(By Deidre Williams – Buffalo New) Less than two miles from downtown Buffalo are the elements of what could be a really vibrant community.
Bounded by Broadway, Fillmore Avenue and Memorial Drive, the 121-year-old Broadway Market is there.
So are HSBC and M&T Bank branches, and a post office.
The long-standing Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center on Broadway serves some of the poorest neighborhoods on the East Side, and the Central Terminal is among Buffalo’s most architecturally significant structures.
Now a local group intends to tie them all together to reinvent that section of the city with the recent purchase of the former Bank of America branch at 848 Broadway.
I hope this is the start to something big to help the area, but first we need to support the Broadway Market and our historic churches, so they will not cllose down. The churches need more people attending and the market needs more shoppers and a good new manager. Maybe Eddie needs to fix up his property on Paderewski and sears that he bought recently. I passed it after shopping at the market on saturday and it is all boarded up and looks just terrible. Maybe that can become a visitor center or a place for people to gather or headquarters for his Forgotten Buffalo where he can have his dinners.
$35,000 seed money from the David Franczyk. Other for profit businesses were interested in the property. Sounds like the friends and family plan is alive and well in Broadway-Fillmore. Disgusting!
Why don’t Franczyk use this money to keep the market going or some other business that will help the neighborhood. I hope buying this old bank will help, but I have a feeling it won’t. Same old thing in the Broadway Fillmore district.
Glad this building will be occupied the mutner building renovation is a great addition to broadway fillmore
The $35 thousand amount really bothers me. This is our money people, not David Franczyk’s, not Ed Dobosiewicz’s, ours. Our money funding a new organization that will not pay taxes and hasn’t done anything.
This why Buffalo is in the mess it is in.
Steve,
I’d love to hear which private businesses were interested in the building.
I haven’t heard of any.
Andy
So I gusse Eddie will be fixing up the old Strusienski Restaurant next year.
Why don’t Franczyk or Eddie reveal more information. Why use our money for this project. Let them use their own personal money. Eddie knew how to comment about the new market manager but really reveal nothing. Now let him comment here about this project.
Where do I sign up for 35,000 and a building? It is easy to spend other people’s money.
As Andy writes above, I’d like to know what businesses were in the mix for this building. It’s obvious that this group doesn’t have the resources necessary to maintain the building as they had to get $35 grand of public money to start up from the city. What happens when that money runs out? What happens to this building if they can’t maintain it? This is a very real possibility. Does this building and group then suck on the public teat in perpetuity?
Phillip,
My bigger point was that I’m not so sure there were any private businesses interested in acquiring the building, but I’m waiting for Steve to respond.
Andy
Why is Eddie D., the president of this corp who bought this building, probably with the peoples money that wonderful David Franczyk gave, respond like he did many times with Chris over the new manager position last week on this web site. Why is he so SILENT?
You have to wonder how much money like this has been dumped into the neighborhood over the years. Why is David Franczyk willing to give such funds to people with no experience in urban development? Having a parade is not urban development.
David Franczyk has been the councilman for the neighborhood since the late eighties. Is it no coincidence that the neighborhood’s slide correlates with his tenure in office, but people still elect him. He is an emblematic poster child for do nothing career politicians.
Does he serve the people of the neighborhood or does he serve himself and friends.
My family hung on until 2002 in the neighborhood.
On the lighter side, Wesolych Swiat!
As I said before, Franczyk only cares about HIMSELF and not the neighborhood and why is Eddie D. who is president of this corp. not making a comment like he did againt Chris when it dealt with the market manager which also he is part of being connected to the market. Also, parades and forgotten buffalo tours are good, but only bring people in here and there, they do not help the rest of the year. As I said before, Eddie needs to fix up his property on Paderewski and Sears before worring about a old bank building. Just because something worked in another city, does not mean it will work here in Buffalo, where the politicians do nothing but fill their pockets and their family and friends pockets.
Someone told me that this group was also supposed to do something with the old Polish Singing Circle building on Broadway. What happened with that?
Why is everyone involved in this venture, not saying a word? Must be something to hide?
Did everyone stop reading the article at the point where money was given to an individual and then decide to comment ? Not one comment in 16 responses that even reference the involvement of UB, the engagement of the School of Architecture and Planning or the intended short term use. All negative posts bashing the efforts before any concrete work or production could even occur. People wonder why other areas of the city get more attention and financial support. Perhaps it’s because good intentioned people didn’t get shunned prior to opening their mouth. Everyone has based comments on the fact of one individual being involved. Who knows who else is participating or what other ideas are in place. For once maybe the community and the city in general could or should have patience on a proposal. Then open their collective mouth.
Paul, I am afraid you haven’t read the comments. A majority of criticism is questioning the track record of the person who is the apparent mouthpiece and head of this group. This plan is one aspect, but there are reservations about the people behind it and the use of taxpayer dollars to buy a building for this group.
No I clearly read and comprehend the nature of the criticism. Given the facts of one individual’s previous track record on other properties perhaps some comments are warranted. However I am merely suggesting that perhaps all information has not been accurately presented ( I’m sure the Buffalo News never makes a mistake ). While requesting that assumptions about an entire group based upon one individual perhaps isn’t the best way to base an opinion. For instance has a large entity such as UB been involved in other projects of the indivduals ?
In regards to the tax payers dollars, concern is legitimate as that money is hard earned by all, especially in this neighborhood. Which is why I feel the opinion of “proper” allocation should be based upon the plan and results, and not the individual receiving the funds. That being said if $35,000 was spent to demo structures, specifically this one, the neighborhood would be up in arms. Frankly that amount of money does little to solve any of the real problems facing the district, churches, market etc. If it can hold off further neighborhood deterioration if only for a few years it’s money well spent.
Let’s assume that your assumptions about assuming what you assume while critiquing other’s assumptions is valid. Logic dictates that if you have a leader who has demonstrated being incapable of assuming the responsibilities based on quantifiable proof of previous failures, you would not draw the assumption that this person could get the job done this time around.
How does UB’s involvement automatically make any project irresistible or valid? ( I’m sure UB never makes a mistake )
You should assume nothing.
Why hasn’t Dobosiewicz done anything with Strusienski’s yet? Go ahead, Edziu, what’s your excuse? You’ve owned it for how long, now? Yet nothing’s happened. And all of a sudden everything is going to get immediately better for the bank building, and funding and donations are going to land on the corner of B-F like a ticker-tape parade? Get real dupajasz. Do something with the commitments you’ve already made first.
Wow!
I don’t think that I have ever encountered such a group of negative individuals. Everybody wants to complain but what have you done to make a difference?
As Paul so eloquently stated you are fixated on your negative perceptions and refuse to look at anything but.
Your obsession with the Strusienski building is utter insanity. The purpose of that aquisition as well as the recent closing on the bank building were to buy some time in order to formulate the partnerships and funding necessary to implement a proper rehab and ultimate re-use of those properties. Nothing to the contrary has ever been stated.
The alternative would have been demolition, stripping or some other type of use that would not have been condusive to rebirth.
If any of you forward thinking citizens would like to cough up with a hundred grand we can partner up and re-open your obsession in 3 months.
I hear lots of unwarrated criticism based on ignorance of the facts however NO ONE has bothered to gather the facts nor offered any solutions.
Once again I open up the invitation to meet face to face with any of you nattering nabobs of negativity. I would be happy to discuss with you what the vision for a reinvented Polonia district looks like and how you can join in. However I believe you are all more comfortable sitting behind the anonymity of your keyboards.
You can continue to attack individuals for their efforts or you can join in the effort. Consider if you will, that maybe it’s you that is the source of decay and the obstacle to progress.
I pray that during this season you all may find some peace in your hearts to replace some of the hatred.
Wesolych Swiat
Amazing, the prime critic of everything happening in BF, can not take people disagreeing with him. His way or the highway is his motto…. Has to be his way for all the organizations wanting to participate in Dyngus Day festivities again with a take it or leave it attitude…. Or on how it has to be his vision for the Broadway Market…….Amazing hoe every member of his TaskForce on the Market quit except his partners…… Or it has to be his vision for re-creating Historic Polonia…….. Seriously Eddie do you expect anyone to believe this is anything more than a money grab….. BF needs help and lots of it but his attitude won’t turn it around…… nor will DF continually giving him money…. Eddie show us the money…..how much of your personal money have you put in…Not Dyngus Day’s Money Not DF’s Money…Yours…. Send copies to Chris Byrd and let him post copies….bet you can’t!!! Lastly, Eddie have you looked around Historic Polonia….it is now is heavily Black, Middle Eastern, Indian, Vietnamese, Burmese etc…Out they go?????
Constructive criticism is always welcome. Blind hatred is destructive.
Once again your ignorance of the facts and blatant hostility toward anyone that strives for success make you look foolish.
At least you don’t have the courage to use your real name so people would know the morons casting aspersions and hiding.
Eddy
Give it up already!
Agreed David. I apologize for getting sucked into this public debate. It was a reaction to unwarranted personal attacks and misinformation. I thought it might enlighten ignorance and enroll positive partnership. I see that it is futile and will refrain from this type of behavior.
Merry Christmas and Peace to all.
Amazing ! So people really do know Ed Dobosiewicz. Yes all that was said about him is true! If he doesn’t like your idea or if you disagree with him he thinks you’re an ass ! Funny he doesn’t like when people question his motive but Ed loves to attack other people and their character ! So lets see on DF payroll , three buildings in 2 years and 35k in free money ! Wow so glad Broadway Fillmore is better now !!!!!
Whatever Eddy seems like you never answer the questions.
It is not only Ed it is his partner and buddy Marty Binisaz. I am glad other people see theis too.
I am glad that people finally are waking up and seeing that Eddy and Marty only care about their own agendas and their precious Dyngus Day. They only like people who like them. It is sad.