Action Plan: Urban Design and Management

Purpose

Downtown is a unique asset to the region. With an impressive stock of historic buildings, a unique working atmosphere, and a large employment base, Downtown is and will continue to be the symbolic heart of the region. It is therefore vital to adequately manage Downtown and ensure its attractiveness.

Context

As the saying goes, the devil is in the details. The details that often affect areas the most are those that are easiest to ignore. Some of the urban design details that affect Downtown are trees, sidewalks, parking, signage, lighting, building transparency, first floor occupancy and numerous other factors.

There is also a perceived need to better organize the management of Downtown as a whole to facilitate development and help revitalize the area. Speculation on property has hurt Downtown, and many feel that it is an ignored problem. Over 15 years the City lost 25% of its assessed value while the Buffalo Place District lost 50% of its assessed value. Although the Main Street pedestrian mall is the most significant public space there is a need to focus on Pearl and Washington, as they are often the vehicular front doors to Downtown.

Urban design improvements can be “low hanging fruit” projects, small successes create excitement and show immediate improvement. They can also build on the positives that already exist Downtown. The future vision for Downtown design and management is one that has a Downtown that is clean and green, an Olmsted City.

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