The following is a statement issued by the Campaign about a City Official causing an 1850s Landmark to be demolished without public notice:
"The building popularly know as
Bernstone's Cigar Store, part of the Joseph Ellicott Historic District, is
threatened with imminent demolition. It was designed by eminent architect
Calvin Otis and erected in the 1850's. It was the long-time home of the Third
National Bank (Joseph Schoellkopf was president) until its merger with M&T
Bank in 1962. Sometime after that, the upper four stories were demolished,
leaving the original tin cornice and a Classical cast-iron storefront, possibly
the oldest in the city.
On July 19, Comerford sent a letter asking for a waiver of noticication of demolition of an asbestos-containing structure to the State Labor Department; he claimed there was imminent danger to the public. It took six weeks for fencing to be erected around the site. Still, the Preservation Board was not notified and no public notice has been given.
"It is clear the commissioner has nothing but contempt for the public process and for the public body charged with protecting the city's historic assets," said Tielman."
Timothy Tielman
Executive Director
The Campaign for Greater Buffalo
History, Architecture & Culture
frontdesk@c4gb.org
Entry Image Courtesy of Bernice Radle
Ugly building - glad it's gone
Its not about a particular building. Its about a legal public process that the City of Buffalo chooses to illegally not follow. What if the same thing was done to a beautiful building that stood directly next to your house?
I understand the process etc....... The potential new build in the space outweighs bad preservation
What potential new build? There is no potential new build! Do you really think that this building is in the way of a potential new build? That is a joke!
If there was actually one proposed, I'd have no problem with this building biting the dust. There is no building proposed. All that has happened here is they have lessened their tax burden - which falls on the backs of you, me and all other city residents who will, one way or the other, will have to make up the difference.
Or great parking lot .....
I'll just leave this here: https://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home/City_Departments/EDPIS/Inspections/Demolition
I suppose you can debate if this really was an emergency demolition, but since none of us were in the building and most of us are not structural engineers this is nothing but speculation on either side.
Unless someone else can find an appropriate citation, I am going to have to assume that city law was followed as this was an emergency demolition.
Is that really all you see, just an ugly building? Just try for a brief moment to use your imagination. When I looked at this little place I saw a great little corner café that would really bring some more life and foot traffic to the lower section of Main Street. While I acknowledge that everything cannot and should not be saved, this little place had some potential.
If the scenario was different, like if the building had to be leveled because new development was coming that would produce jobs, result in a nice new building, etc. then fine, demolish it. It was a cool little building, but it was still just a fragment of what it was originally. However, the new development scenario does not seem to be the case. It looks like we’re getting a few more prime parking spaces at the cost of another missed opportunity.
Just to note, the space directly next to Bernstone's(with its entrance boarded up) was a charming coffee shop in 2000--and it closed down. Used to pop in there for breakfast before going into work across the street.
One major problem with that building's locale is a problem I hope those making decisions with the "Cars Sharing Main Street" initiative are considering: Businesses don't want to operate on Main behind gargantuan, unnecessary rail stops. Every one of those structures needs to be minimized to aid foot traffic and/or streetscapes, as well as reveal the storefronts behind them. Check Boston's Green Line street rail: small stops and minimal coverage for waiting passengers, weather considerations be damned.
Unfortunately, it looks like it's too late for Bernstone's. Hopefully, this stop downsizing is going happen as they work down the street.
As I said -i see a great parking lot too -
C'Mon Mike. You're a great guy but time to get outta Hooterville. I don't see anything except a run-down eyesore situated on a parking lot. Besides we have enough coffee already.
The sign was cool. Very midcentury.