City September 2, 2010 5:21 PM

Mike Lucchino Rips It Up!

Mike Lucchino Rips It Up!
After posting on quality of life issues last week, and featuring a tree surrounded by asphalt at the Evans National Bank driveway at Delavan, I received an inspiring email earlier today. Even though it was City property, Mike Lucchino, owner of the neighboring properties (he also owns Elmwood Taco and Sub), took it upon himself and ripped up 6'x6' of asphalt surrounding the tree. Tomorrow he is having the bed mulched.

Not only will Mike not have to deal with a dead tree in the future, the property will have an attractive entranceway rather than an asphalt pad. When I originally called on the issue, and opted to use that image for Al Labruna's post, I never thought that anything would come from it other than hoping that the image would be a lesson to others who were considering doing the same thing. When Mike sent me a photo of the work that he commissioned to right the wrong, I almost fell out of my chair. Mike, you will see me at ETS tomorrow for lunch to personally thank you for the incredible improvement to the block, the Elmwood Village and the city.
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That's great news, and thank you, Mike. But did you get a reason why it was done in the first place?

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Yet another reason why ETS is the best sub shop in WNY.

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I'm doubling my order at ETS as a thank you to Mike. Great news and personal initiative. Thanks Mike.

However...we should learn why Evans Bank...and Mike...were able to affect (city owned?) property without a permit. If a legitimate review of the streetscape is not required, then someone could put in a curbside coy pond, or a collection of cement toadstools or ... whatever!

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I'm glad to see that all the money i spent at 4 am during college is going to good use. i love ets

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Bravo! I know where I will be going to lunch tomorrow!

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Great work Queenseyes.
You have a powerful tool for positive change in Buffalo Rising.

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I hope the city does'nt sue or arrest him now for doing that without permission. ...Come on folks, I bet tomorrow we'll see a post about that!

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I will make sure I go to ETS a little more now.

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Fry Supreme was enough reason to love ETS, but now they're eco-conscious? Nice! I think a celebratory meal will be in order shortly!

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The power of social, collective consciousness. Way to go BRO and its supporters....

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Kudos! Mike runs a tight ship, and this is further evidence of his good judgement and management. Thanks Mike!

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Awesome on so many levels. I appreciate the gumption and will no doubt go out of my way to eat more tacos under your liberated tree. Everyone learn by example, less banter and more renting of heavy machinery. TACOS FOR ALL!

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props to mike! that asphalt tree prison was hideous.

personally, i'm a fan of the rice bowls with guacamnole.

i seem to recall that city code requires a certain percentage of surface parking lot area be landscaped. can anyone comment?

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Was he responsible for the asphalt in the first place? It sounds like he owns the property the bank is on from the previous post. If he's the one that put the asphalt down, I'm not sure hailing him as a hero for undoing his huge error in judgment is all that called for.

Eh, maybe I'm just a pessimist at heart.

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This is good to see, though I hope it's not too late for that tree (heated asphalt can't be good ringing the base of a tree).

As an aside: A curbside coy pond? Cement toadstools?!? THE HORROR!!

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Wow - TY Mike - You have an ETS customer for life:)

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Fantastic!

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Maybe he was responsible for the asphalt!!?? The point is that a bussiness owner corrected an issue, at his own expense, that could have easily been neglected.

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Nice work. If im seeing it right it looks like the concrete entrance to the parking lot was rather broken to start with, and thats been ripped out also, so they made 2 improvements in one shot.

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