Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As he pledged during his Democratic Party primary race, State Sen. Sean Ryan said if he is elected mayor, he has a multi-phased game plan to help revive downtown Buffalo.
"It needs some help," Ryan said.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, downtown Buffalo has seen more than 20,000 daily office workers continue to work at home or off-site locations rather than in the central business district.
That has resulted in some building owners seeing almost Draconian drops in office occupancy and support entities such as restaurants and retail storefronts close.
For his part, Ryan said it will take incremental steps to help downtown regain its development swagger and mojo.
"There is no magic wand," Ryan said.
Ryan's plan includes:
- Rebuilding Main Street with new sidewalks, repairing streets and infrastructure.
- Create more festivals and special events to bring people back downtown during nights and weekends.
- Turn empty lots into new developments include housing options, new businesses and public spaces.
- Create a Buffalo City Hall liason to small businesses to help walk them through the approval process and also create a micro-loan program for local entrepreneurs.
- Better connect downtown and the central business district with city neighborhoods.
"It won't be easy but I am committed to turning downtown around," Ryan said.
Ryan is facing endorsed Republican candidate James Gardner, a local attorney, and Michael Gainer, who is running as an Independent in the Nov. 4 general election.