How I Know Buffalo is on the Rise!

1.) The Housing Market
The city of Buffalo can't keep a house up for sale for more than a week.  People are knocking on doors and writing letters, asking to purchase homes that aren't even on the market.  Houses are selling for beyond the asking price. Even complete disaster zones are selling and being renovated into beautiful homes.

And rentals are seeing an all time high.  Rents in the new loft spaces are going for $1800 or more.

2.) Areas That Were Once Avoided are Flourishing
Black Rock has a huge art and restaurant scene.  The Westside is a hot spot for culture and art. The Old First Ward and Canalside have so many investors.  People are truly turning neighborhoods around....and at a fast pace!

3.)Our city is comparable to the BIG cities
At 18, I moved to the west coast. The whole time I was in Los Angeles, I kept thinking "If only Buffalo could have this....if only Buffalo did that."  I have been home 6 years now, and the transformation is unbelievable.  Now, if only Los Angeles can have what we have!

Trader Joes was my regular grocery store in LA....I am grateful to have them in Buffalo now so I can eat mochi ice cream every day.  I remember going to a hookah bar and thinking "wow, what a unique venue - Buffalo should get one."  Now we have a few.  I would go to comedy clubs and think, "what a simple concept." Welcome Helium.  There was such a diverse selection of foods in Los Angeles.  Well, Buffalo is definitely not far behind.  Since I have been home, I have tried: Lucy's Ethiopian Food, Kalypso's Carribean food, Pure Peru buffet, Saigon Bangkok for Thai, The Balkan for Turkish food....and more.  I attended open art shows in Los Angeles, where there would be food and drinks for the public.  Main Street Studios and 464 in Black Rock have similar events.  I no longer feel a cultural void living back in Buffalo.

4.) Medical Corridor
20,000 jobs projected in the next few years!  As recently reported in the Buffalo News - that's comparable to the amount of jobs provided by Bethlehem Steel when Buffalo was at it's high point.

5.) Preservation Efforts
The 2011 National Preservation conference was held right here in Buffalo.  We are seeing people bring old buildings back to life.  They are being converted to lofts, galleries, businesses, apartments. Theaters are coming back to their original glamour....North Park, for example.

6.) Population
For many decades, Buffalo's population dwindled.  People were leaving for jobs or more wealthy cities.  Since 2012, Buffalo is officially GROWING!  We even made the top 50 populated US metro areas.

7.) Buffalo Steel is No Longer a Thing of the Past
Buffalo's strongest era was connected to steel.  Many people believed that the closing of Bethlehem Steel was the end of the industry.  But, we are seeing the return to steel production: Niagara Metals, Welded Tube, Gibraltar and rumor of more to come (Nova Steel & Alita).

8.) BuffaLOVE Pride
You can't deny the tremendous amount of pride people have for this city.  Buffalonians are proud of our past, present, and future.  We have events such as Citybration and Buffalove Fest.  Any gathering you are at, I guarantee the topic of "Buffalo is really on the rise" will come up.

9.) Canada Seems to Like Us Now
We were picked on for many years by Canada....most notably as "Barfalo."  Well, not any more.  Even our friends from the North have shown their appreciation for Buffalo in recent years.  We have read articles by Canadian authors, praising our: revitalization, good food, and hospitality.

10.) Sports
Who am I kidding?  We aren't "on the rise" yet in Buffalo sports.  But we still love them!  And yes...we will continue to boycott Bon Jovi until he leaves us alone!