Horsefeathers Sale: Another Sign of Neighborhood Recovery | News

BUFFALO, N.Y.- In the mid 1980's, an exodus began from many parts of Buffalo's West Side. The neighborhood surrounding Connecticut Street saw many of its younger residents heading for the suburbs as crime and drug problems increased.

"The people in the neighborhoods just decided to bail. They didn't want to be here anymore because there was too much going on," says Joe Falzone, who lived off of Rhode Island Street, but left the city when he grew up. He is pleasantly surprised by what he sees happening in his old stomping grounds.

Investment is beginning to gain momentum along the one mile stretch of Connecticut Street. Architect Karl Frizlin just closed on a $460,000 purchase of the old Horsefeathers building at Connecticut and Normal. He is in the midst of a $3.5 million renovation project that will put a cafe/bistro and small stations of food preparers on the first floor with four stories of loft-style apartments above.

Over the past few years, with the continued expansion of the D'Youville College campus, there has been an influx of residents and businesses. A few new restaurants, and Asian market, a First Niagara Branch, all signs of rebirth of a neighborhood that has seen its share of transition.