Review of Downtown Buffalo Strategic Plan Reveals Priority Projects and a Call for Implementation

A broad-based community review of the City’s Downtown Buffalo Strategic Plan has revealed a strong desire to see priority projects move from the planning phase into implementation. Among the projects identified as having priority status include the development of the Inner Harbor / "Canal District"; market-rate housing and a strategy to develop it; a business development plan that includes promoting high-tech industry growth; and advocating for the extension of the MetroRail.

This comprehensive review process was one of the first tasks assigned to the Downtown Buffalo 2002! Implementation Campaign introduced in last newsletter. Its purpose was to establish community consensus and priorities about what projects should be implemented and how to measure their success.

The plan review process has included a newsletter survey, in-depth plan reviews by key stakeholders, and evaluations conducted during the Downtown Buffalo 2002! Summit held on December 4, 1999. A summary report of the results from the Summit can be found on the inside of this newsletter. This plan review process builds upon and adds value to the work of the previous three Downtown Summits, as well as the April 30, 1999 workshop at which the draft plan was initially discussed.