Proposal to city

The Proposal: Lease a series of abandoned lots to the Curtis Street Urban Farm Foundation (CUFF) for the purpose of urban agriculture and educational programs.

The Big Picture: a Sustainable Neighborhood on the East Side


Students from Engineers for a Sustainable World and the Environmental Network at the University at Buffalo would like to assist the City of Buffalo and neighborhood residents plan for, and implement sustainable design in an area from Sycamore St. to the Central Terminal.

Despite this neighborhood’s blight, it possesses key elements to sustainable design: A large market and concentrated street grid, vacant land that could be utilized for green space and access to major transportation routes.

Over the next few years, we would like to adopt this neighborhood as a laboratory for technical design projects. With the guidance of our faculty advisors and increased support from the Planning department, we would like implement designs relating to lot reuse, home rehabilitation, sustainable transportation and water.


Step 1: Education and demonstration on abandoned lots and community input

Pending city approval, Engineers for a Sustainable World would like to help develop and maintain a series of abandoned lots to demonstrate and apply environmental design techniques that relate to soil quality, water and energy. We have also been asked to support a community group design a home.

It is our intention to be involved with all of the first tier projects in September 2009.

The following concept is not ours, but the initiative of several community groups, schools and businesses interested in seeing Buffalo become a more civically engaged and environmentally sustainable city.

LURE - Laboratories for Urban Revitalization and Education

LURE’s Ecolots are intended to revitalize abandoned neighborhoods and ecosystems on the East Side of Buffalo through community service days, and sustained educational programs.

These projects include:
- phyto- remediation
- rain water catchment for household use and bio- retention pits
- soil testing and analysis
- community gardens
-community composting and recycling
- greenhouse and cold frame construction





Our top choices for the Fall:

1) Curtis Street approach: Our activities are intended to encourage the redevelopment of this neighborhood for residential and light industrial uses based on the street grid as well as draw attention to the area surrounding the Central Terminal.

-111 Memorial- Already partially developed- future design to include low maintenance but visible wild flowers
-102 Memorial- Corner signature garden

City Action requested: Lease of property pending alternative plans for construction

Organizations involved: Premium Services landscapers, CUFF, Central Terminal Restoration Corp., Grassroots Gardens

Financing: CUFF and In Kind from Premium Services detailed estimate from Premium Services between $1500 and $2500

2) Wilson St. agricultural corridor- Our activities are intended to support projects that increase access to local healthy food at the Broadway market and supplying resources for urban agriculture projects in the neighborhood.

North of Stevens plot:
- 422 Wilson St.
- 420
- 418
- 414
- 412
- 408
- 406
- Exclude 404 (vacant home)
City Action Requested: Lease property to CUFF

Proposed land use described in detail in annex: Composting, hoop house and education

Financing: Engineers for a Sustainable World and Environmental Network Funds

4) Clark Street lots:
- Series from and including the South East corner at Peckham moving North until 99 Clark

City Action Requested: Lease property to CUFF

Intended Land use: Demonstration of rain water catchment and urban agriculture for Nardin, UB, Riverkeepers and Daemen Groups.

Financing: provided by CUFF estimated at $1300 for plants and materials.




Future collaboration: Sears St. Green Corridor (especially South of Lombard St. block club’s project) and Sycamore St. Green Corridor


Support:

There are two organizations we consider our primary partners:

- The Curtis Street Urban Farm Foundation (CUFF): CUFF’s mission is to providing resources and educational programs that relate to entrepreneurship and urban agriculture on the East Side. Focus areas include: Greenhouse, raised bed and composting design, soil testing and assistance with educational programs.
- We Care/ None Like You: We Care has been involved in the improvement of Sycamore through community gardens and their environmental garden walk. We would like to assist in their Environmental Housing Initiative and work on several lots near Sycamore Avenue.

Collaborations:

-Nardin Academy science teacher Joy Africano: teacher/ guide and 5 year plan for education program
- New York State Agricultural Working Group (NYSAWG): Marketing and event coordination
- Grassroots Gardens: insurance of property
- Buffalo Museum of Science: Environmental House Leadership and educational advisement
- University at Buffalo Environmental Network: environmental house design and volunteer work
- Daemen College: volunteer work to start
- Buffalo Niagara River Keepers: Educational advisement
- Premium Services: landscaping design
- Science First Hands: Living Labs use/ volunteer work
- Grant donors (CSX railroads to start)
- Wellness Institute at the City of Buffalo: Establishing and measuring smart growth and sustainability indicators (the city’s stated vision for 2030).