Darryl Carr will soon be in County Court seeking to demolish the blacksmith shop properties at 110-120 South Park Avenue. Two neighbors with significant investment on the same block will also be in attendance when the case is heard. They are hoping for a different outcome- preservation and reuse of the historic buildings.
Developers Sam Savarino and Roger Trettel not only own property surrounding Carr's buildings, they have experience repurposing historic sites. Trettel has renovated properties in Fredonia and elsewhere downtown including the Buehl Block, 283 Ellicott Street and in the 500 block of Main Street. He owns 49 Illinois Street where he is planning to renovate the building for commercial space.
Savarino and Chris Jacobs have renovated three buildings along Mississippi Street for a mix of restaurant, office and residential space. Savarino's company has worked on and developed numerous adaptive reuse projects.
Trettel and Savarino do not see unsalvageable buildings- they see opportunity.
"The buildings have challenges, but they can be saved," says Savarino. "They're well worth saving."
The concerned neighbors had Silvestri Architects prepare a rendering showing what the buildings could be. Their vision is much different than a parking lot. "We put something together to give a flavor of what it could become."
Savarino is quick to point out he doesn't intend to interfere with the court case and says he has talked to Carr about selling but has been rebuffed. Savarino wants the City to force Carr to bring the buildings up to code and stabilize them.
"We don't want to see a bad thing happen here. I think it would be a sin to allow him to knock the buildings down," says Savarino. "Or fall down."
Update: The appeal on the case is in County Court. A court date can not be set until the City submits information. Housing Court cannot take action until the appeal is resolved.
This looks great. I hope the owner can be convinced to save the building.