Construction of New York State Route 198 (NY 198), named the Scajaquada Expressway, was completed in 1962. According to the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, “The development divided and destroyed acres of parkland in Delaware Park, bisected established neighborhoods and cut them off from the park and waterfront, obliterated Humboldt Parkway, created barriers and limited access to Main Street.” 

Some local organizations and residents would like to restore parkways designed by Frederick Law Olmsted a century ago, and have proposed that the highway be downgraded to a pedestrian-friendly roadway. The New York State Department of Transportation is investigating possible plans for the expressway based on suggestions by community groups over the last 15 to 20 years.

In May 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the state would study plans and assess the traffic and environmental impacts. The expanded study is expected to be completed in 2027.

The proposed project plans call for transforming the Scajaquada Expressway corridor into an urban arterial. The existing interchanges with Grant Street, Elmwood Avenue, Delaware Avenue and Agassiz Circle will have one of two alternatives: an at-grade, signalized intersection or a round-about. Other improvements include new dedicated bike lanes connecting with existing bike trails.

We provided Phase 2 Site Examinations to determine whether archaeological sites and other cultural resources are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and, thereby, worthy of avoidance or subsequent data recovery in a development context. Phase 2 Site Examinations were performed in the following areas: Agassiz Site, Scajaquada 1 Site (Locus 1 and 2) and Nottingham Site.

Fieldwork was designed to gather information about the horizontal and vertical limits of each site, the type of information each could produce, their temporal and cultural affiliations and integrity. This information will help identify the types of research questions that might be answered by subsequent Phase 3 data recovery, if deemed necessary.

Agassiz Site: Phase 2 work included 12 test units. A total of 576 prehistoric artifacts were recovered. The presence of deeply buried modern artifacts in disturbed soils suggests the site lacks integrity. Limestone bedrock was reached at depths of 82-94 cm below ground surface for all test units, except one which encountered the pavement of a former alignment of Agassiz Circle. Disturbances are extensive as this location was once a quarry that was later graded and leveled for road construction.

The Agassiz site does not possess sufficient integrity to be considered eligible for the National Register under Criterion D; therefore, no further work is recommended.

Scajaquada 1 Site, Locus 1: Phase 2 work included 27 test units. We recovered recovered 1,183 prehistoric artifacts and 583 historic bone fragments. The site has potential to provide insights into tool technology and patterns of utilization of local resources. A gradual accumulation of household dietary refuse and processing waste most likely associated with 19th century occupants of nearby households. Evidence suggests there was initial off-site processing to prepare retail meat cuts. The assemblage has the potential to provide important information regarding local dietary habits and butchering practices during the 19th century.

It is recommended that the Scajaquada 1 site be avoided. If this is not possible, a Phase 3 archaeological data recovery is recommended.

Scajaquada 1 Site, Locus 2: Phase 2 work included 4 shovel pit tests that yielded only 14 prehistoric artifacts. Results indicate the site’s archaeological deposits lack integrity. Locus 2 lacks sufficient research potential to warrant further work and the does not appear to be National Register eligible.

Nottingham Site: Phase 2 work included 4 test units and 2 shovel pit tests. This work yielded 437 prehistoric artifacts and 73 historic bone fragments. Utilized flakes indicate a range of activities may have occured at the site; a flake from non-local material suggests trade or travel. A gradual accumulation of household dietary refuse and processing waste most likely associated with 19th century occupants of nearby households. 

Phase 2 results suggest the site’s deposits retain integrity and are capable of providing information; however,  the site area is relatively small and has been thoroughly sampled. Additional work is unlikely to reveal new information. Given these results, no further work is recommended for this National Register eligible site.