuesday at 6pm – food/entertainment provided
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at the Open Space Practice Group training, May 2009. See also the invitation .
Issue: How to make Open Space a useful practice to facilitate issues in Buffalo? (Granville)
Is there a best way to consolidate similar invites? (Hreshchyshyn)
Conveners: Granville and Hreshchyshyn
Participants: David Granville, Yuri Hreshchyshyn, Kevin Hayes, Dale Martin, Rebekah Williams, Donna Berry, Bill Parke, Aaron Gilbee, Marion Deutschman, Norm Bakos, Larry Brooks, William Dei, Maria Granville, Michael Herman
Summary of discussion, conclusions, and recommendations
- Use technologies
- Mail
-
Widespread communication/education
- Efficient use of media
- Set up regular time for open space
- Use Channel 22 (government channel) and local newspapers
- Co-conveners/Hubs
- Idea engines (they exist, e.g. WNY Green Table project)
- Use major community hubs/establish hubs
- Don’t reinvent the wheel
- Create hubs that are based on shared interest
- How to use the simplest technology
- Meet informational preferences
- TV, media, SMS, paper
- WNY Green Table: First meeting on June 10 at 3:30 at the Community Foundation
- –Determine needs?
- –Open Space invite: diversity, timeliness, confict and complexity
- CASH Group Model funded by Oishei
- –United Way contact Diane Bessell (Sp?)
- –Combine strategic planning
- –Schedule meetings
- Buffalo ReUse
- Buffalo Niagara Riverkeepers
- Apply to single project like Skyway
- Facilitate Sudanese immigrant communities
- Do it!
- Facilitate Open Space
- –Use technologies
- –Human resources - who will commit?
- –Facilitate technologies
- –Postal SNCC
- Make the ring bigger
- We will facilitate Sunday
- Work with David Torke “Fix Buffalo” on website hand-off
- Relay/Tag Team opening for Open Space to grow capacity (assign tasks)
- Publicize immediately
- –Open Space meeting: Issues & Opportunities for city residents and leaders to use OST to convene key stakeholders around critical, timely issues involing real conflict
- Contact press
- Set up room
- How to grow more open space - issues and opportuniites for keeping the OST practice group going?
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at the Open Space Practice Group training, May 2009. See also the invitation .
BEING AN OST FACILITATOR
Conveners: Mike Tritto +Michael Herman
Participants: Yuri, Bill, Catherine, Amy, Dale, Mike H, Debbie etc..
-Avoid promising as facilitator to meet others: facilitators disappear
after opening.
-Ring bells, stay at edge of circle to allow sponsor to take center.
-Avoid expressing your perspectives as facilitator.
-Listen to your intuition to pick up on what is happening in the group
-Normally, there’s no hand out in the opening - keep participants
focused on each other.
-Evening news - One word each in circle is a return to observing the
circle
-Balance, passion, responsibility collective
-Avoid organizing the wall - let the organic disorder be -
participants will search & find breakouts on their own
-Facilitators should explain issues on the wall process before
explaining principals & law.
-Facilitators begin circle from the perspective of the rewards /
success of this process
-Feel free to use the script as a facilitator in explaining process of
OST
-See users guide for voting / priorities
-After break outs are done: conveners post notes from sessions (poster
boards synopsis, or typed notes)
-Notes get posted on different wall whenever they are done
-Facilitator adds cover page to the assembled notes and gets
photocopied into books. (+table of contents)
-Facilitator makes gentle intervention by giving the group a choice if
someone become a “space invader”
-Talking stick helps to encourage shared flow in discussion.
-With small circles, do what you can do, either with break out
sessions or keeping group together.
-Facilitator adds participant list (if needed) & ballot. See
facilitators tab & Mike Herman website for ballot.
-Facilitator adds summary of the theme, place, host, how many
participants, breakout groups into book
-Voting priorities can have crushing effect on the open discussions of
breakouts - but management likes a priority list
-Alternative to voting is open discussion on continuance or
termination of topics, What are the next steps?
The following are the working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an Open Space training for city residents. See also the invitation.
ISSUE: Who will take responsibility for site stewardship? How can we use the Inviting Buffalo website?
CONVENERS: Michael Herman and Rebekah Williams
PARTICIPANTS: Kevin Hayes, Marilyn Gallivan, Al Brown, Catherine Gillespie, Laura Fitzgerald, Richard Caruso, Tremeeka Cummings, Sylvia Powell, Larry Brooks, Yuri Hreshchyshyn, Norm Bakos, David Granville, Donna Berry, Brian Ludwiczak, Aaron Gilbee
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION
1. Online (International Contributions!!!) Support Group:
2. Buffalo Open Space Practice Group:
- Can share email contacts and have its own listserv via Google groups
- Kevin H. will use Dave G.’s OST email contact list (after Dave gets permission) to set this up.
- Send your invitations to this group for feedback.
- A point person to invite people to the in-person monthly support session (Richard will do this once Kevin sets up the Google Group.)
3. Inviting Buffalo website:
- Wordpress platform that needs to be updated.
- A hosting service within Go Daddy
- Invitingbuffalo.com (org and net will also go to this site)
- Every breakout session, invitation and summary are entered as blog posts.
- There are 6 to 8 “categories” that describe the kind of information that it is
- Tags are keywords or subjects in each post (i.e. gangs, education, downtown development, etc
- Additional tabs: About, Facilitators, Facilitator Resources, spaces, Bloggers, Donors, Blocks/Organizations, etc
- Subscribers = “Site Stewards” link: six levels of access
- Administrators level is set other levels are needed
- Bloggers cannot promote their own exciting thing – they need to ask someone else to post about their event.
- Editing comments to blogs is necessary (discussions about whether a certain comment, type of comment or commentor should be banned – needs to happen on the listserve)
- Aaron, Kevin and Rebekah will be first site administrator team.
- What is posted? : Invitations, News Reports or notes (suggestion – if someone keeps coming with invitations and no notes – perhaps we should encourage notes before more invites are sent).
- Other results (i.e. a workplace starts using OS for staff meetings, give “props” back to this group.
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issue: City Gardens – Maintenance
• Keeping City clean attracting viable businesses – pick up liter
• City need to provide more recycle totes
• School children are taught in school to pickup.
• Pride is missing!
• Media attention – help get message out
• Lovejoy – tire problem!!! City general
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issue: Tool Lending Library for Block Clubs and Property Owners
Summary of Discussion:
• Satellites throughout City
• Main HUB on Eaton
• Small deposit (to rent)
• Tool Donation/county wide drop-offs
• Adopt –a-Block Club for a day (for funding/BBQ)
• Borrowing large tools (Mowers, Ladders, Floor Sanders, Weed Wackers)
• Safety/training for tools
• Helping people improve quality property value
GM Power Train large trash
Erie County waste drop off
June 6th – bring tools
298 Northampton Street
What tools do we need?
• Need hydrant keys
• Wheel Barrows
• Buckets
• Pruners
• Compost/Mulch/Topsoil
• Carpentry Tools
• Power Tools
• Heavy Machines
• Generator
• Skidsteers
• Grapple Buckets
• Roto Tillers
• Wood/Lumber
• Delivery Trucks/Cars
Training classes/videos and list of training proof
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issue: Housing Rehab and Bad Housing
Convener(s): Matt Fisher
Participants: Theodore Bynes, Doris Corley, Joy McDuffin, Joseph Bologna, Matt Fisher, John Fell, Margaret Alfonso, Leslie Vishwarth
Summary of Discussion:
HOUSING REHAB
• Inspector response time – faster.
• Community involvement w/finding.
• Movement on sheriff sales for court fines/liens.
• Pursue existing legislation for distressed prop acquisitioned by City and quick turnaround.
• $16.5 million housing money to homeless prevention.
• Sweat equity for money.
• Use summer youth program to fix homes.
• More neighborhood resources money for rehabs and roofs.
• Job training/job creation programs to fix homes.
• Approach local legislation to take action.
• Priorite rehabs/target fines.
• Use GIS to determine inventory and demo prob home
• Less restriction for CHDOs.
• Treat owners and landlords differently.
• Homeownership training and maintenance training.
• Bring players together, council people, residents, neighbors, group, inspectors, and police for monthly meetings.
• More Grants for homeowners to fix houses
• Draw best practices of other Cities.
-Rochester – rehabs
-Philadelphia – vacant lots
-Bronx
-More CDBG money making it to the streets
BAD HOUSING
1. Absent owner/investment and more rehabs
2. Owner occupied – more Grants
Ideas:
• Approach local Legislators to take action.
• Prioritize rehabs by block vitality, prospects for a vital future.
• Geographic info systems to determine existing inventory (property info system), then determine condition.
• Long term resident retention.
• School improvement to draw young families.
• Acquisition – broader reach/less restrictions on which properties qualify.
• More money into neighborhoods.
• Neighbor works
• Inspector response time
• Community involvement with seed money.
• Habitat for Humanity.
• More pass through of Community Block Club money to grants/rehabs.
• Movement on sheriff sales.
• Pursuing existing legislation for distressed prop. acquisition by City w/quick turnaround
• $16.5 million housing money to homeless prevention.
• Sweat equity for money.
• Summer youth program workers (building trade apprenticeships.
• Homeownership training (i.e. “Buyers Club”, training on maintaining) and follow-up.
• Key player collaboration meetings monthly established system wide thru City (inspectors, Police, Councilmember, citizen’s concerned w/housing.
• Prioritizing housing needs to those responsible w/follow-up, accountability.
• Linking/networking between high/low income workers.
• Draw on “Best Practices” models from around the Country.
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issues: Community Gardens/vacant lots
Convener(s): Mike Tritto
Participants: Catherine Gillepre, Laura Fitzgerald, Evelyn Vossler, Jack Norton, Gayla Thompson, Darnell Jackson, Jacqueline Allen, Jennifer Falt, Amy Senger, Tim Riordan, Joyce D ’Christian, Charles Burgen, Anthony Armstrong
Summary of Discussion:
Vacant lots/Community Gardens Urban Farms
• Concern about soil contamination
• Need for raised bed gardening
• Linear parks – vacant lots strung together (greenway)
• Planful mapping of community gardens
• Added playgrounds
• Adjacent lots turn into neighborhood parking
• Grass roots gardens can offer soil testing
• Challenge of finding volunteers
• Buffalo B Team – youth volunteers
• Henry Taylor @ UB Urban Planning – source of volunteers
• Daemen College and private colleges – source of student volunteers.
• Need for networking between gardens to share tools, plants, and resources.
• Urban Roots – plant swap.
• Vegetable garden “Boot Camp” in May 2009 @ M.L.K. Park
• See: www.urbanroots.org also search: Grassroots Gardens web-site
• Reclaiming vacant lots for whatever neighborhood decides it wants Ground Work B see: www.groundworkusa.net
• Challenge of getting City of Buffalo’s permission and issue of liability insurance
• Need for City of Buffalo resource to clean up vacant lot. Contact Grassroots Garden @ www.grassrootsgardens.org
• Need for better communication between Livable Communities grant and Grassroots Gardens to get grant.
• There’s a need for an organized communication and check list for how to start a community garden through Grassroots Gardens.
• Need for guidance on where it’s safer to plant to avoid contamination.
• Niagara Frontier Food Terminal – John Perisi for advice and resources to create gardens.
• Need for better restrictions on building demolition so that vacant lots are cleaned and greened.
• See Dudley Street Initiative in Boston, MA.
• Need for collaboration between neighborhood groups and City government around demolitions.
• Need for smaller neighbor plans.
• Good neighborhood Planning Committee can be too big.
• Need for a city – level catalyst to bring block clubs together to plan.
• Need for more funding for Good Neighbor Planning Committee.
• Need to find someone in a neighborhood group who can do grant writing.
• Need for dedicated re-tree farm in each area of City.
• Need for better communication from the City on resources and public meetings on a timely basis.
• Need for more staffing in Good Neighbor Alliance.
• Need for city to attach neighborhood process to city budget process to dedicate funds.
• Need for Office of Sustainability in the City to coordinate resources for vacant lot improvement.
• Need to get your Councilman involved in advocacy.
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issues: Demolitions, empty lots, vacant housing and dumping in parks and vacant lots
Issues: (*Boarded Houses*), Empty lots, (*Demolitions*), Tires very bad and beautification. Old garage filled with garbage, no gutters, and water leaks into my basement when it rain. Need to be torn down. 350 Humboldt Avenue
Participants: Ray Walter, Theodore Bynes, Geraldine Minter and Sr. Mary Augusta Kaeser
Summary of Discussion:
• Board up houses, time frame for boarded up houses.
• Dumping in public park (vacant lots) – motion lights/cameras so public can Id
• Time frame for picking up tires; city pick up tires on regular times.
• Absent Landlords – Regulations and follow up demolition – what plans City has for them – propriety of City – reinforce fence
• Demolitions – are there other options available? Are there plans for the lot after the demo?
• Dumping of tires: The City should better publicize where citizens can take their tires.
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issues: Population loss – attraction and retention; how to identify and engage our expatriate community to grow and re-energize our City.
Convener(s): Marti Gorman, Kimberly Trent
Participants: Kat Massay, Kimberly Trent, Francine Valno, Veronica Hemphill –Nichols and Verline McLaughlin
Summary of Discussion:
• Leadership must empower the people to be ambassadors and effect change/ change image
• Media is part of the problem – only bad news, no community news/ success. Answer: Add alternative Media, community reporting, hyper local.
• Block Clubs have been “Bought by the City Block Club Grants, etc. Answer: Better Leadership/stronger leaders; look to expat community, (outside legal representation for Fruit Belt needed)
• Image is Everything
• How to engage/empower our ex-pats and all sectors of our community
(a) Leadership must empower people to be ambassadors
(b) Block clubs need more independence outside of City planning issues.
(c) Media (integrated) needs to promote/highlight people in positive lights
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issues: Vacant Houses and Lack of Money to Address… Including lack of improvement access money for more businesses, more financial support and money for home owners, eyesores business’s, who own these buildings? (Capital Improvements) side walk, pot holes, trees, etc.
Convener(s): Verline McLaughlin, Shirley Monroe, Erma Brown, Lisa Jo Schaeffer, Jackie Eckert, James C Clemons, Eugenia Poole and Christie
Participants: Good Neighbors Planning Alliance (GNPA), Tonawanda, NY
Summary of Discussion:
Part I – VACANT BUILDINGS/LOTS:
• Vacant building/Lots who owns these building/lots?
• Make accountable those who own those buildings/lots (City Wide Home Steading Policy) as to demolition, etc.
• Find tenants for vacant buildings (City Wide Home Steading Policy).
• Support and start businesses in these areas where vacant buildings exist.
• More financial support and moneys for home owners.
• Transparency for where money is going and how to access money (more equitable!!!)
• Capital improvements (Broken sidewalks, potholes, curves, signs, etc.).
• Incentives for businesses that already exist, and are kept up in the City.
• Stimulus money!!! How it does and can affect us and our community?
Part II – GPNA Planning Alliance
Lots – Beautification
Matching Grants – Formerit
Supporter Flower pots, lights, etc.
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Summary of Discussion:
Policies
- Responsible to ridership (NFTA)
- Survey Transit
- Suburban Commuters
- Services
- Jobs
- Smart Utilization
- UB link needs larger scope – community
- Design – low busses
- Keep houses near strategic routes!
- Niagara Section of 190
- More access
- Inform and Design Bikes
- Link to train now
- Gas prices, public transportation
Steps
- Improve image
—Shelters
—Safety
- Ridership numbers
- Consider Transportation in City Planning
—Transit Orientation
- Stagger big and small busses
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(s): Pat Braun
Summary of Discussion:
- Need at UB, other local schools, community centers for innovation
- More connections between departments and community will spawn creative entrepreneurship
- Buffalo needs to be proactive to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit
- Next Steps: Job Training
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(s) : Leslie Vishwanth
Participants: Matthew, Lisa, Cassie, Margaret, Leslie, Christine, Erma, Laura, Tim, Caesandra, Jack, Ramona, William, Pam, Catherine
Summary of Discussions:
- 311 System about problems
- City is a slumlord by these standards, city needs to sell or demo
- Tenants vs. residents = empowerment responsibility vs. authority
- Screening training for landlords
- Create owner occupant and tenant mix neighborhoods
- Stop slumlords depleting neighborhoods be draining homes dry
- Aging population sells to investors, naturally occurring process
- Management issues, management database
- List for licensed property managers available to residents just like licensing for general contractors to increase property manager accountability
- Need neighborhood capital
- Green demolition, only private property at this time and do something after demolition
- City now has to give properties Public Art, Buffalo re-use competition what to do with land, have a grant put another jewel in the Queen City’s crown
Design
- Don’t have grant to run competition
- Don’t have money for implementation
- Need to spend time in neighborhood
- Question of assessment being too high, people don’t know the sale price at auction
- Pocket parks maintenance problem
- Kids buying in = no vandalism
- Art Space, have money for public art
- Commercial projects supposed to have 5% to have public art, needs to be used
- Buffalo re-use is great and needs support, has target area Main & Jefferson to Best
- Will support other projects because of grant, public parks and gardens
- Performance space near City Honors or performing arts school, need land
- Land lots for sale
Networking
- Buffalo Mural Arts
- Graffiti
- Bus stops Brad Wales – re-using parking meters for bike racks, roadside America web site, (5) listed in Buffalo
- Artistsinbuffalo.org should also list public art on web site; directory should add public art section
- Commercial street sculpture
- Copper gone before re-use gets to building
- How do we identify funding sources and how do we get it and utilize assets that DO exist
- Public Art creates image that stays with people when they come showcases local talent
- American Style designation
- Rational to find money
- City doesn’t have enough reason to find it at this time
- Tourists come in, people sticks with people
- Increase quality of life
- Heard about Buffalo Really good
- No funding for Visual Arts
- Photographer, hidden secrets of Buffalo LaSalle Park
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(s): Roger Bettingen, Brian Williams
Participants: Deborah, Evelyn, Geraldine, Marilyn, Margret
Summary of Discussion
1. BMHA Disbanded – work done by city police now
2. BPD overworked – only dealing with “after the fact” crimes
3. BMH is sub-neighborhood of the city and has in depth problems that go beyond city planning
- Respect for authority better if they have their own security/police they feel comfortable with
- Need for “Preventative Policing”
- Better enforcement of “Quality of life” issues, Better enforcement of lease regulations
- Residents need to feel respected by authority
- Less infringement on Civil Rights; less use of brute force
- On-sight policing gives easy/better access to governing forces (might fix small things before they get bigger)
- Bigger issue is BMH needs to be pro-active and comprehensive in their property management
- Residents need to build/have pride in their “neighborhoods”
- Private Policy Authority might make people feel more secure about anonymity
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(s): Mari Gorman and Kimberly Treut
Participants: Joyce, Evelyn, Valencia, Joy, Katy, Leslie, Mike, Christine
Summary of Discussion:
- Need for welcome wagon website
- Block Clubs can be ambassadors to new residents
- Need to appeal to local College students to stay in WNY
- Need to engage church leadership
- Engage with schools, hospitals, and doctors to network with new residents
- Need to engage real estate agents to tour city of Buffalo to improve reputation with realtor working with new residents
- Realtor walk (tour) of city
- Home tours of city neighborhoods for prospective new residents
- Engaging new businesses to meet community
- Need for local colleges to do volunteer services learning for surrounding neighborhood
- Buffalo needs to offer tours of city for new college students
- A booklet or web-page needs to be given to new students to outline resources in Buffalo
- Perhaps Community Foundation of WNY could create a web-page or booklet for new residents/students
- Engage local celebrity/spots star to lead Buffalo Brush Up weekend, clean-up of city neighborhoods
- Need for ongoing engagement of new residents with a local ambassador (volunteer) as well as a web-site of resources
- Connect with the U.B. Community Initiative to promote student networking to city
- Need to work with U.B. Urban Planning department (Dr. Verma) to develop marketing resources
- Appeal to suburban empty nesters to consider moving back to the city
- City needs to welcome new residents who have relocated to Buffalo
- Block Clubs need to be engaged in welcoming new residents
- Block Clubs need a web-site to share news and welcome new residents
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(S): Veronica Hemphill-Nichols
Participants: Veronica, Shirley, Dorothy, Nazahah, Verline, Eugenia, Elma
Summary of Discussion:
Gentrification, Eminent Domain, Land Banking, Housing Violations
- C.D.C. of St. John’s, Land Banking, Homeowner hit with demo fees in Fruit Belt, want to buy property (36 Block of Fruit Belt)
- UB: purchasing McCarly gardens to build Research Center (20/20 Plan) – need housing, downtown living, move students and employees into Fruit Belt
- City Inspection coming to Fruit Belt, Homeowner & Tenant Council Meeting, get Fruit Belt citizens involved in Homeowner & Tenant Council
- Housing Violation, city program shut down, Stimulus money, block grants, money for repairs, where is stimulus money going?
- Block grant money, HUD pulled money, need to have Citizens to make city accountable for spending, generations of renters, why aren’t there programs to get them to buy homes?
- In reference to 20/20, Community Benefits Agreement, Neighbors, Contractors, and Owners
Solution: different neighborhood organizations come together, Ellicott, N.A.C., and Fruit Belt
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener: The Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo & WNY, Room 607, City Hall, Phil Haberstro, 716-851-4052
Summary of Discussion:
Improving Citizens Health
- Questions about Environment & Impact on Health
- Relationship between Built Environment & Health
- Environment (grass, sprays, pesticides
- Impact of Business Activities on Environment & Health
- Environmental (Peace Bridge Expressway/Asthma
- Public Sector Activity may impact health (knowledge base)
- Lead in Houses/Lots
- Diet, food, nutrition, environment security
Health Improvement - Where Does Health Come from?
- Good Healthy Choices
- Education/Knowledge
- Community Support
- Environment – National Environment
- Business Market Place
- Genetics
Health
- 10% Medicine
- 30% Genetics
- 60% Behavior
(2 Trillion, 95% spent on Treatment & Cures, 5% Prevention & Health )
Environment – Personal Choices
Actions
- Clean & Safe Neighborhoods, Livable
- Public Policy – “Complete Streets”, Lights, Side, Bike, Cross Cut, & Trees
- Addressing – Food choices in neighborhood: (i.e. supermarkets, gardens, farmer markets)
- Farm to School/Corner Store choices
- Getting more people to be involved in Block Clubs, ECT…
- More recreational, inter-action, youth tourism ability
- Public Policy/Commercial Vehicles
- Public knowledge about Air, Water, and Land Quality
- Public knowledge about “place making”
- Knowledge about what is going on to improves health
Improving Personal Choices
Physical Activities
- Environment that supports streets/parks
- Block Clubs, safe neighborhoods “City work with community”
- Recreation Facilities
- Schools
- After School Programs
- Connecting people to resources (Marketing Program)
- Standard schedule for stressor
Nutrition
- School Cafeteria Bridgett – opinion, words
- Healthy Choices in neighborhood
- Stores
- Markets
- GIS
- Summer Program (Nutrition Value)
- Education/Tours
- Maps “Bus”
- Produce Health on Bus
- NFTA Program expand for prevention
Stressors
- Taxes
- School
- Health
- Education
- BDN Advertising
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for block clubs and other neighborhood-level leaders to work on improving the quality of life in Buffalo. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(s): Christine Lovett-Schaus
Participants: Lisa, Christie, Pam, Ramona, Jackie, Marilyn, Joan
Summary of Discussion:
Block Clubs set up positive issues to discuss/meet about
- Get to know each other – welcome
- Garden Walk activity to get together – know each other
- Coalition of Block Clubs & AmeriCorps meets to address issues at Bell Center
- Work to Beautify West Side including LaSalle Park
- Involve Children
- Porch Parties – Children Parties
- Park
- Clean up in front of homes & corners
- Survey – number of homes/apartments/repairs (look for help)
- Measure “Social Capital”
- Plan – GNPA – with Council Member
- Email List – Communication
- Phone Tree – Communication
- Blog or Website – Face book Page
- Historic Committee – Document House Tours
Long and Short Term Plans – invite Council Members & County Legislator to meetings
- Traffic Calming
- Dial 311 – track issues
- Pedestrian Crosswalk
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for tenants and task force members on the future of Buffalo’s historic Broadway Market. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issue: Tying in Market with Downtown Development
Convener: Melanie
Participants: Bob, Yuri, Bev, Melanie, Bobby
• Free Bus Trolley connect major attractions
• Initiate with office worker/connection free parking
• Parking lot as a positive
• Cooking contests
• Connection to religious institutions
• Connection to other Neighborhood Landmarks
• Save routes to the market
• Bike racks
• Annual events
Tying in Broadway Market with Downtown Development Free Trolley to connect major attractions. Initigrate with office workers, offer free parking or perhaps work out monthly parking rates to utilize upstairs parking space and encourage early arrivals and later departures fare less square for Broadway Market, put Market on City home Web page , flyers at Bflo. Visitation Center
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for tenants and task force members on the future of Buffalo’s historic Broadway Market. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener: Peter Cammarata
Participants: Ben, Irena
Summary of Discussion:
• Transportation Issues
• Healthy Foods
• School Partnerships
• Indie Market
• Community Dining Kitchen
• Affordability is a key “draw” for the market (both neighborhood and regional).
• Vendors have unique knowledge of the neighborhood/relationships.
• Vendors know the customers “tastes”, but need to respond better to new tastes.
• Muslim and Asian community underserved (Task Force)
• Education, demonstration components.
• Community activity areas, socializing components (Senior Centers).
• Salon, cleaners, florist, Police sub-station, Day Care, fitness, dental, health care, professional services, tailor, shoe repair, craft.
• Neighborhood Business Incubator, Youth apprenticeship.
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for tenants and task force members on the future of Buffalo’s historic Broadway Market. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issue: Professionally-Qualified Director
Convener(s): B. McLein
Participants: Bob, Marlese, Bill Beverly
Summary of Discussion:
BA Marketing Economic Development, business, human relations planning. Familiarity previous experience with public markets, love of marketing, know who to go to for advertising, budgeting, grant writing, willing to collaborate, coordinate and ability to work w/others; implementation experience
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for tenants and task force members on the future of Buffalo’s historic Broadway Market. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(s): Michelle Griff, Irena Bran
Summary of Discussion:
• General Maintenance/Appearance – Direct existing crews w/specifics, have Carman in charge
• Ask Mike Kon – Social Services employment DW – for parking lot cleaning front end
• Matt Urban Center
• Better snow removal.
• Vendors should update to efficient equipment
• Vendors must improve their counters
• Interior lighting to dark
• Patch outer wall; planters have weeds services
• Windows filthy
• Dumpster must be cleaned regularly
• New exterior lighting
• Management Corp had Façade plan
• No empty vendors in front
• Tenants must clean own too
• Tap into Act Dept. Buffalo State (Arlene Franczk)
• Demos – Fillmore to 190 Broadway Bailey –Market
• Seniors @ South Park do mural? City kids? Youth centers
• Market retail storefront grants along B-Way; to market itself
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for tenants and task force members on the future of Buffalo’s historic Broadway Market. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(s): Irena, 851-4444 Buffalo News Office
Summary of Discussion: Why use Broad/Fill as crime location?
• More security guards partnered up
• Want satellite station or daily detail around market
• People need to feel safe
• Keep demolishing dilapidated houses
• Good cameras to monitor activities and have someone always watch them
• Get grants
• Restrict access to parking area
• Regular patrols on 2nd floor ramp
• 851-4444
• More bodies
• Highly visible!!
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for tenants and task force members on the future of Buffalo’s historic Broadway Market. See also the invitation and forum report.
Convener(s): Cheri Altemoos
Participants: Ed Jablonski, Mirella Jablonski
Summary of Discussion:
• Temporary vs. Permanent
• Forum of disputes in new product line
• Not becoming stagnat protecting ones - growth
The following are the rough, working notes from one of the breakout sessions convened at an open forum for tenants and task force members on the future of Buffalo’s historic Broadway Market. See also the invitation and forum report.
Issue: Exciting Experience/ Bring New Customers
Convener(s): Marty
Participants: Edwin, Greg, Mary, Kristin Mirella, Emdery, Connie Marelies
Summary of Discussion:
• One Big Event/Mo.
• Should be something happening every Saturday (ABCD inventory nearby)
• Food tasting on weekends
• Demo kitchen; different stand samples – samples start now like Bidwell; Cong. Slaughter
• Decoration for different times of year.
• Re-create old Farmers Market Feel (Like Wegmans did)
• Rummage Sale
• Place for customers can experiment w/food (e.g. canning)
• Tie into college cooking poms (Trocaire, Chippewa Emerson Vocational
• Free marketing by listing in events calendars
• Install Greenhouse on top-community gardens-sell products
• Wine tasting (Niagara Region) Father’s Day Car Show /Moms Day Flower sale
• Sports Bar/Flat Screen
• Later hours some days/ Sundays – added security
• Ethnic diversity-events, ethnic festivals
• Bring Farmers Market Tenants off season
• Buffalo First coupon book – put vendors in it, call ourselves The New B-Way Market
• Monday – Lot of out of towners – and stands closed
• Broadway Market ‘Brand’ – in groceries elsewhere promote it via internet, across country
• Link stands to shipping nationally, shipping from Market itself (FedEx’s)
• Target to expatriates nationally
• Delivery service to Shut- INS in neighborhood
• Shuttle service from senior centers; Larkin Building (shuttle Wednesdays)
• Office orders, Broadway Market “On the Go”
• Flowers for November 1st? Sidewalk sign should be out always
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