Lighting Up Seneca Street
Yesterday was an exciting day for the Seneca Street Business District. Though a lot is already happening with the district since it is undergoing a $1.3 million infrastructure improvement effort, Mayor Byron Brown announced that they City of Buffalo would be providing $300,000 for new streetlights.
Using money from the Grow Buffalo Fund that Mayor Brown created in 2007, the contribution will cover the purchase and installation of 80 new streetlights. This change will help the overall appearance of the district which is already being worked on through the road being repaved, sidewalks being improved, upgrading the crosswalks, and new landscaping.
The design of the lights is based on historical designs from over a century ago and will give the street a whole new feel. The city will be purchasing the lights directly instead of through a contractor, saving 30% on the purchase. On March 5 the city will go to bid for the installation contract and the new lights should be in place and operational by May 2008.
“I’m very pleased to join my government colleagues in contributing to this very worthy effort that will help strengthen and enhance this important city business district. The Grow Buffalo Fund is another important program my Administration has implemented to support residential neighborhoods and business districts like the Seneca Street Business District,” said Mayor Brown at the press conference.
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davvid
"The city will be purchasing the lights directly instead of through a contractor, saving 30% on the purchase."
well done!
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sbrof
Good for south buffalo. It will be a welcomed addition to a struggling but stable commercial street.
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scooter
I've done some business in south buffalo, and I was born and raised there. GREAT COMMUNITY!
Mark Shroeder has done a couple of positive things for seneca street, from things as simply as installing/providing garbage cans on the street, to getting some more south buffalo signage out there for branding. He is very well respected in SB.
As for TIM KENNEDY.........what a waste of tax payers money.
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UrbanGuy
let's say i don't get into south buffalo too often. can someone give me some cross streets as boundaries so i can look this up? just for my own personal knowledge.
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SLEEPL8
$3750 per light and that was at a 30% discount? Wow.
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ToughintheStreets
What other projects is the "Grow Buffalo Fund" contributing to? Our "Entertainment District" including Chippewa and the Theaters could use some sprucing up and beautification so that when people stay at the state government funded Hyatt Regency they have a clear destination to gravitate towards that will allow them to see what city government funds can do. Aaaand.... Maybe Starbuck swilling, SUV driving, traitor-to-the-cause suburbanites won't be so reluctant to head back downtown and spend some money.
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tudorguy
I'm glad for them, but just so they know - I'm guessing the first bulb is the only one they'll get. There are so many out around the city (especially off ramps on the 198) that I'm waiting for the last one to go out!
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bison716
I agree this is a hugh bonus for this community and district. I cant wait to see how the lights will actually look once there up and running. We should add banners on light poles, showcasing that they are in the Seneca District. The look and fell of a district will attract investors with vision to better incorporate there company with the look, feel and style of the area.
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Martin
will these new lights be LED which is the way most city's are going now to conserve energy, go green and save money?
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peripatetic
I hope they are not the awful "historic looking" lights recently installed on Main Street and Hertel.
Along with energy conservation the City should be supporting "night skies". Light the street and sidewalk not the sky.
When will we stop trying to get the historic look and start looking forward. The lighting should be integrated with the other street fixtures - benches, planters, bike racks, news boxes, etc tnd should present an up to date, ebven futuristic, image for the neighborhood.
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orlanmon
Can't wait to see what this district will look like in another year... I know it under debate currently but it will be interesting to see how much of the revenue from this Casino will be going to Erie County and Buffalo. Hopefully a segment of this revenue will be used for additional infrastrucutre repair and improvments in Buffalo.
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Pauldub
Hopefully the lights will be bright enough so I can see all the pot holes. Small cars take Seneca at their own risk...
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GDC
Seneca Street is South Buffalo's little secret. I used to go down there every weekend with some friends of mine 2 summers ago...Alot of unique little businesses, lot's of potential, and the beautiful Caz Park right in the heart of the district. You could literally spend an entire day in this area and not get bored.
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MikeInWNY
The project sounds great, but it is nothing but window dressing trying to hide the real problem. Jimmy Griffin had Seneca St. repaved, new sidewalks, lights, etc., around the end of the 1970's. Yet, the decline continued.
Until the problem of over-regulation and over-taxation is addressed, nothing will change.
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buffalowing98
Said nicely Mike. Main st. in U. Heights got a complete make over, and it didn't spur more private investment along the strip, to my knowledge. Still, investment in infrastructure is important. I also find myself needing to check out so blo when spring comes around.
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Mariner
Seneca Street, I have heard stories how nice it use to be, "downtown South Buffalo." Well, that was 40 maybe 50 years ago, since then it has become a s*** hole. I drive down it everyday. Don't get me wrong there are a FEW good businesses like the Blackthorn but not much is going on there. I hope these new lights will stir some NEW Business Development but lets not kind ourselves. This is a low income area of SB I really don't think your going to get a retail or a ton of private dollars going into Seneca ST. Those businesses that are there are struggling. That street needs more then new lights it needs new leadership.
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RisingDamp666
Very illuminating...until someone steals the copper wiring.
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viking
Is the company doing the work South Buffalo Electric, they seem to be doing a lot of work in the city.
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WNYResident
"$3750 per light and that was at a 30% discount? Wow"
Does anyone know the model/part # of the light post they are looking? Or the manufacturer?
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