Town Hall Meeting Frank E Merriweather Library Tuesday

Town Hall Meeting Frank E. Merriweather Library Tuesday October 6, 2015 Buffalo, NY roccbuffalo. org

Mission POSSIBLE! Other Cities have built Green Parkways over Highways Jim Ellis Freeway Park (est. 1976) Seattle, WA Margaret Hance Park (est. 1992) Phoenix, AZ Klyde Warren Park (est. 2012) Dallas, TX

Jim Ellis Freeway Park (Seattle, WA) Established July 4, 1976 Cost $118 million when proposed in 1968 (which equals $1. 2 billion today) Publically funded “Forward Thrust” helped initiate many civil and environmental projects in Seattle. 5 acres over I-5 in Downtown Seattle Maintained by Freeway Park Neighborhood Association (FPNA) since 2005. Re-named in 2010 after Seattle lawyer Jim Ellis, who helped initiate “Forward Thrust”.

Margaret T. Hance Park (Phoenix, AZ) Established April 10, 1992 Cost $105 million when formally proposed in 1983 (which is $251 million today) Funded by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) 32 acres over the Papago Freeway (I-10) in Downtown Phoenix Named in memory of Phoenix mayor Margaret T. Hance, who championed the park plan through the 1980 s. Park and activities maintained by Hance Park Conservancy

Klyde Warren Park (Dallas, TX) Established September 12, 2012 Cost $110 million when proposed in 2002 (which is $142. 5 million today) Funding primarily from public; part from 2009 stimulus package 5 acres over Woodall Rodgers Freeway (Spur 366) in Downtown Dallas Proposal spearheaded by Dallas philanthropists; received full support of the public and Texas DOT. Named after the son of Texas billionare, Kelcy Warren. * Was built “out of thin air”; no historic or cultural precedent!

Other Examples Leif Erikson Tunnel – Duluth, MN Brooklyn Heights Promenade – New York City, NY (est. 1950) Lytle Park Cincinnati, OH (est. 1967) East Reflecting Pool – Washington, DC (1973) Gateway Park – Arlington, VA (est. 1981) Leif Erikson Park – Duluth, MN (est. 1992) Rose Kennedy Greenway (aka Big Dig) – Boston, MA (est. 2007) Deck Park over I-70 East - Denver, CO (pending)

Freeway Capping vs. Freeway Removal Capping (or decking) creates a tunnel by placing a green promenade over a portion of a freeway This is the plan supported by ROCC for Humboldt Parkway Will restore a portion of original Olmstedian parkway 14. 5 acres between East Ferry and Best Streets Will improve quality of life for Buffalo residents. Higher property values Improved air quality Less noise from rush hour traffic Renewed commercial investments for Jefferson and Fillmore Avenues Safe place for people to congregate Quality of Life Comparisons: Bidwell and Chapin Parkways on West Side Lytle Park – Cincinnati, OH

Freeway Capping vs. Freeway Removal Proposal for Kensington Expressway

Freeway Capping vs. Freeway Removal Robert Moses Parkway – Niagara Falls, NY Removal completely removes freeway, by means of burial or reclassification Robert Moses Parkway removal in Niagara Falls. Inner Loop East removal in Rochester. Road reclassification (from Principal Arterial Expressway to Minor Urban Arterial) sought for Scajaquada. Repeat: We do NOT want to take away the Kensington Expressway Contains only existing transit link between downtown and the airport However. . .

Things to Remember Kensington Expressway cost $45 million when approved in 1954. Equals $400 million today that we’re still losing! Construction of whole 10 -mile expressway lasted from 1957 to 1970! Built in phases Created safety problems for both neighbors and motorists Took longer than the 427 -mile NYS Thruway (1946 -1956). Walls undergoing deterioration that will have to be addressed anyway Widely regarded as one of Buffalo’s biggest mistakes! 1954 Buffalo News article, courtesy of the Buffalo History Museum

The Reality Each example cost money. Intelligent spending = Investment $570 million Investment = $1 billion Profit = Bringing money back into our neighborhoods. Many success stories came from initiatives taken from communities at large. We want to take advantage of redevelopment around Buffalo We do NOT want to fall behind again. We CANNOT starve out the conversation! We Buffalonians must take control of our own neighborhoods!

What YOU Can Do! Contact the NYSDOT! Sign our petition. Darrell F. Kaminski or Craig Mozrall Tell your neighbors. Mail: 100 Seneca Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 Ask families and friends from other cities with similar plans. Visit our webpage Phone: (716) 847 -3238 Contact your local officials <roccbuffalo. org> Councilmember Mayor Brown Assemblymember State Senator Governor and Lt. Governor Congressional Representative Senator State Assembly Transit Committee Tell them you support this plan! Like us on Facebook and/or Twitter #IRemember, #Restore. Humboldt, #ROCCBuffalo