By Mark Williams:
We have all heard this before and as convoluted as it may sound; the fact that the City of Buffalo is ranked third poorest in the nation has, in effect, saved many of her 19th century buildings.
In fact, there remains entire neighborhoods of 19th century buildings, admittedly, in various levels of preservation with some suffering from deferred maintenance but wholly intact and perhaps waiting for the right individual to come along and breathe new life into a historically significant structure.
One such neighborhood is one that we all know and has been much written about and that is Johnson Park.
It was during this past summer's annual garden walk that I first notice that 102 Johnson Park had its front entrance boarded-up and it appeared as if the front door had been broken into. Fully aware that this working museum of a neighborhood retained a cohesive force, I assumed that it must have been a medical emergency where the EMT had to break into the resident's home because, surely, no one would walk-away from such a gracious home.
It wasn't until I attended a performance of "In a Dark, Dark House" at the New Phoenix Theater this past Saturday that I noticed 102 Johnson Park remained in the same state and looking even more forlorn and forgotten as it was enveloped in a cold and drizzly rainy evening.
I soon learned that is gracious circa 1886, three-story, brick Italianate has been suffering from neglect for almost two-years and the boarded-up front entrance was the result of vandalism and not the dramatization conceived from my over-wrought imagination.
Who has not ventured into Johnson Park and thought: "Wow, what a great place to live" and, in some cases: "I would move to Buffalo if I could reside here" and yet, an opportunity exists but because of greed, stupidity or perhaps lack of caring, this home and others like it may one day be lost.
I know this event happens throughout Buffalo on a regular basis but I never thought I would see it happen in Johnson Park. I also know that we cannot save them all, but I do adhere to the belief but this is definitely one building that needs to be rescued.
While taking photos of the house, I was approached by a local who inquired about buying the place, so there must be an interest. The building appears to be in remarkable good condition considering it is 124-years old and been sitting empty for over two-years. After submitting this story to BRO, I learned that this house has been of concern with the neighborhood and BRO had, on numerous occasion spoken to people living nearby who were also disturbed at the lack of progress on the house.
Following is a summation gathered from various sources in the neighborhood:
The house is currently in Housing Court and the owner - Chuck Dobucki - is being sentenced on October 7th. Mr Dobucki had taken a 'powder' (no signs of work on the house) for approximately 16 years. He was arrested on a Housing Court warrant the Friday prior to Memorial Day weekend this year.
Letters have been submitted to the Court from neighbors asking that the court intervene and push for market rate sale.
Last month Mr. Dobucki stated he was going to have the place painted by Spring 2011 - Judge Nowak said he was supposed to have had that done from the previous case and pushed Dobucki into painting it - however, apparently he told the painters to spray on one layer - no more.
In addition, Mr Dobucki had also told the judge he had the property listed for sale. Judge Nowak, knowing that Dobucki pulled this before (only listing was way over priced at $268,000 the Friday before he was to appear in court again and only until the day he was at court) looked at the assessed value and said something along the lines of - So, your realtor just added $200,000 to the assessed value?
(The judge is not amused)
Dobucki was to be sentenced this past Wednesday, but it was reset for Oct 7 (yesterday).
Both utilities have been shut off for approximately 2 years with NFG removing the meter last year and the Water Board shutting off service about the same time as well as NiMo.
So, there's been no heat, no electric, no water but plenty of thefts from the neighboring yard - the victim of the thefts is the same guy that mows the weeds down since Dobucki can't seem to get anyone to do it for him.
The drywall screws may have popped and pipes are probably broken. The interior has probably been compromised as such due to neglect.
There is an order to vacate and it is boarded up over the broken-in doors of the vestibule that holds years of mail.
Update: Sentencing was rescheduled for the week of Oct 18 - possibly the 20th.
*Inset assessments taken from a sample source
View image
We have all heard this before and as convoluted as it may sound; the fact that the City of Buffalo is ranked third poorest in the nation has, in effect, saved many of her 19th century buildings.
In fact, there remains entire neighborhoods of 19th century buildings, admittedly, in various levels of preservation with some suffering from deferred maintenance but wholly intact and perhaps waiting for the right individual to come along and breathe new life into a historically significant structure.
One such neighborhood is one that we all know and has been much written about and that is Johnson Park.
It was during this past summer's annual garden walk that I first notice that 102 Johnson Park had its front entrance boarded-up and it appeared as if the front door had been broken into. Fully aware that this working museum of a neighborhood retained a cohesive force, I assumed that it must have been a medical emergency where the EMT had to break into the resident's home because, surely, no one would walk-away from such a gracious home.
It wasn't until I attended a performance of "In a Dark, Dark House" at the New Phoenix Theater this past Saturday that I noticed 102 Johnson Park remained in the same state and looking even more forlorn and forgotten as it was enveloped in a cold and drizzly rainy evening.I soon learned that is gracious circa 1886, three-story, brick Italianate has been suffering from neglect for almost two-years and the boarded-up front entrance was the result of vandalism and not the dramatization conceived from my over-wrought imagination.
Who has not ventured into Johnson Park and thought: "Wow, what a great place to live" and, in some cases: "I would move to Buffalo if I could reside here" and yet, an opportunity exists but because of greed, stupidity or perhaps lack of caring, this home and others like it may one day be lost.
I know this event happens throughout Buffalo on a regular basis but I never thought I would see it happen in Johnson Park. I also know that we cannot save them all, but I do adhere to the belief but this is definitely one building that needs to be rescued.
While taking photos of the house, I was approached by a local who inquired about buying the place, so there must be an interest. The building appears to be in remarkable good condition considering it is 124-years old and been sitting empty for over two-years. After submitting this story to BRO, I learned that this house has been of concern with the neighborhood and BRO had, on numerous occasion spoken to people living nearby who were also disturbed at the lack of progress on the house.
Following is a summation gathered from various sources in the neighborhood:
The house is currently in Housing Court and the owner - Chuck Dobucki - is being sentenced on October 7th. Mr Dobucki had taken a 'powder' (no signs of work on the house) for approximately 16 years. He was arrested on a Housing Court warrant the Friday prior to Memorial Day weekend this year.
Letters have been submitted to the Court from neighbors asking that the court intervene and push for market rate sale.
Last month Mr. Dobucki stated he was going to have the place painted by Spring 2011 - Judge Nowak said he was supposed to have had that done from the previous case and pushed Dobucki into painting it - however, apparently he told the painters to spray on one layer - no more.
In addition, Mr Dobucki had also told the judge he had the property listed for sale. Judge Nowak, knowing that Dobucki pulled this before (only listing was way over priced at $268,000 the Friday before he was to appear in court again and only until the day he was at court) looked at the assessed value and said something along the lines of - So, your realtor just added $200,000 to the assessed value? (The judge is not amused)
Dobucki was to be sentenced this past Wednesday, but it was reset for Oct 7 (yesterday).
Both utilities have been shut off for approximately 2 years with NFG removing the meter last year and the Water Board shutting off service about the same time as well as NiMo.
So, there's been no heat, no electric, no water but plenty of thefts from the neighboring yard - the victim of the thefts is the same guy that mows the weeds down since Dobucki can't seem to get anyone to do it for him.
The drywall screws may have popped and pipes are probably broken. The interior has probably been compromised as such due to neglect.
There is an order to vacate and it is boarded up over the broken-in doors of the vestibule that holds years of mail.
Update: Sentencing was rescheduled for the week of Oct 18 - possibly the 20th.
*Inset assessments taken from a sample source
![Selling [ Off ] Buffalo](http://www.buffalorising.com/assets_c/2011/02/Central-Art-deco-Buffalo-NY-thumb-145x145-18060.jpg "Selling [ Off ] Buffalo")
I walked this area just the other day and didn't even realize there was such a story within house, although it did catch my attention. Hopefully the courts will move quickly on this to avoid and further deterioration.