Craig Bingham
Daisy Castro
Bridget Dooley
Tiffany Fong
Govind Grewal
Min Hua Huang
Rey Medina
Sulaiman Meriles Demry
Joshep Meyers
Shyne Mon
Christian Oliveira Demelo
Joseph Panella
Marco Pasqualetti
Alex Piasecki
Tyler Vorasane
Yiming (Peter) Zhu

Jeffrey Rehler

END 450
Fall 2019

BAED

The Kaisertown Neighborhood Development Plan aims to strengthen Kaisertown’s existing assets through a series of improvements. The intention of the studio was to promote the neighborhood’s social participation, economic development, main commercial corridors, and urban environment as well as raise awareness of Kaisertown within the region and the context of Buffalo. This can be achieved through a series of proposals specific to each zone of improvement. These focus areas consist of Kaisertown’s Main Streets, Houghton Park, and Waterfront. Recommendations should be forward-thinking, relevant yearround, and kept in context with Kaisertown. All development will aim to be sustainable in efforts to protect and bolster cultural and physical assets that make Kaisertown unique. The neighborhood and main street area will be made accessible to all by prioritizing inter-municipal coordination and enhancing connectivity with the region. These positive and conceivable changes can be accomplished with the help of dedicated residents as well as the studio’s client, the Kaisertown Friends Association.

It became an important goal to preserve Kaisertown’s rich history while still allowing flexibility for change. This plan hopes to not only address physical improvements in the neighborhood, but improve the quality of lives of the residents. Although catering to Kaisertown’s aging population is a significant objective, the plan is to implement change that influence Kaisertown to grow and contribute to the revitalization of the City of Buffalo by increasing the diversity of the neighborhood. Kaisertown’s untapped potential is not only seen as a resource to improve the neighborhood but the Western New York region as a whole.

The first step was to analyze the existing conditions of Kaisertown. A site visit became one of the most crucial steps to their research process, as it gave the studio the opportunity to see Kaisertown firsthand. The next step in the planning process was to look at other comprehensive plans to establish the planning context. These plans pertained to the study areas of Buffalo, West Seneca and Cheektowaga. Working in teams, the studio reviewed One Region Forward: A New Way to Plan for Buffalo Niagara; Queen City in the 21st Century - Buffalo’s Comprehensive Plan; and the comprehensive plans for both West Seneca and Cheektowaga. These plans informed broad takeaways and knowledge around what planning initiatives are already taking place in the study area.

Following the site visit, the studio did further research into the existing conditions of Kaisertown. The class split into five groups and covered five different topics:

1. Demographics and Economic Profile

2. Land Use, Natural Environment and Built Form

3. Housing, Community Health and Recreation

4. Community Institutions, History, Arts and Culture

5. Transportation and Connectivity

These topics were used throughout the semester and played a major role in narrowing down recommendations and proposals for Kaisertown. Next, the focus switched to look outside of Kaisertown and find some best practices from other cities and neighborhoods. Teams were challenged to find case studies with supporting precedent studies that would be beneficial in making recommendations, focusing on business district revitalization, healthy aging, and waterfront access and development. Examples were pulled from all over the country, and even internationally.

Before looking into proposals for Kaisertown, it was important to understand the current conditions of the neighborhood. A considerable amount of time was spent studying the area through site visits, interactions with community members, and research. The background information obtained about Kaisertown through this method of research was deemed necessary to make beneficial recommendations, which were then organized into four key categories: transportation, economic development, social participation, and urban environment.

Increasing awareness of and accessibility to alternate modes of transportation is an important factor that drives all other areas of improvement. Transportation by automobile dominates Kaisertown, with much of the residential neighborhood bordered by highways on all sides, restricting access to the neighborhood to underpasses and bridges over the Buffalo River. Kaisertown can currently be reached by the many NFTA bus stops along Clinton and South Ogden Street. Biking is also an accessible mode of transportation in Kaisertown, however there is only one shared bike lane which occupies South Ogden Street. Since Kaisertown is dense in size, walking is also a feasible option for residents. Kaisertown’s main commercial strip, known as Clinton Street, has recently made efforts to increase the walkability by adding new crosswalks. However, South Ogden Street, the town’s other main transportation corridor, is lacking up-to-date crosswalks. This raises concerns for pedestrians due to the high traffic speeds in this area. There are tremendous opportunities to expand transportation options in and around Kaisertown; doing so is one way to achieve the overall vision for improvement.

One can easily realize Kaisertown’s potential for economic growth. However, there are many vacant storefronts that are prohibiting the economic boost the neighborhood needs. 

Seemingly, Kaisertown appears to be heavily residential with many of the vacant businesses on Kaisertown’s main commercial strips or its waterfront. Clinton Street currently serves as the town’s lifeline, contributing to the neighborhood’s economic vitality. There are also few community centers throughout the town that serve as places for residents to hold events that bring in revenue, although most of Kaisertown’s potential for economic growth lies on the waterfront due to most of Clinton Street already maintaining a considerably lively status.

One of Kaisertown’s biggest strengths is the people living in it. There is a strong sense of pride for the neighborhood, and many of the families living there have been there for generations. The current population of Kaisertown has a high level of aging adults. Social participation is extremely important for social and mental health for people of all ages, but the older generation is often excluded when social events and programs are organized. Within Kaisertown, there is one senior community center. Autumnwood Senior Center sits on Clinton Street in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood, near Houghton Park. This is the primary option for Kaisertown’s senior community members in providing recreational opportunities and social interaction. There is a huge opportunity to increase not only the number of facilities, but also the types of activities for social participation between Kaisertown’s residents and even guests of the community.

Kaisertown is fortunate enough to have Houghton Park, a large park within the boundaries of the neighborhood. Deeper within the park, there are a series of trails that lead to the Buffalo River, giving a more natural, undeveloped landscape for true nature lovers. Outside of the park, Kaisertown is lacking a continuation of the natural environment throughout the rest of the neighborhood. In order to develop a resilient Kaisertown, a sustainable Kaisertown must be developed. Integrating elements such as green infrastructure and solar tech can help establish Kaisertown as a leading sustainable community.

(Excerpts taken from the student report, Kaisertown Development Plan)