Elmwood Village Named One of 10 Great Neighborhoods in America

October 2, 2007

Elmwood Village Named One of 10 Great Neighborhoods in America

BUFFALO, NY — The American Planning Association (APA) announced today that the Elmwood Village, located in Buffalo, New York, has been designated as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2007 through APA's Great Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.

"I applaud the hard work of the Elmwood Village Association and the Office of Strategic Planning for their hard work on this project," said Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown. "The residents of Western New York know what an asset the Elmwood Village is, and now the rest of the country can see it as well."

"We're honored that Elmwood Village is one of a select few neighborhoods in the country to be singled out by APA," said Christine Pyne, Elmwood Village Association president. "The residents and community leaders deserve enormous credit for supporting the economic and cultural vitality of this unique neighborhood."

APA selected Elmwood Village as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods in American because it is a thriving testament to the spirit and commitment of its residents. Their civic pride and dedication, combined with the centuries-old vision for their neighborhood, sustain the community's unique characteristics.

APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work everyday. America's truly great neighborhoods are defined by many unique criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement. Through Great Places in America, APA recognizes the unique and authentic attributes of essential building blocks of great communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces.

"One of the most important traits about Elmwood Village is its broad spectrum of cultural and social assets," said APA Executive Director Paul Farmer, FAICP. "We commend the neighborhood and City of Buffalo for its commitment to maintaining high community standards while solving real problems."

The mixed-use Elmwood Village dates back to Joseph Ellicott's 1804 plan for the City of Buffalo. Among the neighborhood's still intact gems from the 19th Century are examples from landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Besides the William Heath House designed by Wright, other noteworthy buildings within the neighborhood's borders are the modernist Kleinhan's Music Hall, designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen, and E.B. Green's Greek-revival Albright Knox Art Gallery. The gallery contains one of the country's best collections of modern art.

A prosperous commercial district, with more than 200 shops and restaurants, extends primarily along Elmwood Avenue. Intelligent street design and management have enhanced the visibility of local shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues to pedestrians and foot traffic, a major source of business for retailers located here. Further adding to Elmwood Village's diversity and vibrancy are four large colleges and universities.

Leading efforts to encourage an economic and cultural renaissance in the neighborhood is the nonprofit community group, The Elmwood Village Association, which was formed in 1994. With membership drawn from both the business and residential sectors, the organization used planning to reclaim the neighborhood's former vitality.

The association also is helping make the neighborhood attractive and comfortable to pedestrians by establishing design guidelines for the area to ensure new development does not detract from the neighborhood's existing architecture and character.

The nine other APA Great Neighborhoods for 2007 are Chatham Village, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Eastern Market Neighborhood, Washington, D.C.; First Addition Neighborhood, Lake Oswego, Oregon; Hillcrest, San Diego, California; North Beach, San Francisco, California; Old West Austin, Austin, Texas; Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York; Pike Place Market Neighborhood, Seattle, Washington; and West Urbana, Urbana, Illinois.