Buffalo Avenue Heritage District Revitalization Strategy August, 2009 Prepared for: Prepared by: USA Niagara City of Development Niagara Falls Corporation REVITALIZATION STRATEGY TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ v Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1 WHY BUFFALO AVENUE? ITS HERITAGE ............................................................................................................................. 2 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3 GUIDING PRINCIPLES ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 ISSUES FACING THE DISTRICT ............................................................................................................................................ 6 The Vision ........................................................................................................................................... 8 20-YEAR ILLUSTRATIVE SITE PLAN .............................................................................................................. 9 Elements of the Vision ....................................................................................................................... 11 DISTRICT CHARACTER AND AMBIENCE ........................................................................................................................... 12 ▪ DISTRICT THEME ............................................................................................................................................................... 12 ▪ HERITAGE TOURISM .......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Cultural Interpretation .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 District Branding ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Interpretive Elements ............................................................................................................................................................... 15 Tourist Infrastructure ............................................................................................................................................................... 15 ▪ HISTORIC DESIGNATION ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 State and National Register ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 Individual Nominations ............................................................................................................................................................ 18 Local Historic Designation ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 ▪ AUTHENTIC MATERIALS ..................................................................................................................................................... 20 Structure Relocation ................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Structure Deconstruction ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 ▪ NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP ................................................................................................................................................... 21 STREETSCAPE CHARACTERISTICS ................................................................................................................................... 22 ▪ CIRCULATION .................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Circulation Plan ....................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Paths/Trails .............................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Roundabouts ........................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Gateway Treatments ............................................................................................................................................................... 25 i BUFFALO AVENUE HERITAGE DISTRICT Alley System ............................................................................................................................................................................ 26 Private Roads .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 ▪ STREET CONFIGURATION .................................................................................................................................................... 28 ▪ STREETSCAPE ELEMENTS .................................................................................................................................................... 30 ▪ STREETSCAPE DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 31 ▪ STREETSCAPE COST ESTIMATES .......................................................................................................................................... 32 ▪ STREETSCAPE PHASING ...................................................................................................................................................... 32 ▪ POTENTIAL STREETSCAPE FUNDING SOURCES ..................................................................................................................... 34 DEVELOPMENT PATTERN .................................................................................................................................................... 36 ▪ HISTORIC .......................................................................................................................................................................... 36 ▪ EXISTING ........................................................................................................................................................................... 38 ▪ FUTURE ............................................................................................................................................................................. 40 ▪ DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS ................................................................................................................................................. 42 ▪ LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT—RAINBOW BOULEVARD ......................................................................................................... 44 ▪ ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STANDARDS ................................................................................................................................. 45 ▪ FINANCIAL ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................................................................... 46 ▪ TARGETED FINANCIAL INCENTIVES ....................................................................................................................................... 48 Proposed Technical Assistance Program ............................................................................................................................... 48 Proposed Permit Fee Program ................................................................................................................................................ 49 Proposed Exterior Improvement Program ............................................................................................................................... 49 Proposed Micro-Grant Program .............................................................................................................................................. 50 Property Tax Abatements ........................................................................................................................................................ 50 ▪ IMPACT OF INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ....................................................................................................................................... 51 ▪ ADDRESSING VACANT PARCELS .........................................................................................................................................