Painting for Preservation will be on Amherst Street today bringing attention to a historic property. In collaboration with Artsphere Gallery, artists of varying mediums will be capturing the unique architecture of 481 Amherst Street.
Painting for Preservation seeks to bring together artists of all media in support of historic distressed properties and communities. Artwork created on-site related to the location is seen as a means of raising positive awareness of the space and/or structure.
481 Amherst was was built in 1923 by Valentine Homik who commissioned architect Karl Schmill to design it. Schmill was the same architect who designed Assumption Church and School. It was a Socony gas station at the outset, Standard Oil Company of New York, which then became Mobil. It was a Mobil Station up until 1981. It is in need of some TLC today. Investment in this building makes really good sense given all that is happening on Amherst Street and Black Rock.
The P4P folks will be at 481 Amherst from 9:30 am until 1 pm.
Get Connected: P4P Facebook page.
How ironic that a group has chosen to paint a picture of a long time neighborhood eyesore who's city and county has been slow or non existent in getting any progress to take a historic bldg with a history to its former beauty.Perhaps the publicity here produce some results.
Its' long time owner, PHIL ORTEL,has been in and out of housing court in the past 6 years, and currently being written again as we speak by dist. insp Kevin Gould for various violations, and of a previous 2009 Housing Court settlement when HON. Henry Nowak sat on the bench.
There is over $8400.00 in back County taxes owed going back to 2001!...the County wont in-rem foreclose because as a policy it doesn't touch City of Buffalo properties...and the City wont foreclose unless past due city taxes are owed! As this property sits in a "gray area" of back tax dilemma...the county taxpayers are shortchanged, and the city's up and coming neighborhood suffers. City leaders need to get their act together and close the back tax loopholes that exist, , expedite enforcement of "valued" properties as such...and support local business leaders as they strive to rebuild a business district.
I have spoken to Lou Petrucci, chief bldg insp, who has been very helpful in getting this property and owner back to Housing Court.
I have spoken with both chief County and City tax collectors regarding the BACK TAXES owed on this property...and their hands are tied...each finding only excuses why they cant go after the owner, and get this property on the foreclosure list so a responsible potential owner can develop this corner blding into an asset to Amherst st....rather than a liability.
Many people have inquired and / or attempted to purchase this property, but the owner sits steadfast in his deliberate decay during his current ownership.
Perhaps now, with some varied attention, a momentum will be created whereas there may be a future for this building on 479 Amherst st.
Believe me ..I know, as a long time property owner in the neighborhood, and owning the property adjacent..I have seen how the irresponsible actions...on many fronts, have caused a beautiful building to become an eyesore...only stepped up enforcement, actions on the part of city and county govt can bring this building back to life.
Often I think quick reading leads to the first sentence determining the perspective of a comment. Glad I kept reading. Good comment.