“The more downtown is broken up and interspersed with parking lots and garages, the duller and deader it becomes…and there is nothing more repellent than a dead downtown.” —Jane Jacobs, 1961

Washington Street, at the intersection of Genesee Street, is seen here in about 1935. Eighteen buildings with 33 ground-floor commercial spaces occupy a triangular block bounded by Genesee, Washington, East Chippewa, and Ellicott streets. On the left is St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church and the Chippewa Market, the center of the largest food complex the city has ever seen. The tracks of the Genesee streetcar are visible at the lower right.

At center, signs are visible for the Hammond Press, Red Jacket Press, Electric City Engraving Co., Buehl’s Arrowhead Store, Hersh Electric Co., Buffalo Bargain House paints and varnishes, Italian Garden restaurant, Frank W. Adolph tailors, and Williams Awning & Tent Co. This block, including Alaska Alley and Seward Alley that trisected it, was erased by 1975. A dense urban landscape was traded in for 114 parking spaces. The parking lot is owned by M&T Bank today.

Image courtesy of The Buffalo History Museum. Used by permission.