New Row Houses...

On Monday I had the opportunity to review the plans for the latest development here on the City's near East side. Bethel CDC has filed plans with the City to construct 8 three bedroom single family row houses on Michigan Avenue. Here's the map.

I grabbed these pics of the proposed development.

click to enlarge

There's a review scheduled for next Tuesday March 14th at 9:00am on the 9th floor. Despite the proposed demolition of 4 houses that are currently owned by Bethel CDC - think Rev. Stenhouse, yes the guy who sits on Buffalo's Control Board - that have been vacant (and not maintained for years) all the neighbors that I spoke to this evening were excited about the project. The feeling was that future tenants will be held to a very high standard as the two sets of new row houses sit opposite one of the Church's main entrances. Bethel AME is also home to Bethel Head Start.

Update 3/11/06

Here the houses that Bethel wants to demo to make room for the new project.

click to enlarge

The plans that I reviewed didn't contain any information about construction financing. My neighbors all had concerns about landscaping and maintenance issues. We have all taken turns maintaining the Church's lot at the corner of Woodlawn and Michigan for the past few years. It's not clear what the plans are for that vacant lot.

Make sure to check out this 1920's Sanborn fire map of the same neighborhood. It depicts dozens of row houses. Kudos to Bethel and Rev. Stenhouse for desiring to revive part of the neighborhood's legacy.

Oh, yeah and 30 million is going right across the street! Remember?

There's a whole lot of development happening on Michigan Avenue, from January.

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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006