Following the 2022 Buffalo Shooting at the Tops located on Jefferson Ave., the church has set its sights on the Jefferson strip as its next redevelopment project. The church’s plan to reinvigorate the Fruit Belt, known as Buffalo’s Black Billion, is in the process of building a open-air farmer’s market on High St., between Mulberry and Locust.

In the past St. John has established a Community Benefit Agreement with the residents of the area it’s developing. As part of the agreement, resident input and ideas are sought and adopted into the redevelopment efforts.

The redevelopment of Jefferson Ave would do much to create job opportunities in the community. It would be a massive step towards decreasing crime rates and restoring Jefferson Ave as a thriving center of commerce.

WIVB’s Tara Lynch, spoke to Reverend Michael Chapman regarding Buffalo’s Black Billion’s current projects and its future endeavors in the Jefferson area. Please click here to read the full article.

The Hospice is owned by WECGOD II, which will be partnering up with Recovery Options Made Easy. Together, they hope to provide emergency behavioral health services to patients experiencing a crisis but not requiring medical intervention at the hospital level. Patients will have access to 24-hour support. The facility will provide short-term care for overnight and walk-in patients.

The facility is expected to have a positive impact on the area, allowing residents to have access to urgent behavioral health care nearby. It also has the potential to help lower crime rates in the area.

Jonathan D. Epstein from Buffalo News spoke with Reverend Chapman regarding the new crisis center and its importance to the Fruit Belt community. Click here to read full article.