Buffalo Rising Online

This building has much potential and is an important part of the streetscape. The early iron storefront is intact as is the stone sill and threshold. Restoration of the original Italianate windows (outlines are still visible) would bring back the dignity and beauty that is know hard to see. These early structures continue to disappear from Buffalo and it would be a shame to lose another.

or "now hard to see"

This will be regretted! Its not just Delaware and South Elmwood but also HealthNow and the Waterfront Tower#1 and Waterfront Tower#2 are changing the entire area.

It would help is the Niagara Expressway closed their access ramp at Erie Street/HealthNow and redirected traffic to Virginia Street access ramp. More downtown traffic on Niagara Street would really help put businesses in many struggling buildings.

This building has character. Heck, the entire first floor along the sidewalk could be replaced with glass for cheaper than building a new building and accomplish the same thing.

Ticky Tacky small minded property owners....they may own property but their mind hasnt left the ghetto....their still living without any appreciation or value for what they have....its sad really....proves poverty can be more than a lack of money...it can also be a poverty of the mind and the senses too.

This would make a great corner deli and convenience store.

Let me guess- Tim Horton's?

Don't expect the preservation board to save this one. They aren't known for preserving old buildings.

We should look into getting rid of that other one across the street too while we are at it.

Hope they save the stunning bus shelter.

Get rid of this dump. There are hundreds of buildings in Buffalo and I see nothing of importance in this one, either historically or architecturally, it´s hideous. For those preservationists there are more worthy buildings than this. Call in the wrecking ball.

Get rid of this dump. There are hundreds of buildings in Buffalo and I see nothing of importance in this one, either historically or architecturally, it´s hideous. For those preservationists there are more worthy buildings than this. Call in the wrecking ball.

Get rid of this dump. There are hundreds of buildings in Buffalo and I see nothing of importance in this one, either historically or architecturally, it´s hideous. For those preservationists there are more worthy buildings than this. Call in the wrecking ball.

TT- Dumb x's three.

Steel,

The Preservation Board will likely vote against the demolition of this building today - like we have for so many other demos that didn't make sense - but were still ultimately demoed. The problem is that the Preservation Board doesn't have the final say in demos that take place outside of preservation districts or that aren't individually landmarked.

I would hope that even non-preservationists would see the benefit to saving this building. In the end I imagine that it will fall on the Commissioner of Permits and Inspections (Brian Riley) to decide whether the city will provide the demo permit.

Newell just posted a story about a beautiful brick building on Elicott today that was demoed. The Preservation Board voted against the demo but the City gave them the demo permit anyway.

Beating up the Preservation Board isn't going to save this building - a strong case for support from voters might.

Harvey

Steel,

The Preservation Board will likely vote against the demolition of this building today - like we have for so many other demos that didn't make sense - but were still ultimately demoed. The problem is that the Preservation Board doesn't have the final say in demos that take place outside of preservation districts or that aren't individually landmarked.

I would hope that even non-preservationists would see the benefit to saving this building. In the end I imagine that it will fall on the Commissioner of Permits and Inspections (Brian Riley) to decide whether the city will provide the demo permit.

Newell just posted a story about a beautiful brick building on Elicott today that was demoed. The Preservation Board voted against the demo but the City gave them the demo permit anyway.

Beating up the Preservation Board isn't going to save this building - a strong case for support from voters might.

Harvey

TroyT- You may not be able to "see" the importance or understand the historical/ architectural significance of this building but many others do. Recognizing potential requires a deeper understanding and your comment shows you lack that ability.

BlackRockLifer - All I need are 2 eyes to see this building is an absolute dump or maybe you want to enlighten me because you are obviously wiser than I am and tell me all the great reasons why this building should exist?

I find it hilarious how everyone wants to come rushing and save every dilapidated, run down building in buffalo once they are threatened with demolition. How did this building and many others get to their current state, why weren´t you making a difference 5 years ago or 2 years ago? How long has this building been sitting like this, boarded up, full of grafiti and who knows what else, why are you coming to it´s rescue now??

This building didn´t all the sudden turn into a rat hole, it has taken many many years of neglect and degredation and now all of the sudden BlackRockLifer wants to act like he wants to preserve a 2000 year old tree from being uprooted, give me a break.

If the building was worth saving someone would have done something a long time ago to prevent it from getting to this point. If nobody is willing to do anything with the current structure, you included BlackRockLIfer, and it´s obvious nobody has been willing to do a damn thing with it in the last 10 years then I am all for anyone that wants to demo it for whatever purpose they want.

I will vote all day long for the people in Buffalo that are willing to take action and put their money where their mouth is to make a difference over the throng of people that sit on their hands and complain about every shack scheduled for demo.

Well Troy unlike so many I have "put my money where my mouth is" and bought a condemned vacant and boarded circa 1830 Federal house here in Black Rock. I was told it was "a dump" not worth saving but I saw the potential and today I live in a beautiful award winning restoration that has been featured on tours, in the Buffalo News, and on television. The building at Niagara and Carolina is in the West Village District and is certainly worthy of the same effort. Demolition is shortsighted and would result in the loss of one more piece of the fabric of this city.

Helen,

You are right - it is in a historic district (I'm not sure how I missed that earlier). We met on it today and almost a dozen neighbors showed up in support of saving it - no one showed up in favor of losing it. The owner is even willing to discuss other options so we are setting up meetings with him and historic tax credit experts to discuss resuse options that will work for him as well. Most of you probably assume that the Preservation Board just sits in a room approving and disapproving things but we work pretty hard to meet with owners and find solutions that meet the owners needs as well as meeting the standards we are required to follow. We will work wit this owner to find a solution that works for everyone.

Harvey

Harvey,

The preservation board has also voted to allow demo of valuable buildings within historic districts. Call me a bit jaded after Franklin Street.

TroyT says "if the building was worth saving someone would have done something a long time ago to prevent it from getting to this point"

Oh really troy?

Troy, Have you been living in a cave? Buffalo has had tremendous success renovating the type of building you would love to have torn down. Most of Buffalo's recent development is in the form of renovation of buildings you would describe as absolute dumps. Open your eyes - a renovated building is progress - a new parking lot is not.

Steel - Oh really, tell me who has done anything for this precious gem above in the past 5 years? You´re hilarious, this building has been boarded up, painted on and who knows what else has been done to it in the past 10 years and now you want to come and rescue it because someone bought the building and wants to renovate through demolition. I´m talking about this building that nobody has given a damn about for years and you are telling me to open my eyes? Enlighten me, please.

It is too bad that Buffalo is losing population at a rate that makes it nearly impossible to fill all of our buildings. Maybe if some of the prodigals sons and daughters returned to invest in the area, then we wouldn't see buildings like this going to waste.

There are just too many vacant buildings that require too much work for the average person to own. If only we could experience population growth from people who move away to the bigger cities. Ah, if only.

Troy T,

Based on your way of thinking you would have had the followiong buildings demolished bcause no one wanted them at one time:

Guaranty Building Granite Works ECC City Campus Squier Mansioin Web Building Dun Building The Mansion Hotel All of the West Village Neighborhood The Genesee Block (currently being renovated) Schoolhouse loft apartments (adjacent to Genesee Block) Genesee Building (Hyatt Hotel) Allentown Warehouse Lofts Butler Mansion Williams Mansion Knox Mansion Cabana Mansion Mathews Mansion The Church (babeville) Birge Mansion Saint Mary of Sorrows Sattler Theater Sheas Buffalo Theater 600 Block of Main Chippawa Street 700 Block of Main (whats left of it) Church of Scientology Building Stanton Mansion Stanton Building Wilcox Mansion Connecticut Street Armory Martin House

These and many others would be gone based on your standard. That would certainly not be "progress"

Steel,

I wasn't on the Preservation Board when the Franklin building came up - I don't know what happened there but I can understand your perceptions of the board based on this. All I can say is that I've been on the board for the past 10 months and everyone bends over backwards to find ways to preserve these buildings and, more often that one might imagine, finding solutions that work for the owners as well. It is, for the most part, a pro-preservation, pro-positive development group - even if everyone isn't happy with every outcome.

I agree with you on the Franklin building - that was a travesty.

I'd recommend making it to a few Preservation Board meetings before making too many conclusions on who they are and what they are doing though. I think you'd be surprised.

Harvey

TroyT- This building was not ignored for the past 5-10 years, it was a business. Allfit- I agree we can't fill all of our buildings but we must protect those that have the character and location suitable for redevelopement. This building certainly meets this criteria.

Harvey,

Knowing you are there makes me feel better already.

My point is this guy bought it and he can do whatever he wants with it, as someone else mentioned we can´t save every building in Buffalo and I rather see just about anything than boarded up, graffiti covered, deserted buildings. This is Buffalo, there aren´t enough people to fill half of these boarded up houses and commercial structures and people need to deal with that reality, some buildings are coming down, no matter how much ´potential´they might have, if some can be saved great but that is the reality.

Bhorvath - yes, i think you have pretty much hit the nail on the head

I don't think this is a building worth fighting for unless there's an 'adaptle' reuse out there waiting for it. Supply/demand economics have to be in balance for it to be viable. How may deli/lottery ticket/liquor storescan Niagara Street support? Perhaps aflorist with a live-in owner upstairs.

HelenWheels - great comment, very insightful. Since you can´t tolerate anyone with a different opionion you are reduced to name calling. Truth Hurts eh?

So Typical Buffalo. The negative capital of the world where people rather bitch left and right about some stupid old buildings instead of addressing the reality of life in Buffalo and what can be done to make it a better city for years to come. Let´s protect all these decrepit old buildings to the death while the local economy sucks, people are moving away left and right, there is a shooting or stabbing on Chippewa every other weekend but this is more important???

With this narrow minded way of thinking it´s going to take generations to make any real progress as a city and that should start with the overall attitude of the people. Everywhere else in the country people are moving forward with new businesses, new technology, new industries, new jobs, new attitudes, yet in Buffalo everyone wants to cling to the past, protect every shack that has ´potential,´ fight for factory jobs that have no future and fight against anything that represents change.

Welcome to Buffalo!

TroyT, bhorvath- Tell us all what you have done to improve our city. (ranting on a blog doesn't count) Preservation has been the single most positive force in the city of Buffalo bringing investment, residents, and pride.

Reflip - the reality is there are too many old buildings that cannot be saved, the reality is that the economic situation in Buffalo is worse than just about any other city in the US, the reality is the population in Buffalo continues do decline. .I could care less what you spend your time doing and what causes you believe in, that´s entirely up to you.

I am saddened to hear that preservation is the single most positive force in our city. We should have new industries, influx of new residents, tax relief, and growth as positive factors, but instead we settle for preserving vacant buildings.

Einstein- Preservation brings new residents, tax dollars, and growth. Also we don't "settle for preserving vacant buildings" but instead bring business and life back to areas that have long been neglected.

TroyT

I would also like to know what you thinks people should be doing to make Buffalo better. You seem pretty passionate about this. Let us know what has to be done and how to do it.

So Einstein,

Are you actually saying that the the city would be better off if the buildings that have been restored and filled with tenants were instead torn down and converted to vacant land or parking lots?

Huh?

So STEEL, are you that narrow minded and single focused that you cannot understand what I wrote?

Huh?

I am actually saying that PRESERVATION should NOT be the SINGLE MOST POSITIVE FORCE in our City today. It should be one of them, but definitely not the number one SINGLE MOST POSITIVE FORCE.

Preservation does not bring industry and jobs, new residents, tax dollars, and growth. You have that in reverse. Industry and jobs bring new residents and tax dollars. This growth will do more for your preservation efforts than any lawsuit or arm chair architect can even dream of bringing.

Industry, new residents, growth, and the like will create demand for buildings, it will create a need to preserve. One of the forces that we fight against today is apathy, another is lack of demand. The apathy is visible in many of the comments, like "We can't save every old building", or "We have to tear this down for progress".

How successful would UB have been in tearing down the building near the medical complex if it was part of a viable community. The fact is that this area, like many, many areas of the city are in need of residents. Let me rephrase that so you can understand it without infringing on your emotional reactions. We, as a city, need HOMEOWNERS and BUSINESS OWNERS. We do not need more renters who live in a rehabbed loft for a couple of years before heading off to the suburbs to raise their kids. We need people who call Buffalo home, and we need thousands of them in all parts of the city. They cannot come from the suburbs, because that creates another issue for the region to accommodate; instead we need to make Buffalo and the WNY region more attractive to people from OUTSIDE the region.

These people do care about our preservation efforts, and they do care about a lot of things that are happening, but our current SINGLE MOST POSITIVE FORCE for our city is not sufficient to bring the people here in the numbers that we need.

Is that easy enough for you to understand. Huh?

Well put Einstein. Good luck trying top convey these thoughts to people like Steel. They like to forget/ignore the true issues like job growth and population loss and focus on preservation projects that add no real value to Buffalo.

Not only is that a great example of ugly architecture, but that is a sh*thole of a neighborhood. With the unbelievable number of problems that Buffalo faces, why is this even a concern??

Einstein- Preservation does bring new residents, tax dollars, and growth. People are employed working in the trades and area business benefits from the sale of materials. Structures are put back on the tax rolls and assessments are increased. It also brings HOMEOWNERS and customers for BUSINESS OWNERS. Our older buildings are the one asset we have that can attract people from OUTSIDE the region. My point that it is the SINGLE MOST POSITIVE FORCE does not mean it is or should be the only one, just that at this time preservation has done more to improve Buffalo than all the other efforts by government or the business community.