Though Buffalo is not as bustling of a city as, say, New York, the side walks are still pretty crowded. Here, though, they are filled not with people so much as things. Receptacles, boxes of all kinds, decorations, plants, and, of course in this technological age, machines, all cram themselves onto the pedestrian walkways in our city. Elmwood Avenue is no exception.
Patriotic symbols, most notably the American flag, have decorated streets in metropoleis and small towns alike for centuries. Machines such as the payphone, however, had not existed in any form prior to about 1850 when the telephone was first dreamed up. Telephones were probably kept indoors for many years and probably would not be located out on the street. With the inception of cell phones, pay phones will soon be rendered obsolete (as per the fate of the phone booth.)
Parking pay stations are another symbol of technological change in the street environment. Taking over the job of the defunct parking meters, these electronic enforcers are a recent development to an age-old idea: cities collecting money from their citizens.
Street signs have probably been around for centuries, along with decorative touches which attempt to beautify the urban landscape. Items such as the light post banner and its mini sculpture are artsy additions to the eclectic Elmwood ambiance, whereas the red Christmas bow is probably more true to decorations past.
Sidewalks aren't the only passageways that span the space between store and curb. Stairs invade the area in many forms; for reaching a cellar apartment and for fleeing from a burning building (or for dancing on if you're a
Rent fan.) I would hope fire escapes have been standard additions to street scenery since the skyscraper took hold!
Bus stop shelters are a welcome development for those frequenters of mass transit. Though they may have had ancestors in the streetcar/trolley era, these protective people receptacles probably haven't existed in any form for more than a century.
Patios, much like stairs, are an intrusion into the sidewalk's territory. Yet they are welcomed by many restaurant-goers (more likely in the summer than in the winter, at least in Buffalo). However, every little intrusion on someone else's property has to be accounted for, usually monetarily. Just ask those restaurant owners who put bleachers on their roofs overlooking Wrigley Field how much that accountability affects their accounts.
Benches have been in existence long before the bus stop shelter, but if I had to choose yesterday, I would go with modernity and not the cold. One fixture on Elmwood's landscape has been around longer than any of the buildings, signs, or boxes: Snow.
Mailboxes are a convenient addition to the urban landscape, except after 5PM when you've missed the last pick-up of the day. Graffiti has existed for centuries, but in other forms. Just think of how easy it is for someone to pick up a sharp stone or pocket knife and carve initials into a tree trunk. Newspaper boxes have replaced the paper boy standing on his soapbox selling the latest edition and yelling out the headlines.
That electronic crosswalk button renders obsolete the crossing guard. Just another example of how society is substituting technology for personal contact. Fire hydrants are a must, and probably are here to stay for quite some time. However, fire alarm boxes seem to be on their way out (once again due in large part to the cell phone). I heard in my home town they were being removed, but on Elmwood they're thriving, at least for now.
Bike racks are a site for sore eyes, whether they belong to anyone nostalgic for their youth or those who have gone green. They must have replaced the hitching post.
Book drop-boxes are welcome features of the urban landscape, especially those who aren't too busy to read but are too busy to go into the library.
While Elmwood seems to have a lot of street furniture, it is still missing a few items. There are no power lines hanging along the side of the road. In Stilgoe's opinion, Buffalo must be a "real city." Well, at least it is to someone. Yet one element of a real city that seems to be missing from the sidewalk is the stairway up from/down to the subway station. If only I had walked down Main St. I could have seen the train in action..
Dark brick, tudor details, well-maintained landscaping even in the dead of a Buffalo winter are exemplary of a house that screams money and class. The tree-lined street, appearance of a third story, and lantern-style light post add to its already evident "old money" vibe. Its corner location and spacious lot would convince me to buy, buy, buy, in a heartbeat (or at least make an offer) if I had the resources. One drawback: no attached garage. Another: I couldn't seem to even find the driveway.
