Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In
Streetsblog USA

Buffalo May Turn Parking Craters into Neighborhoods

A vision for redeveloping the parking lots at Keybank Center, where the Buffalo Sabres play. Photos: Fred Frank

Five transit-rich acres south of downtown Buffalo could be transformed from a 700-space parking lot for the Buffalo Sabres into a new neighborhood.

As Buffalo gears up for an extension of its 6.5-mile light rail system, the Nickel City is eyeing the Keybank Center parking lots — and how they can be turned into places for people again.

Buffalo is planning to extend its light rail 6.5 miles. Map: Fred Frank
Buffalo is planning to extend its light rail 6.5 miles. Map: Fred Frank
false

The Sabres' development is only conceptual, but the team's ownership controls the land, and has begun investing in, and developing, real estate, said Fred Frank, whose engineering firm, WSP, has been retained by Buffalo as a consultant. Hundreds of units of new walkable development, directly on the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority rail line, are part of a conceptual plan the city developed for the site [PDF].

Here's one example:

Screen Shot 2018-10-22 at 12.26.49 PM
Boulevard Mall, current status.
false
Boulevard Mall site, rail-oriented redevelopment concept. graphic via Fred Frank
Boulevard Mall site, rail-oriented redevelopment concept. graphic via Fred Frank
false

The Boulevard Mall in Amherst, an inner-ring suburb, is going through foreclosure. Buffalo planners are trying to help neighbors envision how it could be a transit-oriented neighborhood as the light rail extends north from the University of Buffalo. The new light rail line could actually run through the mall property.

"We’re trying to influence a new owner to … really think about how you could influence that whole site to be transit-oriented," said Frank, who presented some of this information at the Railvolution conference  this week in Pittsburgh.

Here's another proposal for a barely used park-and-ride station, the LaSalle Station. Before...

lasalle before
false

And after...

LeSalle Station, conceptual redevelopment. Image via Fred Frank
LaSalle Station, conceptual redevelopment. Image via Fred Frank
false

This park-and-ride station is owned by the city of Buffalo and the transit agency, NFTA. And it's barely used, just about five miles from downtown.

The transit agency, having already been approached by developers, is preparing to release a request for proposals for development on the site. The conceptual drawings, above, show a scheme for residential development with ground floor retail.

"Our goal was to inspire the community to get behind those," said Frank. "I think it is really inspired."

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Give Input on Metro Sepulveda Rail Plan to connect Valley and Westside

Metro is still deciding between some low-performing monorail alternatives and some high-performing heavy rail alternatives. What do you want to see?

July 10, 2025

Whittier Councilmember Fernando Dutra Is New Metro Board Chair

Board Chair Dutra: "[Metro is] not just a train and a bus company. We also manage projects on the freeways... Our projects along the 5, the 605, 91, and 105 Freeway are very very important... I'll be focusing on making sure we keep our freeways moving freely."

July 9, 2025

Covina Residents Call on City for Protections from Immigration Raids

Community members took to city council to share their frustrations and demands.

July 8, 2025
See all posts