Buffalo Rising Online

Probably get some slack for this, but.....

Move a house to stop a bridge....... Only in Buffalo, NY

I hope the house survives the move - being over 100 years old probably doesn't help.

This story gets more bizarre by the day. NBJohn - I feel the same way.

In all likelihood the house could me moved without much of a problem. Larger structures are moved all the time. But if it's really true that "his intention has always been to find a historic site worthy of the house" then he shows a complete lack of understanding about the house and historic preservation. Moving the house out of the Pan-Am neighborhood (hasn't it always been exactly where it now is?) flies in the face of every preservation doctrine. It would strip the house of much of its significance and almost certainly make it ineligible for landmark status.

Goofy

This is the same guy that threatened to tear this house down a month ago and now he wants it designated a landmark? Shameful, self-promoting, self-serving and ridiculous....

Is anybody else getting sick of Al Coppola using the Pan Am House as a bargaining chip? If he really cares so much for this historic property he wouldn't:

A. Have built a non-traditional building devoid of context next to it (to put it nicely) B. Remove it from its historic context and siting, more or less foresaking its history (though I admit, greatly adding to its story) C. Relocate it to a neighborhood that threatened by emminent domain and eventual demolition D. Alreay have threatened to demolish it if his friend at the Stillwater doesn't get his way with his awning, which by the way probably got denied for something stupid like failing to have supporting documentation (i.e. renderings) depicting/outlining his proposal.

I liked a comment from the previous story regarding the Stillwater issue stating something to the affect of, "cutting your nose off to spite your face." Great expression - should be used more often to describe the actions of our current and former (i.e. Coppola) political hacks.

Fuming with animosity...

Is anybody else getting sick of Al Coppola using the Pan Am House as a bargaining chip? If he really cares so much for this historic property he wouldn't:

A. Have built a non-traditional building devoid of context next to it (to put it nicely) B. Remove it from its historic context and siting, more or less foresaking its history (though I admit, greatly adding to its story) C. Relocate it to a neighborhood that threatened by emminent domain and eventual demolition D. Alreay have threatened to demolish it if his friend at the Stillwater doesn't get his way with his awning, which by the way probably got denied for something stupid like failing to have supporting documentation (i.e. renderings) depicting/outlining his proposal.

I liked a comment from the previous story regarding the Stillwater issue stating something to the affect of, "cutting your nose off to spite your face." Great expression - should be used more often to describe the actions of our current and former (i.e. Coppola) political hacks.

Fuming with animosity...

Al has been an ass as long as I've known his name. One of western New York's finest do-nothing elected officials...so highly thought of that his own relative ran against him. If that doesn't tell you something about this guy, I don't know what does...not that Marc(k?) is any better...but seriously...what a total political HACK!!! It is obvious this guy will do anything to keep himself relevant (even if it is a tiny amount). Al, sell the house to someone who actually cares about what it stands for, get off the public tit, and register on monster.com and find yourself a job where being competant at what you do matters for something...

Tear that damn building down. Al Coppola uses this damn building to protect his interests and as long as the city and the citizens bow to his demands every time he expects us to he will continue. I say Tear it down Al Coppola, we dont need you blackmailing us every time we turn around. Now people who know me would know that to bring down a historic building is against my charactor but I just can't play into Al's hands anymore. Al take that building anywhere you want, tear it down,burn it up or just put it where where the sun dont shine. GOOD BYE PAN AM HOUSE!!!

I'm totally supportive of Mr. Coppola's plans and I just hope he doesn't stop there. Hopefully he puts the house on a wagon and pulls it over to the Aud for a little bit to save that too. If only Al had thought about this sooner, we could still be showing off our beautiful HO-Oats silos and we now have our primary weapon to fight against any future progressive movements. I know it may seem like he just wants it knocked down and out of his back yard, but doesn't want to be known as the guy who knocked down the Pan Am house, so he's trying to pass the blame, but I assure you he only has good intentions. As stated above, "His intention has always been to find a historic site worthy of the house… and know he says that he has finally found the best possible location." You wouldn't want to keep a historic house in its original location, that's boring. When people come back year after year to see the tourist hot spot that is the Pan Am house, you want them to experience a totally different side of Buffalo.

If I don't find $10,000.00 in cash in my mailbox by noon, I will move my house to Spaulding Lake. For an extra $300.00, I won't take my car there either.

what a stupid story. it's like arguing with a 9 year old.

Can someone say, TOOLBOX

ridiculous

Is this guy a nut, or just a prick? If he's a nut, I can sympathize with him.

Al Coppola's well intentioned comments seem to have brought on a deluge of acidic comments which resemble the cries of an orchestra of angry cats.To throw mud at a man whose record of community service speaks for itself through anonymous comments reeks of cowardice.

Al Cappola has a political and community service record of truth, honesty and sacrifice. When the Common Council voted themselves a $10,000 pay raise, Cappola didn't take his, even though his income soley derived from his job as Councilman. Name another who's not a millionaire that has ever done that.

Al never hired a PR executive to guide him on this Pan Am extravaganza, and if he did the expert would have told him not to threaten the Pan Am house for other principals, but even so-- Al is driving points home.Good points:

1. The landmarks review board is all too often prissy and selfish, with a short-sighted view that forcibly resists business owners needs and attention.

2. Al knows that if he fights hard enough the quintessential historical Buffalo waterfront neighborhood near the Peace Bridge is salvagable. Al played in those houses as a kid, knew the doctors and businessmen who lived there, were his heroes and mentors. He can still smell the kitchens brimming with the sauces that fed his childhood peers and made a neighborhood proud of its legacy.

The Pan Am house may not be his best PR tool. Still, it's the tool he uses to stick his neck out to lay claim to honorable reaches and ideals. And he puts his name behind his beliefs-- A-L...C-A-P-P-O-L-A-- who loves Buffalo and its communities and its people.

Those of you who mock his character, his record, even his home-- to you I say this: I can only imagine that behind the pseudonym you hide behind in order to throw stones here, that your life is in dire need of self-respect and respect for others.

This list of comments bespeaks all that is bad about Buffalo. Your savage ignorance belittles you, not Al Cappola. His heart remains strong, while many of yours are in question os even exisiting.

You've hurt Al Coppola's feelings today. You've hurt my felings too, both for Al, yourselves and for Buffalo.

This post-ripping does not show a Buffalo community, but rather denotes a scene from Lord of the Flies, of a bunch of bellyless and hateful people.

Be ashamed of yourselves.

Aren't we missing the bigger picture here? The Peace Bridge expansion is going to destroy a wide swath of a neighborhood (and some fine homes) for a truck plaza. Rising Damp--do you speak any language other than sarcasm?

maybe if he stops the bridge, the Buffalo Bills will not go over it