House of the Hole-y

Looks like this is going to be the newest birdhouse...or palace for them!

Doesnt Paladino own this?

Isn't this owned by Paladino? Fix it Carl!!

I'm MAD AS HELL that Carl Paladino is letting another building be subjected to demolition by neglect!

Church reuse that is going on in NYC - http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=7428284

I'm not comparing or suggesting, but just providing an example of what others have done with these type of structures.

can we start to post signs of the neglectful owners outside these structures? HUGE signs?????

The location of this church on Main St. should keep the usual naysayers from their "it can't be saved" mantra. The Catholic Church, the City, and the previous owner all share the blame for the present condition. Carl Paladino is unlikely to be a good steward of this property and should be banned from further acquisitions until he proves himself to be competent and responsible property owner.

From the City's Charter: Section 341-14
"When the Commissioner determines that the owner or agent of record for real property within the City has not complied with the standards of this chapter or other standards or laws for the construction, replacement or repair of buildings, the Commissioner shall immediately serve notice upon that owner or agent of record as provided below and may have erected a sign with the text stated below on the public right-of-way adjacent to the subject structure."

"This sign shall have a white background with black lettering stating the following: "This property is contributing to the spread of slum and blight in the City of Buffalo.

"This property is owned by _________ (name of owner or agent), who resides at _________ (address of record), in the City/Town/Village of _________, State of _______. If further information is needed, the owner of this structure may be contacted at ________ (owner's telephone number).

"This sign has been erected by the City of Buffalo as a public service in the war against slums and blight."

Who is interested to take our anger and use it constructively? I feel it is high time to become a squeakier wheel in the preservation discussion.

You guys can blame all you want the current owner who bought this building 5 weeks ago.

In a well publicized public auction less than 2 years ago, there was only one bidder for it. That person bid $25,000 and got it for that price.
http://fixbuffalo.blogspot.com/2008/09/church-auction-follow-up.html

At that time, why didn't any progressives or preservationists chip in and buy it at that auction? If any had, then today it wouldn't have its current owner. It wouldn't have any holes in it. It would be well on it's way to some great reuse or at least be well mothballed.

This is such a spectacular building. Tearing it down would be a major mistake. The condition it is in now is from basic stupidity.

The condition it is in now is because the people whose use it was intended for moved out of the city.

Our Lady of Notre Dame de Lourdes is a special case in its likelihood to be saved. The resurgence of Allentown, the Fruit Belt and Masten because of the Center for Excellence in Life Sciences is unquestioned.

It makes re-use for this historic structure in a very highly visable location both likely and viable.

Buffalo is very fortunate to have developers focusing on older structures. The problem is that the older structures that are neglected keeps growing faster than developers can take them off the list with re-use.

No sooner than the Dulski goes off the list than the Statler goes on the list. No sooner does the AM&As warehouses go off the list than the AM&As and Lafayette go on the list.

These old historic buildings are anchors to gentrify existing communities where as shovel ready grass lots/asphault parking lots are nothing more than drive by as they dont attract builders or developers. Stabilization and warehousing are prudent and wise.

However, Buffalo is 60% demolished proving prudent and wise is not the best description for the leaders of our community.

Here a few additional pics from earlier today.

http://fixbuffalo.blogspot.com/2010/05/lourdes-on-main-street-part-iv.html

Funny how Carl wants to tell others what to do when his own properties are falling apart and the ones he fixed don't even look all that great. The former L.L. Berger's is looking a mess, the former Courtyard Mall, and Mohawk Building are all a mess and can we say 'Greystone'?...hows that BIG hole in the roof looking????? And how is having a parol office on the first floor on MAIN STREET next to a Housing Assistance office with blank windows and a former department store with all vacant and blocked off windows really an improvement for MAIN STREET???? I mean REALLY????? CARL?????

Maybe Carl is planning to give back to Buffalo the way Ani Difranco did by investing his own money and energy into making this place a showcase, or maybe not.

NEWELL, LOVE THE PUN THAT YOU USED FOR THE TITLE.

Strange that it was purchased for $25,000 2 years ago and now that it has deteriorated even further, is now for sale for $199,000.
http://www.2findyourhome.com/search/property/detail.cfm?search_mlnum=B351489&search_property_type=COM#

I wish I had the resources to make it into something like this:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/sf/inspiration/beautiful-interiors-converted-church-091426

I hope I'm not the first person to call the City and report that the boards are missing on this church. Forgive my sarcasm, but "the city" is not all-knowing, they rely on people reporting problems to their 311 line. I just called and put in a claim, please go ahead and do the same, the problem may be resolved quicker if there is complaints. Thanks Queenseyes for bringing this to our attention.

It's no secret Paladino wanted to build a Rite Aid at Main and North and was rebuffed. I think he found a new site outside of the preservation district. Be very afraid.

When I called City Hall's third floor this morning I was told there's an inspection scheduled for Lourdes - 1115 Main Street - tomorrow.

What kind of inspection, David? "Pre-demolition"?!! This is shameful. What was once a solid building in a great location is being allowed to fall apart. If I had the money, I'd buy it myself and renovate it. Your first clue is the phrase "Development Site" on the For Sale sign - no one had any intention of keeping this thing.

"wonder how...a church...demolition"

Really? Nobody goes to church anymore. The Church, Catholic or not, gets lambasted by everyone. Budhissm is cool. Especially the BRO demographic - really, it's not a mystery. The Rev Drew Church is probably swimming in a sea of debt.

When the last of the SB and Lackawanna old folk die off the Basilica will be in the same sad state since the Catholic Diocese is no longer financially afloat.

You want churches? Go to them and give to them. It's not about the past so don't bother with the pedophilia argument.