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Outer Harbor Vision Rev. C 25 March 2004 1

A Vision forThe Outer Harbor A Proposal for an Urban Village on Buffalo’s Waterfront

o f w e s t e r n n e w y o r k , i n c .

Not Just A Plan—A Vision

The New Millennium Group (NMG) welcomes this opportunity to provide

a vision for the City of Buffalo’s Outer Harbor. NMG, with a Western New

York membership of nearly 500 people, has consistently championed

an open and fair process for public projects. We seek to raise the level

of debate in critical issues affecting Buffalo and Western New York.

 We applaud the efforts of the NFTA to develop our waterfront, and

for soliciting community input as part of the process.

Some of the most cherished places in America are those created using

what is now called Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) or The NewUrbanism (NU). Some of our nation’s finest examples include the city of 

 Annapolis, MD, the Beacon Hill and Back Bay neighborhoods of Boston,

MA, and our own cherished Chautauqua Institution. Each of these

special places attracts throngs of tourists, residents, and businesses.

 All have endured the test of time because they adhere to fundamental

planning concepts essential to longevity and sustained vibrancy.

In recent years, TND/NU principles have precipitated a nationwide shift in

planning and development, with over 200 such developments underway

or complete in the U.S. Real estate in these developments often sells at a

premium when compared to conventional sprawl.

The inevitable results of short-sighted, piece-meal plans have been well

documented in the City of Buffalo. Given the location and scale of the project, thiswaterfront development has the potential to be a high-profile model for urban infill

projects nationwide. Therefore, NMG advocates a visionary long-term approach

to any waterfront development. A master-plan should be developed that sets

both high standards and clear ground rules in order to ensure lasting value.

A Fundamental Approach

For Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, NMG’s vision is relatively simple:

Create a compact, walkable, urban village adjacent to a linear park 

system—with access for all.

In order to accomplish this goal, the following six fundamental rules* must

be used to distinguish the “Outer Harbor Village” from the typical low-grade

development we’ve all become used to:

1. The center. The village must have a clearly identifiable center, focused

on the common activities of commerce, culture, recreation, and governance.

It must be a unique place to visit to engage in civilized activity.

2. The five-minute walk. A local resident should be no more

than a five-minute walk (or about ¼ mile) from the ordinary needs

of daily life: living, working, and shopping. By living so close to all

that they need, residents of the Outer Harbor Village will drive much

less, if they have to drive at all.

3. The street network. The street pattern must take the form of 

a continuous web or grid to make numerous connections from one

location to another. Blocks must be relatively small, not exceeding¼ mile in perimeter. A traditional street network provides the

pedestrian and the driver with a choice of routes, in contrast to

suburban-style development where walking routes are scarce and

traffic is concentrated on a small number of highways.

The good connectivity inherent in this network of streets should

be extended to the rest of the city by reconnecting three or four

Seaside, Florida (est. 1984). A paradigm of urban design. This waterfront community providesa balanced mix of housing, workplaces, shopping, and recreation, on a walkable, fine-grainednetwork of streets—with shared, public access to an undeveloped natural beach.

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario: popular and vibrant by design. Wide sidewalks, buildings with nosetback, landscaping, and a properly propor tioned streetscape combine to make a beautiful town. * Excerpted from Suburban Nation , by Duany, A., Plater-Zyberk, E., & Speck, J. (2000).

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Outer Harbor Vision Rev. C 25 March 2004 2

cross-streets in the existing city street network (such as Michigan

 Ave.) via new lift-bridges.

4. Narrow, versatile streets. Because there are numerous

streets to accommodate traffic, each street can be small and intimate.

Streets need not be more than two travel lanes wide and should have

parallel parking on both sides, resulting in a pleasant and safe place

to walk. The pedestrian-friendly environment is enhanced by wide

sidewalks, shade trees, and buildings close to the street.

5. Mixed-use. Buildings should be arranged by their physical

type rather than zoned by single use, as is often the case in post-

 WWII development. Buildings along a commercial street should

include a mix of retail, office, and apartments. Parking lots, if 

any, should be hidden below ground or in back. Buildings should

collaborate to define the space of the street by pulling right up

to the sidewalk. Any building set-back from the sidewalk should

be a rare exception, and should do so only to accommodate a

public plaza or garden.

6. Special sites for civic buildings. Traditional neighborhoods devote

unique sites to civic buildings—those structures that represent the collectiveidentity and aspirations of the

community. These may include

schools, places of worship,

libraries, police stations,

or museums. Their physical

locations should contribute to

their prominence.

Given the natural beauty

of the lakeside location,

attention should be given to the creation of vistas and views, utilizing the

natural topography, the streetscape, and impor tant civic buildings.

“Create a compact, walkable,urban village adjacentto a linear park system,

 with access for all.” 

Other access issues: The Outer Harbor Village and parks must be

connected to Downtown—the region’s transit hub. Frequent bus service,

or better yet, a new light-rail spur from Downtown would effectivelyconnect the Outer Harbor to the rest of the city

and the region, and lessen the need to drive to,

from, or through the neighborhood. Light-rail

service would give residents and visitors who

do not drive a viable transportation option.

Moreover, a traditional, compact village provides

the density, accessibility, and ridership needed to

make a light-rail line economically feasible.

TND/NU principles are inherently efficient—both

spatially and economically. By designing our waterfront community using

these principles, we’ll be creating a beautiful, thriving neighborhood

while maximizing parkland and natural beachfront. We’ll also maximize

the project’s economic investment.

Finally, it should be noted that the Outer Harbor Village, like any

successful TND/NU project, will never be “finished.” It should be a

changing, organic place—growing according to the basic principles

and form established in the long-term plan.

NMG strongly encourages the NFTA and its partners to solicit and give

consideration to developers with experience in Traditional Neighborhood

Design and/or The New Urbanism.

Contacts

 We hope you enjoyed reading this proposal. If you would like moreinformation, or would like to share your comments or suggestions,

please feel free to contact us using the information provided below.

Kentlands, Maryland (est. 1988). A masterpiece-in-progress. Front porches close to the street, orderlyrows of trees, and narrow residential streets encourage walking and sociability—and calm traffic.

Therese Hickok VP of Communications

P.O. Box 512Buffalo, New York 14201716.316.4159

www.nmgonline.org

Annapolis, Maryland: a ‘terminated vista’ in this beautiful old waterfront city. Traditionalstreet networks provide orientation through the celebration of significant civic buildings.

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