The News, Briefly	Planting Roots on the West Side by Gabe Armstrong

With the abrupt emergence of Buffalo’s spring, the city has spontaneously become green again after many months of dreary cold. As trees bud and grass shoots up from the ground, another lush form of life is taking root in a long-forgotten West Side neighborhood.

That particular root happens to be the Urban Roots garden center, a full service, cooperative garden market that recently opened toward the end of April and strives to provide city residents with all their gardening needs in one convenient location (428 Rhode Island St.) The new garden center sits on the very unique intersection of West Utica, Rhode Island and Brayton streets, forming six interesting wedge shaped corners.

Urban Roots swung open its doors on April 21, and is now open to the public. All are encouraged to come browse the selection of affordable, organic and locally grown plants as well as gardening supplies and materials. Much like the Lexington Co-op, customers can also become co-owners of the store by purchasing a $100 share. These member/owners also become eligible for special offers, discounts, workshops and future year dividends, and are afforded the opportunity to vote annually for a cooperative board of directors..

“Our focus will be primarily on plants, and in general we will offer affordable, unusual, heirloom, organic and local plants and gardening supplies in a personal and inviting setting,” says Anthony Armstrong, one of the garden center’s organizers. “Our organization doesn’t just want to create a successful business, we want to create an asset and a destination for the community.”

Co-founder Cynnie Gaasch hopes the center will foster a working relationship with the larger neighborhood in order to encourage beautification and urban revitalization. The store and its member/owners will aim to engage the community through education, employment, outreach, expertise and volunteering efforts, says Gaasch.

Urban Roots hopes to make this unique business model an example for cooperative garden centers in other areas. “Not only is our mission to provide quality products for gardening in the City of Buffalo,” says Gaasch, “but to be an active and enriching member of the community as well.”

This part of the West Side, the traditionally immigrant-heavy streets west of Richmond Avenue, has declined to a neglected state. In recent decades these areas have been defined by poverty, violence, blight and a general sense of hopelessness. But very recently neighbors and community activists have been working to bring back these streets, block by block. Harvey Garrett is director of the West Side Community Collaborative, a grass-roots organization working to help realize such a goal.

“The neighborhood will work together to restore the property and the WSCC will continue working with the neighbors in making major improvements to the surrounding neighborhood,” Garrett says. “We’ve looked at examples of other ‘smallish’ urban garden centers in other parts of the country, and realize there are a lot of exciting possibilities. We plan to work with students in urban design and architecture to give the space a unique feel.”