Harlem-Kensington-Cleveland Economic Development Strategy

Economics Research Associates (ERA) was retained by the Towns of Amherst and Cheektowaga to create an economic development strategy for the Harlem-Kensington-Cleveland (HKC) Business District. The HKC Business District is a two-mile long strip that runs along Harlem Road, from the Kensington Expressway in Cheektowaga north to Saratoga Road in Amherst.

Over the past thirty years a number of forces, including regional economic stagnation, commercial growth in outer suburban locations, and a changing consumer base, have all combined to diminish the status of the HKC district. Today the area is faced with a number of interrelated issues.

Key issues that face the HKC district include:

1. Obsolete commercial spaces
2. Restricted land area for new development/redevelopment
3. Leakage of retail demand to newer commercial areas
4. Unsafe environment for pedestrians
5. Unattractive streetscaping
6. Traffic congestion and frequent accidents
7. Loss of identity and character
8. Aging population
9. Unmet housing needs for local residents

These issues formed the basis for this economic development strategy. Building on these challenges, ERA developed a six-phased approach to this project, as follows:

1. Existing Condition Analysis
2. Stakeholder Interviews
3. Market Analysis
4. Redevelopment Site Analysis
5. Implementation Plan
6. Dynamics of Redevelopment