$2.2 Million Fillmore Avenue Streetscape Project Complete

Press Release

Mayor Byron Brown, joined today by Majority Leader Demone Smith, Congressman Brian Higgins, city residents and business owners in the Martin Luther King Jr., Park neighborhood, marked the completion of the $2.2 million Fillmore Avenue Streetscape Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

"Fillmore Avenue is one of Buffalo's significant business, community and cultural areas and today residents have a safer, slower and more walkable street that will further enhance the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park community for many years to come," said Mayor Brown, noting that this project is part of a much larger plan for the MLK area. "The $2.2 million FillmoreAvenue Streetscape project brings better roads, sidewalks, decorative lighting, new trees and benches to this important corridor. We worked closely with residents and business ownersto move this project forward. I am proud to stand with themtoday to celebrate the completion of this streetscape project, reinvigorating this community and attracting new residents and business owners who want to live, work and invest in our city."

"Fillmore Avenue serves as the gateway to MLK Park and has the potential to become one of the most important commercial corridors in Buffalo," said Majority Leader Demone Smith. "This neighborhood is already a desirable neighborhood and these improvements to the business strip further enhance its appeal. I thank Mayor Brown, the city and citizens for working together on this coordinated and strategic project that is transforming this historic neighborhood into a vibrant and diverse community, spurring additional development opportunities and job growth."
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"The Fillmore Avenue improvement project lays a new foundation in the MLK Park neighborhood providing both community enhancements and economic opportunities," said Congressman Brian Higgins. "This project represents a significant federal investment in the City of Buffalo and again demonstrates the value of infrastructure investments as a means to improve our transportation network, business districts and neighborhoods. I commend Congresswoman Louise Slaughter for initiating funding for the project and was proud to support this allocation in Congress."

The streetscape improvements to Fillmore Avenue, between N. Parade Avenue and East Ferry Street, included road repaving, new sidewalks, bike lanes, decorative lighting, new trees and benches. Along with improved pedestrian and vehicular safety with the installation of a new street lighting system and enhanced cross walks. (The breakdown of funding for this project was as follows: approximately $1M Federal, $800K CHIPS, $300K BSA, & $100K Water.)

Since 2006, a number of other investments have been made in the MLK Park area:

* $4.5 million Splash Pad at MLK Park

* An additional $900,000 in roadway improvements to Humbold Parkway

* $800,000 MLK Park Shelter House Improvements

* $350,000 MLK Park Picnic Shelter

* $16 million St. Martin Village Project

* Over $500,000 in street paving

* $700,000 in signal system improvements and the demolition of 131 blighted structures, at a cost of $2.1 million.

* City is a partner with the "The Better Schools/Better Neighborhoods Collaborative". The Collaborative is a demonstration project that seeks to build a comprehensive, integrated model of community development in the Martin Luther King, Jr. neighborhood.

FILLMORE AVENUE STREETSCAPE PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Fillmore Avenue Streetscape Project reconstructed approximately 3,000 linear feet of North Fillmore Avenue in the City of Buffalo between North Parade Avenue and East Ferry Street. This was a federally funded project and included funding from the City, BSA, and the Water Authority (approximately $1M Federal, $800K City, $300K BSA, & $100K Water).

The project provided for one 15-foot shared lane (for bicycle and vehicular use). Green infrastructure improvements to the City's sewer system were also included as a part of this project.

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