WHY INVEST IN
BUFFALO’S EAST SIDE?

The East Side is a place with active and engaged residents and visitors, significant historic assets, community-based resources, walkable main streets, education and training resources, and access to public transit.

THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE
AND WORK ON THE EAST SIDE REPRESENT:

42%

OF THE CITY’S
RESIDENTS

That’s over
108,000
people

43,300

OF THE
CITY’S JOBS

About
30% of all
jobs in the City

40%

OF THE CITY’S
WORKING-AGE
POPULATION

Age 16-64

IT’S A PLACE FOR
COMMERCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WITH:

3,300

BUSINESSES

That’s about 1/3
of the City’s businesses

27 businesses with

AT LEAST 100
EMPLOYEES

4,800

MANUFACTURING JOBS
ON THE EAST SIDE

That’s almost HALF of all manufacturing jobs in the City

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2013-2017) and Longitudinal Employment-Household Dynamics (LEHD) Origin-Destination Employment Statistics (2017). UBRI analysis of data from InfoGroup, ReferenceUSA U.S. Businesses Database, 2017.

UNIQUE PLACES AND ICONIC BUILDINGS ENDURE HERE:

Northland Workforce Training Center
Broadway Market
Buffalo Museum of Science
African American Corridor
Colored Musicians Club
Colored Musicians Club
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor
Central Terminal
Central Terminal
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ENHANCING THE EAST SIDE THROUGH TARGETED INVESTMENTS

As part of the Buffalo Billion Phase II placemaking strategy, $65 million was dedicated to revitalization efforts on the City’s East Side. The targeted investment strategy focuses on four main commercial corridors and nine investment areas as economic drivers and catalysts for widespread revitalization of the East Side.

Ease Side Aves

STRATEGICALLY TARGETED INVESTMENT AREAS
—

Efforts are targeted along four main avenues to maximize impact.

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MICHIGAN

JEFFERSON

BAILEY

FILLMORE

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Roll over a target area for details

Clinton Bailey exhibits a unique concentration of jobs in the food industry with manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution companies. Good transportation infrastructure and underutilized buildings present solid opportunities for business growth.

Bailey Green benefitted from a strong community partnership with a major employer who spear-headed an organized community movement to improve infrastructure, housing, food access, and job opportunities.

Kensington Bailey saw public/private investment and grassroots revitalization utilizing a “block-by-block” approach and has the potential to become a vibrant, walkable commercial corridor.

Broadway Fillmore has a large concentration of commercial activity with an opportunity for infill housing. The presence of the historic Broadway Market, food services, and retailers could provide extensive microenterprise opportunities.

MLK Park Business District’s assets include a major historic park that has seen substantial investment in recent years, and strong service- and community-based organizations which serve as important neighborhood anchors.

The Northland area is the City’s next manufacturing and energy employment/training hub. Its strong engagement from residents, businesses, and workforce trainers provides potential for attracting employers to large industrial parcels.

The Main and Fillmore area is a center for service-based organizations and businesses with the opportunity to diversify and grow.

Jefferson Avenue’s Commercial District is walkable and has accessible public transit, parks and recreational assets, higher education institutions, stable neighborhoods, and a small array of businesses.

The Historic Michigan area has a significant African American history and an array of cultural and historic assets that support regional tourism.

WHAT ARE THE PROJECT’S GOALS?

East Side Avenues’ goal is to fund and plan revitalization strategies aimed at improving economic conditions on Buffalo’s East Side. It works to strengthen and support specific organizations receiving capital funding. 

The intent is not only to help realize a series of improvement projects on the East Side, but to do so in a manner that prepares the community’s organizations to take on the next round of investments as well.

Efforts are focused on projects that can be implemented within five years and align with these six main goals:

Promote mixed use, walkable commercial corridors

Invest in regionally significant historical and natural assets

Expand opportunities for workforce connections

Support and grow new businesses and entrepreneurship

Fund projects that have strong community momentum

Build on transformational public/private investments

LEARN MORE

For more background, view the comprehensive East Side Plan.