Published: October 29, 2009 11:28 pm      

ADAMCZYK: Of course we’re thrilled

For years, what sometimes seems like generations, I’ve occupied Friday’s Tonawanda News editorial page, a soft-punching cartoon above me, the fury of the common man below me and some opinions about one thing or another to the left and right. My regular theme is the Village of Kenmore, my hometown, and one would get the idea that I kinda like it here.

The American Planning Association, a professional group of urban planners, architects and similar people in the business of organizing space to suit the needs of its users, seems to concur. Its annual “10 Best Neighborhoods” in America award this year includes Kenmore.

I could have told them that.

Kenmore was included for its historic architecture, walkable design, accessibility, functionality, commitment of government officials and community involvement (no mention of its colossal liquor store), all that stuff its residents would rather keep secret and enjoy. The award is also something of a vindication of the citizens who communally run to the ramparts whenever the common good is threatened. Potentially losing the library or the post office, for example; threaten to rip away a vital social service and the people here behave like they live in one of America’s 10 best neighborhoods.

To be sure, snaring a national award such as this takes some work and a little campaigning. Next year there’ll be 10 other places that will win it and crow about it (Buffalo’s Elmwood Village was a recipient, several years ago). While winning this sort of exposure (and a plaque) definitely doesn’t hurt, it may not necessarily spur business development, increases in the value of real estate or a sudden immigration to Kenmore. Nonetheless, people, we have something enviable here, and it’s satisfying to know that an affinity group such as the APA, who know what to look for in a neighborhood, chose our little village. This was not a tourism or Chamber of Commerce initiative, it was an honor and an acknowledgement bestowed by a bunch of planning professionals.

The legwork was done by Fred Frank, a planner at Wendel Duchscherer Architects in Amherst, in his spare time. His resume makes him an expert in the joys of Kenmore, and includes Roosevelt Elementary, Kenmore Middle, Kenmore West, Buffalo State College and a little time out of town to study urban planning at the University of Tennessee. He’s also on the Village Planning Board and a member of the Kenmore Village Improvement Society.

“This started about a year ago,” he told me. “Kenmore fit the criteria — walkability, housing diversity, a business district, community facilities — and I’m an APA member, so I took a shot. We made the first cut, and I got help from the KVIS. Then we made the final cut, and I called Kathleen (Johnson, village clerk).”

Several rounds of competition (like “Dancing with the Stars” but with more paperwork) and the involvement of government and volunteers got Kenmore the award.

“I gained a real appreciation of what we have here when I moved to Knoxville,” Frank said. “It’s all suburban subdivisions down there. You feel trapped. You want to ride a bike, for example, and all you do is ride around the subdivision.”

One thing about Kenmore is that its residents don’t feel trapped. If the joys of the village aren’t enough for them, they’re steps away from the city in one direction and steps away from the ‘burbs in another, the benefits of both without being trapped by either.

Thus did the American Planning Association, with a focus on walkability and what Frank called “old traditional communities,” find Kenmore and find it attractive. On its Top 10 list, we’re the only place in the Northeast chosen (beating out Ithaca, Gettysburg and all those quaint-heavy towns in New England) and the only municipality (the rest, like Montrose, Texas, a part of Houston, are neighborhoods).

There will be a ceremony (of course there will be a ceremony) at 11 Saturday morning on the Village Green at the Municipal Building. Momentarily interrupting the annual Halloween party and adjacent farmer’s market, APA representatives will bestow the award on Village representatives. Apple cider will presumably be served, and then we’ll all get back to our lives, content to realize that we’ve got something good here and if it takes out-of-town professionals to remind us, well, so be it.

Ed Adamczyk is a Kenmore resident whose column appears every Friday in the Tonawanda News. Contact him at EdinKenmore@gmail.com.