OK, not literally on fire like it was in the 1960s (it wasn't just the Cuyahoga that burned), but the Buffalo River and surrounding neighborhoods are continuing to transition from nearly 2 centuries of being an industrial sewer to a popular mixed-use clean(er) industrial, residential, and recreational area.
Some recent photos (mostly recent) of the areas from the original First Ward of the city, consisting of the current
Old First Ward,
The Valley, Kelly Island, and the
Cobblestone District.
These neighborhoods are just southeast of Downtown, and extend on either side of the Buffalo River, which served as a major harbor, grain milling, and industrial area since the early 1800s. The Old First Ward saw its first Irish settlers in the 1820s during the building of the Erie Canal, and today remains a working class enclave of their descendants as the "original" Irish neighborhood in Buffalo.
Edward M. Cotter by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Cheerio by
bpawlik, on Flickr
River on Fire by
bpawlik, on Flickr
The Cobblestone District (named when the city cleared vacant industrial buildings and re-paved streets in cobblestone) is the area closest to Downtown, and is primarily and entertainment (and parking!) area that is continuing to add new venues.
Cobblestone Skyline by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Hofbrauhaus by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Lockhouse Distillery by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Bollard Corner by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Cobbled by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Be Happy by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Ballyhoo and Casino by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Seneca Buffalo Creek by
bpawlik, on Flickr
The Swannie by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Elk Terminal warehouse to apartment conversion by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Michigan Avenue looking towards Michigan lift bridge to Kelly Island.
Michigan Avenue by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Last Stop by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Kelly Island is the area between the Buffalo River and the City Ship Canal, and is historically been the location of Buffalo's grain storage and milling activities and other industries, which continues to this day. In the last few years many vacant facilities are being converted to recreational and residential.
Michigan Avenue lift bridge.
Tug New Jersey by
bpawlik, on Flickr
The Great Northern Elevator (1897) still in use by ADM.
Great Northern by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Ganson Street by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Why my city smells like Cheerios.
General Mills by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Unloading at General Mills from the City Ship Canal.
Mixed Use by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Riverworks is an ever-expanding restaurant, brewery, bar, sports, and entertainment venue created by re-use of vacant grain elevators on Kelly Island.
Riverworks 5 July by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Approach by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Zip by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Wheeler Elevator (1909) by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Riverworks Rinks by
bpawlik, on Flickr
MIA (Music Is Art) by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Up by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Riverworks Market Day by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Six Pack by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Ward View by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Ohio Street lift bridge. There are several new docks and launches being added all along the Buffalo River for recreational boating and kayaking.
Ohio Street by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Other businesses are popping up amidst the mixed industrial/recreational and soon-to-be-residential areas of Kelly Island.
Wonder Island by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Marine A by
bpawlik, on Flickr
England vs Denmark by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Quiet Afternoon by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Barkeep by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Several hundred apartments are currently being developed inside former grain mills and elevators in the area also called Silo City, part of the "Elevator Alley" on the Buffalo River side.
The Yard by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Perot by
bpawlik, on Flickr
American Malt House by
bpawlik, on Flickr
The Old First Ward was settled by Irish immigrants as early as the 1820s, and to this day remains an enclave of the Irish descendants, retaining its own separate and unique St. Patricks Day Parade and celebrations from the rest of the city.
The area is not so much gentrifying, as the old and orderly residential areas remain mostly the same, but the former industrial neighborhood has taken on a new life and role as residential, recreational, and entertainment is infilling where there were formerly dusty vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and inaccessible polluted shorelines. But it is still a great work-in-progress.
First Sign by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Less than 10 years ago Ohio Street was a crumbling industrial road, lined with empty fields and mainly abandoned buildings, but was reimagined as a bike and pedestrian friendly parkway to provide access to the Buffalo riverfront and the Outer Harbor beyond.
Heart of the City by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Chicago Street by
bpawlik, on Flickr
E.B. Holmes by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Distillery by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Scholastic Rowing Association by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Scholastic by
bpawlik, on Flickr
The Landing by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Landing by
bpawlik, on Flickr
"Elevator Alley" is a section of the Buffalo River that has maintained its dense wall of grain elevators and other buildings. For better or worse, it has been written that the grain elevators of Buffalo inspired Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and and Le Corbusier in the development of International Style of architecture.
Elevator Alley by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Mutual by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Louisiana Street by
bpawlik, on Flickr
South by
bpawlik, on Flickr
The Neighborhood by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Gene McCarthy's by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5072 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Undergrounds by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5233 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5229 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Mazurek's by
bpawlik, on Flickr
The Mechanic by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Hut by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5246 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5105 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5122 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5127 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5110 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Have a Seat by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5111 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5098 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5095 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5090 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5080 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Our Lady of the First Ward by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5101 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5102 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5103 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
IMG_5104 by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Renovations and conversions continue throughout the OFW, including conversion of the former Barcalounger factory into apartments.
Barcalo by
bpawlik, on Flickr
On the Waterfront by
bpawlik, on Flickr
The Valley neighborhood is adjacent to the Old First Ward, but was called the Valley due to being surrounded by elevated roads and railroad tracks. It was nearly wholly dirty industrial with a small residential area, and much of the industrial area has been cleaned up.
The Valley by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Former powerhouse of the Buffalo Color complex now converted to a mixed use office and event space. Areas adjacent have been converted to Medaille College sports complex and practice fields.
Powerhouse by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Former church and school, now converted to a unique arts complex and apartments.
St. Theresa Parish by
bpawlik, on Flickr
St. Theresa School by
bpawlik, on Flickr
Former Buffalo Malting Company now converted and used as offices and design center.
Buffalo Malting by
bpawlik, on Flickr
What was an inaccessible polluted industrial waterway until less than 10 years ago is now a clean and active recreational and industrial waterway undergoing a transition to a popular residential and recreational destination. It would be hard to find anyone who saw this coming, even when it started happening, and a lot more development is still in the works.
2 Tugs by
bpawlik, on Flickr