Olean Downtown
North Union and State Streets, Olean
Olean, the economic and cultural heart of Cattaraugus County, is both its capital and largest city with a population of nearly 14,000. Nestled along the Allegheny River, Olean was an important early-1800s river stop for inland travelers before the Erie Canal, and it transformed rapidly following the discovery of oil in the 1860s—a resource so abundant it gave the city its name. Its strategic location midway between New York City and Chicago later gave rise to a dramatic chapter in the 1920s, when frequent visits from notorious gangsters like Al Capone earned it the nickname "Little Chicago." With a major transportation improvement grant as a catalyst in 2013, Olean transformed its deteriorating streets into a vibrant, thriving, green downtown.
The Spark
Facing some of the most dangerous streets in New York State and decades of decline, Olean turned crisis into momentum, transforming the historic center through safer streets and renewed downtown vitality.
Against a backdrop of striking historic buildings, downtown Olean was experiencing steady population decline from its 1950s peak population of 22,000. As a result, the city dealt with issues of vacant storefronts; deteriorating infrastructure; wide, high-speed streets. Pedestrians faced treacherous 80-foot crossings along the main downtown streets, leading to 195 crashes between 2008 and 2013—nearly five times the statewide average. Narrow sidewalks, missing bike paths, and outdated traffic signals further compounded safety issues. Although the city recognized these challenges as early as 2005, it lacked the funding and planning to fix them – until 2011 when Jeff Belt, founder of local business SolEpoxy, financed the development of a master plan. Belt, who grew up in West Valley north of Olean, was a passionate advocate for the betterment of Cattaraugus County and a member of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council. Supported by extensive public outreach through Highland Planning and the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC), the "Walkable Olean" plan drew inspiration from successful revitalizations in Hamburg, Corning, and Burlington, VT. It established a three-phase framework, targeting an initial 0.8-mile stretch of North Union Street with traffic-calming measures and walkability enhancements.
The Project
In October 2012, the Walkable and Livable Community Institute was called in to help, presenting a Walkability Audit to over 100 city officials, business owners, and residents. The audit raised the idea of a “road diet,” prioritizing pedestrian safety by removing traffic lanes. In adopting ideas from the audit, Olean catalyzed a very visible, valuable downtown revitalization effort.
In May 2013, the City received a $6.5 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The city’s first-ever federal transportation grant helped fund the Walkable Olean Project, which launched in September 2014 and was completed in 2016. As construction began, the city partnered with regional architecture and planning firms to design and build the new streets – completely reconstructing many segments of the streetscape, rendering some areas completely inaccessible. During this time of sweeping change, city staff understood the importance of consistent communication. They conducted weekly public briefings and radio broadcasts, issued press releases about the project and met with business owners to provide updates. A website, Walkable Olean, included public meetings and progress reports, guides, and maps; residents could post questions and have them answered publicly, which helped to alleviate concerns about the changes being made, of which there were many. Some community members worried that traffic would get worse due to cars needing to stop more. Others were concerned about the roundabouts – now the highest concentration in NYS – so the city’s YouTube channel included an instructional video on how to drive in and cross a roundabout. At the opening ceremony, Mayor William Aiello declared the North Union Street project a “complete success”, thanking the community for their patience while the city replaced the corroding infrastructure beneath the street.
Seeing the success of Phases 1 of Walkable Olean, the city was encouraged to expand its vision with further downtown improvements. Community Development Program Coordinator Keri Kerper led the charge to apply for – and win – a 2017 New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant. This comprehensive plan was anchored by a $1.25 million revitalization of Lincoln Park to host a permanent open-air farmers market pavilion. It also included walkability improvements and renovations of historic abandoned buildings like the Carnegie Library and First National Bank buildings on Union Street.
Phase 2 ran 2020-2021, extending walkable streetscapes, shared-use sidewalks, new curbs, and updated signals from North Union Street to Olean General Hospital. Phase 3, initiated in 2017 alongside the DRI award and completed in October 2025, added new crosswalks, bump-outs, and a landscaped median by the Municipal Building.
The work continues: In 2025, the Olean Beautification Committee, with funding from Belt’s SolEpoxy, established the Beautiful Olean Fund to support the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of public gardens and streetscape features throughout the city. Olean is also in the midst of oil brownfield cleanups. Recently Kerper has set her sights on revamping the zoning code to inventory existing districts, progressively plan for future development, and rectify discrepancies between the 2025 Comprehensive Development Plan and current regulations.
Outcomes & Benefits
Streetscape and traffic improvements led to renewal of buildings, like First National Bank, and traditions, like the annual Santa Claus Lane Parade. Because the city was committed to improving the community, developers and residents also took interest.
Revitalization efforts have contributed to making Olean a more desired place to live, attracting newcomers. After the Walkable Olean and Downtown Revitalization initiatives, Olean partnered with Make My Move, a town relocation platform, and received hundreds of applications from new families who wanted to move to Olean.
When Olean was first planning its downtown revitalization, the city looked to other communities across the Northeast for inspiration. Now Olean itself has become the inspiration for others – including Portville and Allegany – striving to build walkable, vibrant communities. For Kerper, this evolution captures her vision for Olean to be “the role model in New York State that turns things around.” Olean’s story shows how vision and dedicated work can transform a small community into a regional beacon.
Partnerships & Funding
Olean’s downtown revitalization efforts were launched in October 2013, driven by a mix of foundational private philanthropy and major state and federal funding streams. The initial development of the Walkable Olean project was anchored by Belt, founder of SolEpoxy, who committed personal resources to fund the initiative, while his development company, Sunny Olean LLC, directly invested in the downtown corridor by purchasing and renovating multiple buildings. Public infrastructure transformation was catalyzed by a $6.5 million federal TIGER grant to finance the first reconstruction phase. This streetscape overhaul was further strengthened by an $865,000 New York State Grant for Green Initiatives, which funded sustainable public assets like permeable pavers and extensive street plantings. Expanding on this momentum, the city successfully secured $5.5 million in Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grants to implement major public space and gateway corridor enhancements, creating a highly connected, vibrant, and accessible downtown.
Lessons Learned
Public-private partnerships can sustain a vision
Private investment helped launch Walkable Olean, while continued collaboration supported the project over time.
Transparency can build public trust
Frequent updates, feedback channels, and practical resources helped address public concerns during major downtown changes.
Successful models can clarify a vision
Examples from Hamburg and Corning helped residents and leaders picture what Olean’s transformation could become.
The City of Olean transformed its declining, traffic-dominated main street into a safer, pedestrian-focused downtown corridor through its "Walkable Olean" initiative. Led by municipal leaders and local advocates, the city overcame unsafe road conditions, aging infrastructure and even public skepticism, to fundamentally rethink its urban core. Through strategic public-private partnerships, federal and state grants, and comprehensive community engagement, Olean successfully addressed severe safety hazards while breathing new life into its historic downtown.