3. Organizing to Implement the Plan
Principles: Policies for a Great Downtown
Accessing Downtown
Accessing Downtown means it’s easy for everyone to drive and park, ride the train or bus, cycle, and especially walk in order for everyone to take advantage of everything Downtown has to offer. It also means Downtown is connected again to the waterfront on the south and west.
The work plan goal for access Downtown is to create a balanced and well integrated access and transportation system supporting all of the activity programs Downtown. Strategies include coordinating the numerous agencies with jurisdiction over Downtown streets, parking, transit and other access functions; developing a collaborative and comprehensive management system with all of the access service providers; building on work in progress on coordinating the availability of parking with high demand areas without the proliferation of surface parking lots; encouraging the use of innovative transit solutions, and encouraging the use of bicycles to move people while also accommodating the automobile. A project likely to have a significant impact on all of the Downtown activity programs is the Main Street multi-modal access and revitalization project through which vehicular traffic will share the train way with Metro Rail.
Urban Design and Management
Urban Design and Management means good urban design is understood not just as aesthetics, but all the things that make Downtown livable, walkable, and profitable. Downtown’s success is measured against urban qualities, not suburban standards.
The work plan goal is to institutionalize the requirement to make every act of infrastructure and new development in the Downtown contribute to the quality of the public realm and its maintenance. The strategies involve: changing what have been the “backs of buildings” on Washington and Pearl Streets into fronts; using key streets like Genesee and Church Street as well as south Main Street to emphasize the Downtown relationship to water; creating an Urban Design Action Plan that addresses the standards for a quality public realm, identifying priority areas, greening Downtown, and establishing joint funding opportunities; working on the street infrastructure to insure that needed sidewalk, crosswalk, and basic infrastructure standards are fully accommodated; and connecting the Downtown to the neighborhoods through a system of “great streets” based on the key elements of Joseph Ellicott’s radial and grid street pattern and Olmsted’s incorporation of the pattern in his park and parkway system design.
Preservation
Preservation means that preserving historic buildings, spaces and districts is understood as a crucial part of sustainable economic development. Preservation, demolition, and new construction are balanced and respectful of our history and our urban fabric according to clear policies and procedures fairly enforced.
The work plan goals are to: 1) establish a practical and powerful system for protecting and rehabilitating historic structures, districts and related neighborhoods, and 2) to develop an appreciation of historic preservation as a tool in Buffalo’s economic and cultural development. The strategies include: engaging the full complement of community based organizations, developers, foundations, financial institutions, and governmental agencies in the preservation enterprise; doing the necessary inventory and analysis work to establish priorities, doing emergency stabilizations; and, developing policies to assure the vitality of our historic resources and surrounding communities.
Energy and Green Design
Energy and Green Design means increased use of energy efficiency and green design strategies reduces the cost of energy in Downtown Buffalo, the ecology and green infrastructure of Downtown is sustainable, and the quality of life is improved through better environmental practices.
The work plan goals are: 1) to increase awareness and encourage the utilization of the best available energy efficient and environmental practices, and 2) to emphasize the substantial economic and environmental advantages of employing green design practices, with a primary focus on reducing operating costs and improving amenities to increase the demand for space. The strategies include educational programming and new policies that relate energy and environment concerns with the infrastructure and administration of economic development.
Image
Image means that workers, residents, visitors and the press can all say “I love Downtown!” as a clean, safe, and friendly place to live, work, and play for people of all kinds.
The work plan goal is to create an image of Downtown consistent with the vision of the Queen City Hub plan. Downtown Buffalo should be understood to be a clean, safe, friendly place where it is great to live, work and play. The strategies include coordinating marketing activities for Downtown, celebrating current success and promoting realistic potential. The strategies also include education programming for media, community based organizations, and businesses on Downtown’s role in the region and in the city.
