Industrial history and commercial revitalization on the Buffalo River
On the shores of the Buffalo River, the Valley is in the southeastern portion of the city. While the name ‘The Valley’ is not used in any city development plans, the term was probably coined sometime in the middle of the 20th century because of the infrastructure surrounding the neighborhood until the early 1990s. Today, while some factories have closed, new commercial spots have popped up, and The Valley is home to the city's oldest St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “There has been much revitalization down by the Riverfront, and we are starting to see it come to the Valley now,” says Kimberly Nameth, a licensed real estate salesperson with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, who has been in the Buffalo market for almost two decades. “While the revitalization is not all the way done, many community groups are focused in the area to help the residents."
Pockets of sidewalks and single-family homes
The Valley is known for its commercial nature, with warehouses and factories along the waterfront. The handful of residential streets are tight, and American four square homes and cottages sit on compact lots with little room between them. Street parking is a way of life, and while homes may have small backyards, the only thing that separates the front of the house from the street is a sidewalk and pathway. Buyers can expect a four-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage to sell for around $120,000, while a six-bedroom, two-bathroom American four squares will come for about $125,000. “The market is steady in the Valley, but it has definitely cooled over the last couple of years, and it takes a little time for properties to move,” Nameth says.
Most homes in Valley have a porch or sunroom on the street side.
There are several modestly sized homes in Valley.
The housing density in Valley allows for large yards.
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NFTA-Metro transit and I-190 commuting
The NFTA-Metro, Western New York’s Transportation Authority, operates three bus lines in the Valley. Residents can hop aboard the 14-Abbott, 18-Jefferson, and 42-Lackawanna lines to get around the city and the greater part of Buffalo. Closer to downtown, the NFTA-Metro runs a rail line from the KeyBank Center to Kenmore. Locals can easily access Interstate 190, an auxiliary highway connecting Buffalo to Canada just north of the Valley.
There are some bus lines in Valley offering short rides to downtown.
This aerial shows the amount of industrial sites in Valley.
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Attending Buffalo Public Schools
Children are zoned to attend Buffalo Public Schools, which scores a B-minus on Niche and serves more than 30,000 students. Like most New York State Public School Systems school districts, students must apply and test into schools instead of having neighborhood schools. Elementary Schools serve Grades K-8, and then high school is Grades 9-12. One potential schooling path is P.S. 33 - Bilingual Center, which scores a C-minus on Niche and is in the neighboring First Ward, and Emerson P.S. 302 - School of Hospitality, which is a C-plus on Niche and specializes in hospitality and culinary skills, located downtown.
Local businesses and essentials near the Valley
For weekly needs, residents can head to some small local grocery stores near the neighborhood, like the Seneca Deli or Clinton Express, or try the Tops Friendly Market, about a mile south. Housed in the Silos at Elk Street, which once served as a major producer of brewers malt that supplied barley across the northeast corridor, BriarBrothers Brewing Company is a popular microbrewery that brings in food trucks and has local events, like artisan markets and their annual fundraiser, Bricks and Brews.
Briar Brothers Brewing has transformed a silo into a patio with a stage.
Belt Line Brewery is a casual hang out that is open for lunch on weekends.
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Recreation and community services at Mutual Riverfront Park
With its location on the river, the Valley has multiple parks that draw locals from nearby. Mutual Riverfront Park is adjacent to the city’s historic “Elevator Alley” and offers picturesque views of a cluster of grain elevators that overlook the waters. Inside the park, locals can walk around the paved walking path to view multiple rain gardens and flowers or use the park as a launch point for kayaking on the river. There are two brick buildings at the park, with one being The Mutual Boat House, a replica of the historic Mutual Rowing Club that provides a facility for kayaks and canoes for rental. The other is home to the Valley Community Association, which offers neighborhood childcare, family support, and senior and youth services. Buffalo Riverfest Park is smaller and just three acres, which includes a band shell, boardwalk, covered wharf, and a banquet facility, Tewksbury Lodge.
The Steel Plant Museum is located within the Heritage Discovery Center.
Parades and industrial heritage
Put on by the Valley Community Association, The Old Neighborhood St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off every March 17 and features festivals, bands, Irish dancers and more. Residents can explore the steelmaking industry at the Steel Plant Museum, established in 1984. The museum features a collection from Bethlehem Steel’s Lackawanna plant, other artifacts from Republic Steel and Hanna Furnace, and documents that show union efforts to improve working conditions in the plants. The Valley is about 2 miles from downtown, so residents can quickly visit more museums or catch a Buffalo Sabers game or concert at the KeyBank Center downtown.
Valley Community Association services
Established in 1969, the Valley Community Association serves to help the community's needs. While it was initially founded to help the Valley residents only, today, it is open to all locals of the Buffalo River community and offers programs from childcare services to senior services.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Frank Zellner,
an experienced agent in this area.
Parks in this Area
Hillery Park
Basketball
Soccer
Playground
Houghton Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Bike Trails
Pierce Field at Mulroy Park
Soccer
Parking Lot
Multi-Purpose Field
Mutual Riverfront Park
Franczyk Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Playground
Tyler Likos Memorial Park
Playground
Multi-Purpose Field
Seneca Bluffs Natural Habitat Park
Transit
Airport
Buffalo Niagara International
21 min drive
Bus
South Park Ave & Lee St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Valley
US
Homicide
10
4
Sexual Assault
6
4
Assault with Weapon
9
4
Robbery
8
4
Burglary
9
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
7
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
49
Median Year Built
1900
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,249
Significantly below the national average
1,936
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,119
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
3,920
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood?
Reach out to
Frank Zellner,
an experienced agent in this area.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
146
Median Age
35
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
30.1%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
13%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$26,785
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$41,771
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
55.9%
Significantly below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
5.4%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.4%
% Population in Labor Force
41.2%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
40''
Average Winter Low Temperature
19°F
Average Summer High Temperature
80°F
Annual Snowfall
188''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
48/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
19/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
43/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
