Moving to buffalo - anyone familiar with the area?

[inspectoring]

Hello my fellow members - I will soon be moving to Buffalo area with my family in 2010. I really don't have a clue as to where to move to and I am looking for some advice.

I will be working in ECMC medical center. What are the closest and SAFEST neighborhoods?
What are the gas prices like?

Do I need to buy and SUV?
Do they clean up the snow fast?
How long is the typical winter?
Where can I find the best buffalo wings?
Do I rent or buy ( I will be there for 3 years only) ?
Thank you guys...

 

[trumpetchris]

Well, I was just in Buffalo for the first time about 3 weeks ago for a wedding. It's summertime, so fortunately no snow. I was there the first week of August and the warmest it got was 76 degrees all week.

Anchor Bar and Duffs are the 2 rockin wing places in town. (Invented at Anchor bar). Also, get yourself some red hots (aka hot dogs) in Buffalo.

 

[Nadir M]

I wouldn't know the first thing about Buffalo, since I've never lived there. However, I'd like to congratulate you on your new journey in life!

 

[mbrooks]

I'm not from Buffalo, but I can help you with a couple of the questions.

Gas prices - see www.buffalogasprices.com. If you're not familiar with particular neighborhoods, the page also shows averages, which you can compare to your current city.
SUV - They help a little bit in the snow, but not as much as people think. A good snow driving style will help a whole lot more than any SUV, so if you don't have one, it might not be worth buying one. But if you do, always remember Rule #1 about 4WD: it will help you get rolling, but it will not help you stop. The reason you see so many of them in ditches is it gives those who don't know any better a false sense of security.

I don't intend to insult your intelligence with the last comment; I just spent the last five years living in the mountains and that was by far the most common mistake I saw people make. The most memorable example was the time I told a guy not to go down an icy hill. He said, "I have four-wheel drive, I'll be fine," and took off. Fifteen seconds later, his brand-new pickup went sideways into the heap of cars at the bottom of the hill and was totalled.

Edit: As for renting vs. buying, as an outsider I'd at least consider buying while there's still a presumed glut on the real estate market. It's starting to pick up again, and in three years' time you might be able to sell it for more than you paid. WNY was having a tough time of it before the recession, and I'm sure it hasn't done them any favors, so you might find some deals.

 

[Doc4]

You will be very close to Canada ... specifically the Niagra Peninsula. That's a great place to go for wine tasting tours.

(It's also a great place to visit historic parks celebrating our victories in the War of 1812 ... )

 

[inspectoring]

Yep - you guys are right...and thank you toxicbumps's !

mbrooks - thank you for your input.. I don't know a thing about SUV or minivans but given the nature of my work - I will have to get to work no matter what ! with that and one child - (and plans for a second) - I figured I might have to get something big as even the smallest trips with just one child would fill up my car. Also - I plan on driving once every month or two months to NJ - and that 7 hr drive may be very pleasant if I had a comfortable car...

 

[82R100]

Truthfully, assuming you have front wheel drive, I don't see the need to invest in an SUV. Buffalo region is not very hilly. They do get alot of snow but then they are well equipped to clear it. If you continue to be concerned, you could go for an AWD car. If you're going to be doing the long distance trips to NJ that often, you'll want something that gets reasonable mileage.

I guess a good compromise might be a small SUV like a CRV, Escape, Equinox, Forester, Rav4.

Summer weather is very pleasant and, believe it or not, the winters aren't as chillingly cold as the rest of upstate if you're near the lake.

Real estate should be pretty affordable (compared to NJ). I'm not familiar enough to recommend specific towns and neighborhoods though.

- Chris

 

[mretzloff]

I lived in Buffalo when I was little. I miss the freezing cold winters. Enjoy yourself!

 

[mk-ultra]

Oh, Buffalo, NY, not Buffalo, MN?

 

[djmike523]

I live in Buffalo!

 

[djmike523]

Oh...that last post wasn't helpful...just got a bit excited is all...I was born and raised in Buffalo...spent a bit of time in undergrad in NYC, currently at Michigan State for law school... cost of living is LOW -in Buffalo- compared to ....most all of the US...


You will not need an SUV, but at the same time don't drive around on bald tires in a geo metro...Good all season tires or snow tires are a must.


as for locations: the city itself -downtown- is starting to prosper nicely. the medical corridor is helping that


If you prefer suburbia, checkout: Lancaster, Amherst, Williamsville and Hamburg. All are within easy access to ECMC by way of the 33 expressway (or in the case of Hamburg, route 5). Amherst is routinely one of the safest cities in America and their school system is one of the best in the region. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1646782/top_25_safest_cities_in_the_united.html Williamsville is a distinct governmental entity, but it falls within the boarders of Amherst. same applies for standard of living. If you'd like to venture out farther, check out Clarence and Orchard Park.

Most rentals are in the city itself; I have rented in the city, but have no idea as to availability in the 'burbs.

Oh, and BTW, kudos on the expedient resale of the skinfood; I thought about it for a bit too long I guess

'Everyone' knows The Anchor Bar for their wings -they were the originators- but IMO, the BEST wings are at Duffs (located on Sheridan Dr. In Amherst)

 

[djmike523]

You will be very close to Canada ... specifically the Niagra Peninsula. That's a great place to go for wine tasting tours.

(It's also a great place to visit historic parks celebrating our victories in the War of 1812 ... )

+1 (and the Fenian Raids -local Irish in the pubs decided it would be best to attack British strongholds in Canada...wonder if it was before or after last call )

 

[82R100]

I live in Buffalo!

Thank goodness!

We thought you'd never get here!

 

[gollum83]

Do you need an SUV? No, you don't. It does not compensate for one's ability to drive in the snow, or lack thereof. And that ability is something that does take some practice if you've never driven in the snow, but basically you need to keep several things in mind. Namely that you can't stop on a dime on a snow covered road, that you need to adjust your speed to the conditions on the road, but also that you can go too slow in snow, and that you should let your vehicle's momentum help carry you around corners and curves.

And while I have no idea how well they keep the roads clear around the Buffalo area as I've never lived there, I would imagine they're pretty good about keeping them clean. I spent four years living in the Keewenaw Peninsula of Michigan, which on average gets about 100 more inches than they get over in Buffalo, and it snows almost every day in the middle of winter. And they plow every single day, sometimes around the clock. Anyway, my point is that if Buffalo is like that, and I have heard it can be during early winter, they'll know what to do to keep roads open.

 

[RobT.O.]

Guys, where do you get quality shaving gear in and around Buffalo?

 

[Prairiephotos]

Buffalo South Dakota or Buffalo Wyoming???

 

[chickpea]

Hello my fellow members - I will soon be moving to Buffalo area with my family in 2010. I really don't have a clue as to where to move to and I am looking for some advice.

I will be working in ECMC medical center. What are the closest and SAFEST neighborhoods?
What are the gas prices like?

Do I need to buy and SUV?
Do they clean up the snow fast?
How long is the typical winter?
Where can I find the best buffalo wings?
Do I rent or buy ( I will be there for 3 years only) ?
Thank you guys...

I haven't lived there for over ten years, but I spent the first 18 years of my life there. If you want my best advice for moving to Buffalo it would be: Don't.

For your questions:

Amherst is close enough to the 33 which will drop you off right at ECMC.

You do not need a SUV, a front wheel drive vehicle will do quite well.

It depends on the snow fall. 6" or less, will be cleaned up before the morning commute. 12" or more, may cause commuting delays, but will probably not close anything down. 12"+ will take 1-2 days to cleanup. Anything more than 24" in 48 hours is approaching record territory if memory serves.

I often remember in my childhood that end of April was always mild, a little chilly and the first of May it snowed, just to **** on your parade. It was never above 82 deg until June 1. So the winter is LONG.

According to the NYT calculator, almost no scenario in which you purchase a house for less than 10 years will have you coming out ahead in financial terms. Best bet is to rent.

 

[chickpea]

Oh...that last post wasn't helpful...just got a bit excited is all...I was born and raised in Buffalo...spent a bit of time in undergrad in NYC, currently at Michigan State for law school... cost of living is LOW -in Buffalo- compared to ....most all of the US...


You will not need an SUV, but at the same time don't drive around on bald tires in a geo metro...Good all season tires or snow tires are a must.


as for locations: the city itself -downtown- is starting to prosper nicely. the medical corridor is helping that


If you prefer suburbia, checkout: Lancaster, Amherst, Williamsville and Hamburg. All are within easy access to ECMC by way of the 33 expressway (or in the case of Hamburg, route 5). Amherst is routinely one of the safest cities in America and their school system is one of the best in the region. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1646782/top_25_safest_cities_in_the_united.html Williamsville is a distinct governmental entity, but it falls within the boarders of Amherst. same applies for standard of living. If you'd like to venture out farther, check out Clarence and Orchard Park.

Most rentals are in the city itself; I have rented in the city, but have no idea as to availability in the 'burbs.

Oh, and BTW, kudos on the expedient resale of the skinfood; I thought about it for a bit too long I guess

'Everyone' knows The Anchor Bar for their wings -they were the originators- but IMO, the BEST wings are at Duffs (located on Sheridan Dr. In Amherst)

Anchor Bar is closed. But Duffs was always better now that you reminded me.

+1 on all his advice up top. It's right on the money. Wasn't aware that Buffalo downtown was experiencing a revival, when I lived there (1996 and prior) it was the poster child of post-industrial decline and decay.

 

[chickpea]

Also, check out a "Beef on Wheck". Wheck is a type of bread roll which has fennel seeds and salt on it. Delicious. The best place for that is Charlie the Butcher on (IIRC) Wherle Road in Williamsville.

 

[Parataxis]

SUV - They help a little bit in the snow, but not as much as people think. A good snow driving style will help a whole lot more than any SUV, so if you don't have one, it might not be worth buying one. But if you do, always remember Rule #1 about 4WD: it will help you get rolling, but it will not help you stop. The reason you see so many of them in ditches is it gives those who don't know any better a false sense of security.

+1

I'd also highly recommend getting snow tires in the winter. They'll save your butt at least once a season, and save your all-seasons so you'll get more life out of them.

Best thing about Buffalo not yet mentioned, is the 95 minute drive to Toronto. Great city.