Park Addition Existing Conditions The third issue identified is the unutilized vacant property on the corner of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Kenmore Avenue, a busy intersection at the southern start of our site area. This 0.5 acre gravel lot sits on the intersection where the municipalities (Town of Amherst, Town of Tonawanda, and City of Buffalo) meet. The owner of the lot, United Refining Co. from Pennsylvania, had no proposed plan for their property and left it as an empty gravel lot for almost 20 years. Because of this the Town of Amherst ceasing the property using eminent domain. Currently, the town of Amherst appraised 159 Niagara Falls Boulevard at a little over $80,000, but the owner was not pleased with this offer and appealed to the NYS Court of Appeals.
When ceasing the property, the Town of Amherst proposed that the vacant lot should be converted into a small town park that could serve as a location for a weekly farmers market. Our design concept for this empty lot is in line with preliminary plan of Amhert to convert it into a small park. This popular intersection provides a great location for a pocket park because it extremely accessible and beneficial to many different users. Additional green space in this area would provide the neighborhood with a space for gathering, socializing, and recreation, which in turn could improve the health and wellbeing of the surrounding community. The park would provide a natural environment that commuters can enjoy, either people waiting for the bus at the intersection or students who would like a place to rest when biking from UB South Campus towards the Boulevard Mall area. It could also benefit local businesses by providing a location where local employees can go to enjoy their lunch outside and where events can be held, like farmers markets, small concerts, and flea markets. The purpose of this open, interactive green space plan would ultimately be to encourage all of the different groups within the area to go outside, interact, and build community.
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NIAGARA FALLS BOULEV ARD
Redesign
KENMORE AVENUE
