Major Renovations Began On Chippewa Street Today

Buffalo's entertainment district is getting a major facelift this week.

According to WGRZ, work on the $8 million renovation project on Chippewa Street in downtown Buffalo will begin today.

Chippewa Street will close to cars between South Elmwood and Franklin starting at 7 a.m. April 5th as the work gets started. Work will start on Franklin on April 12th between Court and Huron streets, but it will stay open for drivers.

Mayor Bryon Brown made the announcement of the renovation project this past Friday stating that the city is working with local businesses to continue outdoor dining and activity options that were held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project will expand the sidewalks around the area and add more lighting options to allow local businesses to have more outdoor dining options.

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During the Buffalo Bills playoff run last season, the city worked with local businesses to offer outdoor dining that followed the state's COVID-19 guidelines. A part of Chippewa Street was shut down to allow businesses to place tables out in the street to maintain social distancing guidelines. Both times the outdoor dining event was sold out which lead to the idea for the current project.

The Chippewa Street renovations are expected to be completed by the end of 2021 or early 2022. Then work on Court Street will begin. These projects are just the beginning of several different projects the city is planning on completing over the next year or so.

As the City of Buffalo and Western New York transition out of Pandemic life, Mayor Brown is hoping that people will continue to enjoy outdoor dining activities in the downtown area.