Buffalo Poised for Success, Says Planner

Buffalo, NY urban planner Chris Hawley is excited about the possibilities for his city, explaining that the Rust Belt infrastructure already in place gives Buffalo a leg up over cities built later in history.

1 minute read

November 9, 2011, 10:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


Hawley is clearly excited. "You have no idea how how cool we are," he writes in this bullish op-ed, explaining that the era of post-industrial depression is on its way out and the city is poised for a sustainable future:

"Pretty soon, all those Sun Belt cities are going to wish they'd developed in the late 20th century the way Buffalo did in the early 20th century. Buffalo's mixed-use, compact neighborhoods are still here. We're reviving them one by one. And unlike the sprawling cities built for the car, Buffalo starts with traditional neighborhoods built for people."

"With a density of 6,436 people per square mile, Buffalo is more densely populated than Portland, Milwaukee, and Denver, all leading 'green' cities."

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