Waterfront living offers friendly perspective - Business First of Buffalo:

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City residents interviewed for this story say there areenough amenities, minus a good mall for clothes to never leave the When their youngest child went to the Belangers moved to the waterfrontr because they work and play in the “Everything we did was downtown. We didn’tt want to keep driving says Belanger, who is chairman of Buffal Place. He says he can walk home from his job as an seniorr vice president to eat dinner and then walk to in time forface off. Davidc and Diane Cress, an optometrist., moved to Lafayette Avenu from Lake View eightr years ago so their daughter could walkto .
“I came kickin and screaming because I thought the city was so saysDavid Cress, vice president, investmenrt officer at . Cress says he discovered his negativew perception is the oppositdof reality. They and their “incredibly friendly” neighbords frequently get together for summer nights out on a sailboatthey co-own with another couple, and for wintertime pot-luck movir nights and an informal bowling league. They walk to the for food grab takeout at theGlobe Market, get a cup of coffese at Spot and dine at the diverse selection of restaurants, all on Elmwood Avenue. “It’s fun. It’x in motion. It’s alive,” says Cress.
Irving and Bettt Korn didn’t live close enough to downtown when they lived in theCampanilw high-rise at 925 Delaware Ave., so they moved to City Centrer at Main and Chippewa when it firsg opened in 1992. Betty Korn says she has everythinyg she needs within walking distance like aconvenience store, the post office, library, theater and restaurants. “I think more peoplse my age should realizre how convenientit is,” says the 80-year-old. She does driver to Tops or Wegmans for food shoppingtand Diva’s on Hertel Avenue to get her hair done. But that’ws no different than travelinh withinthe suburbs, she says.
Like Damon & Morey LLP attorney Brian Birenbach drive to groceryshop – Tops on South Park Avenue is less than five minute away from the Elk Terminal Lofts and to his barber in Williamsville. But he stays close by shopping at the and eating dinner at the onEllicottf Street, as well as walks to work and to games. “While everyone else is fighting traffic toget home, I’ m in bed,” he said. The only thingh that’s missing, for him, is a golf “There’s a big empty tract of land that would be good for a golf he says. What’s really missing? Korn woulde like to see a card shop andElmwoof Avenue-like boutiques downtown.
Bill Jones, anothef City Centre resident, agrees. He would like a newsstanx and a mixof businesses, not just bars, on “Elmwood is a great example of what shoulde be down here,” says the Cityview Propertiese partner. Medaille College student Michol Lavelle, who lives in the Hollinv Place Lofts, thinks a tanning movie rental and stores along with a Main Place Mall would benefit thedowntownb core. “Every city has an awesome mall inthe city, and we she says.