Photo of the Day: 63

Fillmore Avenue and Sienkiewicz Street (google map).



Storefront churches are where the other half worships.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 62

Oberlin Street and Sycamore Street (google map).



Finding fresh and nutritious food is a daily challenge for the neighborhood's remaining residents.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 61

Ruhland Avenue and Sycamore Street (google map).

A product used for shelter in third world slums is often used as roofing material on the city's East Side.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 60

Clinton Street and Lord Street (google map).



In some East Side neighborhoods disregard for City Hall is palpable.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Tour de Neglect returns!

Jane's Walk, a series of free, locally organized walks inspired by urbanist Jane Jacobs, will feature my Tour de Neglect next Saturday, May 10, 9 AM. Ride your bike over to the Lafayette Hotel, where we will meet, for a walk on wheels of the good, the bad, and the ugly of Buffalo's East Side!

Here's the link. Below is the walk description:

Activist, blogger, and photographer David Torke will give the Tour de Neglect, a Jane's Walk on wheels that will bring cyclists across the oceanic devastation of Buffalo's East Side. Starting and ending at bookends of hope, with chapters on change in between, theTour de Neglect will include all the scandal of the Tour de France, without its spandex and champagne. The neglect of so many architectural treasures in Buffalo’s “Forgotten City” can only be described as criminal. This tour should come with a warning label: “May inspire feelings of civic duty and moral outrage.” The Tour de Neglact will include stops at St. Anne's Church, the Wilson Street Farm, Buffalo Central Terminal, the Simon brewery, and the Larkin Power House. 

Be sure to "like" Jane's Walk at its Facebook page.

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Photo of the Day: 59

Fillmore Avenue and Sienkiewicz Street (google map).



Decades of demolition have spared some legacy buildings in the Broadway Fillmore neighborhood.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 58

Wilson Street and Broadway Avenue (google map).



Despite losing 85% of its population since 1950 this neighborhood somehow manages to endure.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 57

Wilson Street and Genesee Street (google map).



This Wilson Street neighborhood and surrounding census tract have lost 85% of its population since 1950.  

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Spring Time on the East Side = Demo Time

The following map identifies the latest package of 31 city-owned residential properties that the Division of Real Estate submitted to the Preservation Board for demolition final approval. The board will act on this request at this week's meeting on Thursday May 8th. All properties are located on the city's East Side.



In addition to the this list the city is also seeking to demolish Public School #26 on Harrison Street. (google map).



This latest demo package from City Hall comes less than a month after the previous request to demolish 36 other city-owned properties, see this google map. At least two of those properties will be under contract with people who are seeking to make these houses their home. Five additional properties from that same list have peaked the interest of two East Side housing agencies that didn't know the houses were actually available for sale. Property inspections for that string of Miller Street properties is expected later this week or next.

The East Side market is changing and houses that once were thought to be landfill bound are actually now in increasing demand by individuals - some being economically displaced from Queens NY and homesteaders and various housing agencies. Matching this growing demand with individuals, housing agencies and a more rational public policy approach that favors neighborhood stabilization is the task at hand. The velocity of the City's demolition program needs to be checked.

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Photo of the Day: 56

Genesee Street and Hagen Street (google map).




Storefront churches have replaced traditional church buildings as houses of worship for some neighborhood residents.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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For Sale - Industrial loft opportunity steps from downtown

142 Archie Street is now available for sale (google map). This is one of the most unique industrial spaces available on the city's East Side. If you're interested is assembling a larger project, there are a number of adjoining vacant parcels available.



Archie Street is just minutes from downtown and part of a new and emerging DIY community on the East Side. One of the city's newest urban farms is taking root next door on Hickory Street.

Connect with Katie Querbel at Realty USA for the details.

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Photo of the Day: 55

Wisconsin Street and Doat Street (google map).




Wisconsin Street is one of the small streets on the city's East Side near the city line.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Reborn: St. Matthew's Church - Part I

Battered, forgotten and neglected for the last decade, St. Matthew's Church located at 1066 East Ferry Street has changed hands. Under the capable and enthusiastic leadership and ministry of Bishop Emilio Alvarez, TheWay Christian-Community will make St. Matthew's their home. After the successful bidder at last year's tax auction failed to complete his bid, Bishop Alvarez stepped in and negotiated a settlement with the City.



This is terrific news for a struggling neighborhood. The best kind. It is good news for the City and represents the first time in Buffalo NY where a former National Register eligible Catholic church, once deaccessioned by the Diocese, will be reused as a house of worship. I've been impressed with Bishop's Alvarez's vision and and his willingness to move forward with a project of this scope and importance. He's forging an example with his ministry and stewardship of St. Matthew's of what is now possible with religious heritage structures in the City's most fragile and neglected neighborhoods.



fixBuffalo readers may recall the Mayor's Anti-Flipping Task Force took action against an attempt to flip St. Matthew's on eBay in 2007 shortly after the church was purchased at the City's tax auction for $3500. Since then the building continued to deteriorate and was a frequent stop on the urban exploration circuit and a favorite haunt for photographers.

When I spoke with Bishop Alvarez this week he asked me to help spread the word about the planned community work session this weekend. So, please take a moment to like the congregation's Facebook page and stay current with his ministry and St. Matthew's church as a new chapter on the city's East Side is born.

Stay tuned for an extended interview with Bishop Alvarez.

Additional information:  fixBuffalo archive and St. Matthew's image file

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Photo of the Day: 54

Fillmore Avenue and B Street (google map).



Demolitions on Fillmore Avenue revealed these houses on Wilson Street.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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Photo of the Day: 53

Holden Street and Wade Avenue (google map).



The Central Park Plaza built in 1957 was recenlty demolished.  600 new living units are planned for the site.

Photos from this series are cross-posted on fixBuffalo's facebook page and archived here - Photo of the Day. 

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