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Buffalo neighborhoods
West Side & Front Park, Buffalo
The West Side runs from downtown up along the Niagara River and Richmond Avenue, and it's where a lot of our recent deals have been, including a five-bedroom on Massachusetts Ave and a four-bedroom on Normal Ave that both closed this fall.
The neighborhood
Front Park sits at the foot of the Peace Bridge. It's one of the parks Frederick Law Olmsted designed for Buffalo, and the views across the river to Canada are hard to beat. Around it you've got Prospect Hill, the Columbus Park area, the Grant Street corridor and the blocks near Buffalo State.
It's one of the most diverse parts of the city, with restaurants and markets from all over the world on Grant and Niagara Streets.
What the housing looks like
Big old houses and a lot of Buffalo doubles, many of them built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some have been completely renovated, some haven't been touched in decades, and they're often on the same block. That range is why the West Side works for both first-time buyers and investors.
What I'd check
- Heating systems, especially older boilers in the bigger houses.
- Lead paint in anything built before 1978, which is almost everything here, and especially if you plan to rent.
- Porches and roofs. Two-story front porches are beautiful and expensive to rebuild.
- Parking. Plenty of West Side houses don't have a driveway, so know what you're getting.
Written by James Wangelin, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker, eXp Realty · About me
Questions we get a lot
West Side & Front Park questions
Is the West Side of Buffalo a good place to buy?
It's one of the most active parts of the city right now, with a lot of renovation going on. You get older, larger houses for the money, and you're close to the river, downtown and Elmwood.
What is Front Park?
An Olmsted-designed park on the Niagara River at the foot of the Peace Bridge, on Buffalo's West Side.
Are there good investment properties on the West Side?
Yes. Doubles are common and rent well. Prices have climbed, so be careful with the numbers and budget honestly for older systems.
Thinking about West Side & Front Park?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll send you what's available.