Buffalo Rising Online

What year where those fines initiated? The same year Genrich bought the buildings? I have watched Judge Nowak in action and respect him, it must of killed him not to levy anything higher since this is so much worse than the usual housing court issues of knee high grass or missing gutter pieces. [well, not usual, some of the cases are pretty bad, but still...]

Do you ever ask yourself how anyone can sit on a piece of real-estate, in this case, 22-years and remain solvent?

A 22-year tax loss write-off should trigger some form of bells with the IRS.

Also, initially, I give the owner credit for placing these buildings into a form of stasis where any developer can begin renovation without the worry of asbestos or major demolition.

So, another question; why did the owner not peruse development since he went to the trouble and expense of prepping these buildings for future renovation in the first place?

Personally, I love the former photography building with the second floor atrim; now there is a building worth renovating!

Meanwhile...just to the right of this property at the corner...Triangle Development (aka Scot Fisher of Righteous Buildings) owns the collapsed building. Why the free pass? Hmmm...

Any idea of what the potential buyer might want to do with these buildings?

Pecan- good point. To be fair, Triangle's involvement with that property (which the City came close to demolishing) is far less than twenty years. I don't know what the status is of that redevelopment, but there hasn't been any work there that I have seen in quite some time besides them stabilizing the remnants after the building collapse.

Does anyone know if the project is still alive? I agree, the owners need to develop, sell, or be fined.

I wonder if the same group whi is working the Granite Works is going to take this one?

Sounds like a good argument for raising the maximum fines! A judge can only apply the law they cannot legislate it.

Time to call your councilman and the mayor!

If there was ever a reason for the community to come together in protest, THIS IS IT!!!. The city must be something to redevelop this block. The City approved and funded a plan under the Masiello Administration which would allow for eminent domain of these specific buildings. We need to organize a community effort to demand that the city takes action!!

This is one of the key entrances to the city of Buffalo from the 33 and is a critical piece for redevelopment.

If ever there were a reason to legislate change. B. Brown and crew MUST step up: create a Community Czar to make things happen--no more talk, let's SEE ACTION.

For Czar's consideration: 1. Before a vacant commercial/residential structure is listed for sale, the roof, windows, doors, etc. must be sealed and secured. 2. When vacant commercial or multiple unit bldgs are transferred via sale, the new owner must supply a performance bond to ensure rehab/occupency is achieved. 3. City Court and Nowak & crew should work with City legal counsel to put some backbone into fines, codes, and enforcement. An out of code structure, property, etc. should not languish for months, years..let alone decades. 4. Develop a dedicated revenue stream and re-work recent State grant programs to provide large(r) incentives and assistance to turn MBBA and other derelict properties around. 5. Assist PUSHBuffalo.org efforts to return MBBA properties to the marketplace.

Time to fine the bejesus out of Genrich AND Fisher. How about some embarrassing media coverage, too?

In the three years since his building toppled, he's removed the debris and nothing more. Pedestrians face a cyclone fence that barely holds back the collapsed barricades that are supposed to keep people out of his hole in the ground. At least Genrich has not been depriving people, especially wheelchair users, of the safe use of sidewalks.

This property is next door to a popular nightclub that draws all kinds of young people who might think it'd be fun to hop the fence and explore the site, esepcially after ingesting some intoxicants.

It's a personal injury or ADA lawsuit waiting to happen.

City Court, Nowak and Crew have made numerous attempts to partner with City Hall but it falls on deaf ears - year after year - now it's up to Steve Casey and Tim Wannafaker (yeah, I know I speeled his name wrong - on purpose)

Pecan and WCP - Triangle development is probably as interested in reviving the G-street property as he is with his prime eyesore on Main and Ferry. These guys are banking these properties with the hope that someone will build up around them, to increase value. They have little interest in development, just speculation. There are dozens of people just like them, holding on to property until it either rises in value or they give it up to the city when it is beyond repair and no longer worth the taxes.

contrary to popular belief Downtown Buffalo is not home to very many derelict and crumbling buildings. There are many that are underutilized but few that have reached this state. Unfortunately these few give a very bad message to the people of WNY and especially to outsiders who may have seen nothing like this in their own cities. Many would lump Buffalo in with Detroit in this respect of having rotting buildings throughout . It is imperative that Buffalo renovate or replace these last remaining problem sites (Genesee Block, Webb, Vernors, Gray Stone). Buffalo is a far far far from being in the same predicament as Detroit but as long as there is one building allowed to rot people will not start thinking of Buffalo in any other way

Gee, I wonder what could have been distracting the principles of Triangle Development these last couple of years. Oh, wait a minute, I remember now. They were working on one of the most significant and successful historic building rescues in recent memory - The Delaware Asbury Methodist Church.

While I am all for responsible propety owneship, it's pretty clear that some people posting comments have a very personal agenda with their criticism of Triangle. I don't know what that agenda is, but let's look at the big picture.

Gengrich has owned those properties for how many years? Triangle for how many? What else has Gengrich done for Buffalo in the meantime? Triangle? What actually is the state of the Main/Ferry Building? Code violations? Holes in roof? Is the building worse now than it was when Triangle purchase it?

Should they have done more with the Genesse remains? Yes. Has anyone done anything more with buildings in that area? Only Rocco, and there are lots of other owners. I agree we should hold them to the same standard as everyone else, but why a higher one?

Charger,

Righteous Babe committed to the Asbury Church long before Triangle started buying properties. In other words, the principals knew what a big project the church was but went ahead and took on needy properties anyway. The church is a wonderful thing, deserves every award it gets, and no one would argue otherwise.

But it's like kids: don't have 'em if you can't take care of 'em. You don't get to neglect your younger children just because the oldest turns out to be the next Tiger Woods.

If Triangle is so overextended, why does it keep acquiring properties instead of rehabilitating the ones it has? Last fall Triangle bought its second house on Linwood while ignoring the property on Genesee and the one at Main & Ferry is in housing court. Yes, it is in court.

Oh, and you're the one making this personal. Scot Fischer is a great guy, everyone knows that. Niceness is not the issue here. The issue is that Triangle Development, like Genrich, is a bad neighbor.

Scot Fisher should be held accountable for his properties just like the City of Buffalo should be held accountable for theirs.The court system is doing all they are allowed to do by law and cases like this are an example of why these outdated laws need to be changed

I have no issues with Scott Fischer, I hear that he is a great guy and has a true and genuine interest in the development and bettermetn of the city; however he has a few properties that are sitting vacant and in disrepair on some of the most visible real estate in the city. We see his neglect when entering the city from Main Street and when entering the city from the Kennsington. I personally believe that all property owners (including me) must be held personally accountable for the state and repair of their properties. The city isn't in the business of buying real estate, they are in the real estate business because of neglect and delinquency by property owners like Triangle Development, Genrich and the Freudenheims.