Buffalo Rising Online

I would nominate the Vernors building in the 700 block. Another very sad case--maybe sadder. And also something a gallon of tar would have fixed early on.

Has Carl Paladino ever been to Housing Court?

I had the opportunity this past summer to inspect the building's exterior with a few others interested in getting Paladino to address some of the conditions, especially the broken windows and crumbling facade on the south side of the building.

While this building is of some concern the "Woodlawn Row Houses" have been owned by the city of Buffalo since 2003, were designated a "local landmark" by the Preservation Board in the 80's. They sit, abandonded, partially boared, derelict and vacant.

Here's the deal: http://tinyurl.com/79d2m

The Woodlawn Row Houses are located directly across the street from the future home of Performing Arts High School ($32m renovation to "Traditional HS) and just around the corner from the new Frank Merriwether Jr. Branch Library...opening next month...

While the city remains immune from Judge Nowak's decisions in Housing Court, lets hope that a Mayor Brown will take a more active interest in promoting the city's architectural treasures here in Masten and elsewhere on the east side...like the Wollenberg Grain Elevator (National Registry) on Goodyear Ave. But if history and BB's past performance as Masten Councilman is any guide and absent an infusion from the private sector..I fully expect the "demolition by neglect" of this city owned property to be complete by the end of his 4 year term.

David

The Greystone will be a terrible loss if its present course is allowed to continue. It should be criminal to allow a building to get to this condition.

Another poster child: the Webb building, recently featured here at BuffaloRising. I'm sure it is in the archives.

To Cynthia's point, here's the Webb building URL: http://tinyurl.com/dl8kw

This is a perfectly beautiful building! Demolition would be a terrible tragedy. How about re-use as a HOTEL? Buffalo is appallingly lacking in nice hotels. There have got to be people in Buffalo with connections to enterprises like the Empire Hotel Group, which renovated and re-opened the similarly-scaled Lucerne, for example, on Amsterdam Avenue in NYC. Some thinking outside the box is required in this case.

...next time you're entering the Pearl Street Pub, look to the right...that massive brick example of old Buffalo architecture may look like it's waiting for the right developer, but there is a massive hole in the roof...and just guess who owns it?

PERHAPS IF A FEW CITY OFFICIALS WERE "LOCKED UP" BY JUDGE NOWAK FOR A FEW NIGHTS FOR BEING DERELICT IN THEIR DUTIES IN ENFORCING SOME OF THE HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS THAT ARE PREVALENT IN THESE "DEMO BY NEGLECT STRUCTURES". THE POLITICALLY CONNECTED WELL TO DO THAT OWN THESE SBIULDINGS WOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT LETTING THE PROBLEM STRUCTURES SIT AND DECAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO "DEAL WITH" THE CITY CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE THE"WAIT AND SEE" ATTITUDE ANY LONGER. EXAMPLES MUST BE MADE ... SO THAT OTHERS WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE MEAN BUSINESS AND THINK TWICE ABOUT NOT DEVELOPING / REPAIRING IN A TIMELY MANNER.JUDGE NOWAK IS THE BEST YET WE HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM PROPERTY OWNERS WHETHER IT BE A SINGLE FAMILY OR LARGE COMMERCIAL BUILDING. I SOMETIMES WISH HE WOULD BE MORE HARDLINED WHEN IT CAME TO GRANTING "EXTENSIONS " TO THOSE VIOALTORS WHO STAND IN FRONT OF HIM. PERHAPS THOSE INDIVIDUALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS COMPASSION. WE COULD USE A "HANGING JUDGE" SOMETIMES IN HOUSING COURT.

I love this posting, WCP! I have been looking for additional interest in this building for three years. The exterior sides are used for drug deals and prostitution. People have taken the scroll guards from the lower windows for "bling" in their gardens and homes.

Paladino has made no attempt to address the issue. Possibly because he wished this site to be another parking venue when he originally purchased the building - which, by the way, is mortgaged through the former owner - Johnson Park Associates, LLC, 2730 Transit Road in West Seneca - no relation to the Johnson Park Association which is a 501 (c) 3 block club. The deed was made out to 5182 Group, LLC which is one of Paladino's companies.

My question is this: Where is the Preservation Board? Not only is this a designated building in the city - It is also on the National Register and has a special interest in the concrete architecture. Someone needs to come forward and realize that, although Mr. Paladino is reaping great rewards and compliments on his successful venues and projects, he also needs to be responsible for all - ALL - his properties. Either that or "gift" them to those who can work on developing them or creating fund venues for their salvation.

Here's a catch in the mortgage paperwork under "I PROMISE AND I AGREE WITH LENDER AS FOLLOWS:" - Section 5:

"I will keep the property in good repair. I will not myself and will not allow others to destroy, damage or substantially change the property without the lender's prior written consent and I will not allow the property to deteriorate...."

Sounds like a faux pas in the agreement to me.

There are other clauses about government seizure of the property and those funds acquired through government seizure being utilized for restoration.

So, any legal eagles willing to take this one on? At the very least Paladino should be held accountable for the proper "mothballing" of this essential historic building.

guys, the exterior is beautiful, however, the interior even before Paladino took it over is past repair. It is extremely expensive to repair a building like this, add to it the cost of restoring to original specs and it quickly becomes economically not viable to renovate for apartments or condos...otherwise developers would have been jumping all over this building. Even Rocco Termini, Benderson, Development, Uniland have all decided its not worth the financial risk. Sometimes the numbers just dont add up!!!

If the interior when he purchased it was past repair, Than the question is... Why did he buy it?

Has Rocco, Benderson or Uniland looked at this property? I doubt it. Why did Paladino buy it and announce a redevelopment project, begin to gut the place, and then decide it wasn't a financially feasible endeavor?!?! Get a new developer involved and subsidize the project if need be. In the meantime, get it buttoned up!

Momo, The argument you pose has been used prior to the successfull renovation of many many prominent buildings in Buffalo. These buildings have all been renovated and add tremendously to the city and their owners. A brief ist

Old Post Office (ECC City Campus

Guarantee Building

The entire Theeater District including Sheas

the Squire Mansion (demo ws even started before this buildinsg was gloriously saved

The Mansion Hotel

The Millionaire's Row of mansions on Delaware Ave

The Genesee Building

The Martin House

All the above were deemed economically too costly to restore. All of the above have been or are being restored and the city would be tragically poorer without them. THere are many many lesser known restorations throughout the city that many said could not be done and yet...they are done.

The last thing Bufflao needs is another parking lot or God forbid another "shovel ready site"

We cant subsidize everything!!! We live in a capitalist society for christ's sake! Y doesnt someone from thePreservation board come up with money to redevelop it? Lots of suggestions and impeders but noone from these boards takes any action.

maybe you should file another lawsuit and chase Paladino out of town like the myriad of other developers. Even Pano is now opening a new $1.5 million location out on Transit road instead of expanding here in the city because of that peice of crap building the "Preservationists" are trying to "save" next door. I am all for saving historically "Significant" places...not a place that is historical because McKinley or Johnson stayed there. Come on people...

For this being a "NEW BUFFALO" gathering place...there sure are alot of people who cant seem to let go. Good luck all

Momo has a lot of anger. As for Pano...thank God he is going to Transit road. His proposal to tear down that "crap" building as you call it was (is?) a tragedy in the making. I suppose you will not be happy until Elmwood looks like Transit Road.

Elemwood's successs is based on great buildings just like that "crap" buiding and that "crap" building adds far more to Elmwood than Pano's Restaurant.

I believe that Paladino HAD started some interior work a few years ago, maybe 2001, when part of the roof collapsed and damn near killed someone. There was much talk at the time because of the link the building had with the Pan Am Expo, so it must have been 2001.

The building is in BAD shape. I'm not sure it's still structurally sound. I agree that it will be a big loss if it's not taken care of soon.

While Paladino has done some good things, preservationally, his record of completion and care of old property is spotty, at best. He also owns the beautiful, 20 floor art deco United Office Building in Niagara Falls. He has since 2000 or 2001 and the building still sits decaying and open to the elements.

I totally agree with the sentiments that owners should be held accountable for this kind of neglect. I think our work at the Central Terminal proves that care for a property and public concern for safety is possible. We've been able to raise enough money to seal, secure, fix roofs and maintain the grounds and we're an all-volunteer group. We don't have access to nearly the same amount of resources that a developer of records does. There's no excuse, in my book.

Comment to David:

While landmark status is nice, it doesn't protect against neglect. It only protects it against any extensive redesign of the exterior. The terminal was placed on the National Historic Register of Landmarks in 1984, when all the damage from neglect began. Preservationists didn't begin the fight for it until the early '90's, when it was already severely damaged. There has to be some legal accountability for this kind of controllable blight.

Can someone suggest things we can do to get these buildings saved?

david s, you need to remove your head from the sand. Pano's is as vital to elmwood as any landmark business or building...do you forget that there used to be a parking lot there and he now has a 2million per yer business there on the city, state and county tax rolls? That building next door is garbage as are your opinions on something you dont understand...how could you...you probably are subsidized by us taxpayers. You should raise the money to preserve our past...oh yeah probably not...youll just sit here and bitch like the rest.

Guys, he brings up a good point, why doesnt anyone from the Pres Board come up with some money?

1. Notify the Buffalo Preservation Board, Tim Tielman and the Preservation Coalition of Erie County. Get it on their radar screens.

2. Have one of these groups "out" Paladino to the local media and grill him on what his "restoration" plans are.

3. Do your research on the building(s) at City Hall, the Buffalo News and the library. Information is power.

4. If you don't get any response from Paladino, go directly to the Housing Court judges and see what they can do about it. There may be many public safety issues at hand that can flush out an inactive owner.

If it was not for Scott Field purchasing the Central Terminal for $1 back in 1997, the building would surely be lost now. One person grew into a non-profit corporation that has invested $2 million into the building and got it well on its way to preservation.

One person can change things.

PS - the Preservation Board has too MANY fights on their hands. It's beyond their scope to save individual buildings. Most of these guys have been doing this for years. It's about time some others step up and help.

instead of harassing Paladino, we should try to help him...developers dont respond to threats...and will only lead to abandonment of this building

Paladino is a business man, not a preservationist or historian. Do you really think he cares about any of the buildings he owns, other than their potential profitability?

How can we help him? He doesn't want or need our help. He knows exactly what he is doing: waiting for further collapse so he can get it condemned and have it torn down. It's just a write off to him then. He doesn't have a track record of investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to "mothball" any building he owns.

The land value at that site will only increase, Greystone Building or not.

Isn't it already abandond?

As to Momo...you will notice that everyone else on here is quite civil and do not need to resort to insults. State your argument on its merrits without trashing me.

As for the building next to Panos...It was for a long time an active residence then active business location. It is in a neighborhood which has no abandonment or vacancy issues. The only reason it is in the condition it is now in is because of its recent ownership and lack of investment by such. Many business on Elmwood do great business without being surrounded by giant parking lots. Geat cities do not thrive on easy parking. They thrive on great street scapes filled with great buildings and many varied things do do.

Transit Road?..........NO THANKS

Do you consider a building "abandoned" when it's owned by someone? I don't. I'd say "derelict" or "neglected" are better descriptions.

I say abandoned meaning the city gets it and ultimately nothing happens but demeolition. I dont think paladino meant to let it decay...he bought it, started work, then saw it would be too costly when it was too late...he made a business mistake and now its too late.

david, have you ever been in that building? I have, we looked at purchasing years ago and it is a disaster inside, needs new plumb, elec, the works. The value of the house is less the its worth on the open market. I am in the development business and we do projects all over the country. How can you hate a place (Panos) because he wants to expaand..and no not a parking lot, hje wants to expand more tables and service...he just put a new 250,000 kitchen in there to serve more people...he wants to add 30 employees. How can you possibly be mad about that? Im sure one of your friends or relatives would appreciate a job...considering our unemployment rate is the highest on NY. As a developer this is why the big guys in our industry tend to avoid Buffalo. I know of a large firm out of Cali that wanted to buy a whole block on Elmwood and put a mixed use project with 80 high end apartments, a banana republic, old navy, and a Coffe Bean & Tea Leaf. In all a 16 million project. But they heard of the lack of business friendlyness and opposition other developers have run into w the pres. board. they did a study, met with the city permit dept, and ran the other way. Its really a shame we cant look like an Old Town Pasadena or even a small Boston. Developer friendlyness...even on a small level like Panos is important....

Quest, your forgiving nature is admirable. The bottom line remains the same though. The city doesn't want it and neither does Paladino, so until the issue is pressed, it sits and decays until it becomes more of a public safety hazard. Then you HAVE to tear it down.

Why amass a collection of old buildings, many "too costly" to renovate, if you don't do anything to protect them until it becomes more economically feasible to restore?

i mguess my entrepeneurail spirit prevents me from thinking that way. but its sad all the way around...

dont discount what momo says too much...he brings the other side's view

I absolutely do not discount Mo's point of view. In fact, I agree with him, in some instances, about redevelopment and our lack of "developer friendliness". I also don't agree with some of my preservationist friends who want to save EVERYTHING that is historic.

I don't agree about the Atwater House becoming a parking lot. It's incongruous with the look and feel of the Elmwood strip. But, then again, so is Pano's. But that was built way before there was a preservationist movement in Buffalo.

Development is necessary, but not just for development's sake. If you ever have looked at the downtown strategic plan, there are specific reuse purposes that have been carefully thought out and even have begun execution.

momo

The argument that the building is too far gone...so the only route is to tear it down... is worn out and has been proven wrong time and time again. The newly renovated Squire Mansion on Main Street is a prime recent example of how shallow that argument is.

As for your multi milliion dollar big time developers....my understanding is that they could not get commitments from the retailers you mentioned and that is the reason no project went forward. Developers deal with dificult city regulations and obsticles all over the country. If the money is there they will deal with it. In Chicago it takes over 6 months to get a permit and it does not stop development.

I did not say I hate Panos. I just don't think that his restaurant and future plans take the best advantage of the location his restaurant is in. In my opinion its architecture detracts form the city and his plans, to my understantding do include more parking. I have no doubt that if Panos was not there a new sccuessful business would fill the site. In the long run the citiy's future is better served by retaining an irreplacable treasure than adding another paking lot surrounding a painted concrete block box.

If Pano understood what he has he would see the architecture of that house and the surrounding neighborhood as an asset. Parking is a short term solution. Retaining urban works of art and turning them into unique urban assets is a long term gain for Buffalo.

Any place can look like Transit Road. Only Buffalo has that house (and the Graystone for that matter) and its many other treasures. Lets not sell our souls to short term shallow thinking.

I'm surprised that anyone is villifying Paladino for this. I have a hard time forgiving him for tearing down the Harbor Inn, but he's also done a lot of good and useful renovations. He bought this mess, and probably with good intentions, but if it's not quite profitable, he won't bother with it.

It might be interesting to look into the PAST of this building and see how that is connected to our present and future, since it's an excellent example of how millions of federal dollars have poured into the area and seemingly disappeared into thin air.

It's a fabulous building, and it should be given to someone to gut. We need someone outside with money and taste, like Karpeles (which I know is not a perfect analogy) to save this. It wouldn't come down in another city. I'm STILL mourning the Media Study building.

ok my friend we agree to disagree. you cant disagree with the fact that development in Buff. is light years behind.

We're on the same page there, Mo!

I've talked with developers who've echoed the same sentiments you expressed. I understand your frustrations. It's frustrating for ALL of us. I think we're all on the same side, just with a few differences. Exchanges like this are good for progress.

one last thing...Bellisara, Bellasario...those are two great rehabs...thanks Mike...g'day

Also, be logical guys. Since 2003, interest rates have gone up, costs have gone up and the economy has cooled off a bit. It's a good deal if you can do it VERY cheaply and well enough to fit its purposes. If the structure is very hard to work with, and it has to be an expensive renovation, there has to be a return on investment on the other side. We aren't going to get more upscale apartments in the top (since there will soon be a glut in those... and not enough jobs to support them) and we aren't going to get a Dolce & Gabbana retail store there. We'd be lucky to get a copy shop. And that won't return the investment it will take to repair that building. It SHOULD be subsidized by the feds, but there should be some oversight as to who gets it and how they manage.

Think of the TRL brick building with the pillars up the street. Gutted, stabilized, and nothing pretty for years, but no one makes a peep about it because good people have it and are taking their time to make it wonderful.

There MUST be a way of getting grants and the like to package that. How about a downtown Graduate Department of Architecture for UB?? Just give it to them and get their grant writers on it.

And Natalie, I don't think it's wrong to scrutinize someone's intentions and practices when they've been in the business long enough to know good investment deals from bad investment deals. My point is that he is a business man, first and foremost. Preservation and restoration is not his major concern.

Development in Buffalo IS light years behind the rest of the country. But that has nothing to do with preservation of historic buildings. Buffalo's problems are casued by many complex issues (not the least of which is the negativity of its own citizens)

I often hear the protest that we can't save everything..... Well if you notice that over half of downtown Buffalo has been converted to parking then it is hard to argue that we are trying to save every building.

If anything our record of saving valuable buildings is abismal.

I am not a save every building person. I am against tearing down valuable historic buildings of high quality and replacing them with lesser quality buildings or parking lots. Next time you drive by the SOHO bar on Chippawa try to image what used to be there and how valuable that old Fisherman's Warf building would be today.

We don't toss gold in the trash because it is tarnished. Why do we do that with our irrepacable herritage???

Developers go where the money is. I don't buy this talk about Buffalo being especially unfriendly to developers.

Boston makes developers jump through every hoop imaginable, but it doesn't seem to scare them away.

Mike,

Scrutinize, criticize, FINE. He can use that. Villify? Argh! I'm SO tired of overblown analogies and everything spelled out in primary colors for elementary school kids. Developers BAD, Preservation GOOD. Or Business growth GOOD, Preservationists NUTTY. I'm not saying you did that...in fact I think we agree. It's just a general tone that turns emotional quick as lighting kindling.

In this case, I'm saying maybe it WAS a good investment until factors changed and now it's not, so we need to find a way to lessen those factors and make it feasible again, probably for someone else.

Paladino would expect some losses, he's a businessman, and would probably let go of it if he thought he couldn't get it turned into a parking lot and recoup his losses that way.

Yes, (unfortunate similarity in names though.. which is WHICH?) add Sidway and Larkin buildings to the list.

Natalie, the grants are out there, as long as you have a historical reference and a sound business plan, you can make it happen. It does take a lot of time and research though.

This building was called the CHERRYstone, I believe, and was part of a problematic HUD deal with a corporation formed by Anthony and Rocco Diina, and Joe LaTona who headed NFTA. Millions of dollars went into it, and the renovation was subpar. There was an investigation and I believe it resulted only in something very small because Tony Diina had been on the HUD board too recently to go into business with HUD himself, a technicality. Of course, he's a pillar of the community and on the board of BNE, and Rocco Diina, after owning the security company that was contracted to provide security for NFTA, has been our police commissioner for the Masiello years.

Someone with Lexus/Nexus look it up. It's pretty interesting.

Natalie, I guess I may be taking my frustrations out on Paladino because what has happened to some of his properties, like the United Office Building and Greystone are precisely what happened to the Central Terminal under the ownership of Tom Telesco.

He ended up raping the place: all the interior fixtures were stripped and sold to recoup his losses. Then, he left the build wide open to vandals. Did he try to redevelop the complex? Yes. Did he have a workable business plan? I don't know. His failure is the only thing I can go by. Was he a responsible owner? Definitely NOT! He left town to escape several bench warrants out for him.

I understand good business practices. I know Paladino does. He's a good business man. My only point is that we have to start holding some of these vacant building owners accountable for the upkeep of their properties.

Mike,

I don't think Paladino is Telesco, and I think there are a great many more Telescos than Paladinos. I also have seen Paladino respond appropriately to public pressure, and I think he genuinely cares about this city, and would like to save what can be saved. He may differ on what the criteria is, that's all. I'd have saved the Harbor Inn, but he probably just sold the land to the Senecas and made out VERY well.

The Central Terminal is one of those HUGE tragedies... like the Holocaust. It can color how you look at everything, so you see it everywhere but really, nothing compares.

I think there's hope still for it though. I do think Buffalo is turning around, and I'm no Pollyanna.

No, I don't really think he is either. I look at the Oak St. School lofts and I admire his work.

I think there is hope for the terminal and for many great buildings in Buffalo. I went to Munich and Vienna last year. It's wonderful to see how the Europe treasures it's beautiful old buildings. In fact, in Munich, many of them were partially destroyed in World War II and painstakingly rebuilt to the minutest detail. It's craftmanship at it's finest! But in going there, you'll notice how extensively parts some of these buildings have been modified to fit a Benetton and you realize that we must do that too.

I differ with my preservationist friends who want buildings to be as they were. In fact, I've debated with some of my board members on small restoration projects at the terminal that I think may be short-sighted and unusable in a redevelopment plan. Some people are still thinking "train station". That is NOT ever going to be justified in Buffalo in the near future.

I'm no Pollyanna either. I believe that saving Buffalo and it's architectural treasures is possible. I think we all need to fight for this, but remain realistic at the same time.

Here's one of the references to the building in the News Archives... you can go and buy the article if you are dying to know more!

PAPER SAYS D'AMATO ASSISTED IN GRANT HERE LETTER BACKED GREYSTONE

PROJECT

Published on November 12, 1989

780 words

TEXT:

A controversial Buffalo housing project that already cost the two top NFTA officials their jobs is causing political problems for U.S. Sen. Alfonse M. D'Amato, R-N.Y.

The New York Times reported in a front page story Saturday that D'Amato urged Samuel R. Pierce Jr., the former federal housing secretary, to approve a multimillion-dollar grant for a Buffalo partnership that included two D'Amato supporters.

...

The Oak School lofts were not done by Paladino nor was Sidway nor was Larkin.

The main thing we have to focus on is not to remove quality buildings and replace them with inferior buildings or with nothing at all! And we can not allow owners to neglect buildings so that they get to the point were they can not be renovated. The Graystone (and the Webb and many other treasures) at a minimum should be sealed and protected. There is no reason for an owner to leave a building with no windows and a deteriorated roof. There is no reason that windows can not be boarded and sealed. There is no reason why a new roof can not be put onto a building.

No one can come up with any excuse why you would own a building and then let it deteriorate to an unsafe condition

A word about Buffalo being "light years" behind: I never liked that exagerrated cliche, and I've long suspected that Buffalo's being "behind" in certain areas was a sign of discretion, taste, and an admirable disregard for trendiness and change for change's sake--not backwardness. I lived in Toronto for a couple of years, NYC, and other metro areas, all of which have been damaged by fast track development--damaged aesthetically and in less tangible ways--a sort of city-soul damage that comes from rapid consumption of the latest food, latest stores, latest lattes, or whatever.

The law is clear about neglecting buildings, and developers who do should be responsible. Period. What Buffalo has above all is a beautiful and complex architectural texture: this is what everyone, native and non-native alike, notices and is moved by. Once it is erased it cannot be brought back. We should not sacrifice our greatest. most singular quality for a fast return on so-called "development." I hope Buffalo never looks or feels like Boston or Toronto or Atlanta. What we have is a far more mysterious and bewitching ambiance--let the thoughtful and saavy developers work their magic on that canvas, instead of trying to remake it in the mold of the latest projects in overpriced and overrated cities.

I respect all your comments and admire the conversation. However, I have written before that there are grants available but need a letter of support from the owner of the building. I know it's a long shot, but HGTV's Restore America partnership with the NationalTrust for Historic Preservation can be a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

This building could eventually become a boutique hotel.

By the way, I always questioned how a developer of Paladino's background and experience could contract or hire anyone that would place a heavy piece of machinery on a rooftop without testing for safety. I believe OSHA would demand it. And, you know, I don't want to sound catty and blow steam. I've been incensed with those who have on this wonderful format, but, dang, I'm tired of seeing things go to waste.

My mother and her family helped develop this area into a 20th century neighborhood, yet when I complain and work on the drug scene, I am criticized and told to get out of "my" neighborhood by those who have no concept of what awaits them and their families five years down the road if the activity continues.

I had an office in the Central Terminal during the Tony Fadale ownership. I had no idea what grants were, but it pained me each day to see the condition and tore my heart when Telesco came in for the kill. Fadale wanted to save the building, Telesco wanted to reap the rewards. I remember the quote in the newspaper - "See those lights, we're gonna light those lights." A big shit-eating grin on his face.

I'm tired of the bullshit. I'm tired of the naysayers. I'm tired of discussion without action.

I want the Graystone rehabbed and will fight to assure it can be done. The next letter we send to Paladino requesting a letter of support for the application (next year, of course - the deadline for this year was yesterday) for Restore America, will be via certiied mail.

As far as preservation - the Preservation Board shoud request an inspection of this property and have that inspector write the damn thing for court! The judge, when it comes in, could request an interior inspection and make remedial suggestions and prompt positive action to at least mothball it.

No matter what has not happened, the PB can still take simple action that they are commissioned to - and have taken an oath to perform. We're not asking for money - just accountability - with the PB as well as Paladino.

Responsibility. To ourselves and each other - remembering that we have children, either our own, our family's, our friend's - that we have a responsibility to leave a strong legacy and an easer road. Instead, face it folks, we're headed for 'Escape From NY" if we don't affect change now - everyone of us.

I'm bringing this up in the meeting tomorrow of the NPC - Neighborhood Preservation Collaborative - it will be interesting to see who wants to take action.

As Marilyn knows, any citizen can report violations at a clearly neglected building like the Greystone. The Preservaton Board has little enforcement power--the Permits & Inspections Department and Housing Court have that role. So put pressure where it will accomplish something. Right here and now.

Everyone who posted here should call City Hall Permist & Inspections at (716) 851- 4932, -4924, -4925, -4926, or n5033 and ask when the Greystone was last inspected and what its status is now. Ask for a new inspection.

Thank you Cynthia. This is a great way to use this site. Community activism at work.

If everyone calls we can make something happen.

FYI - numerous calls have been made - e-mails directly to Peter Kleeman and Tom Marchese. No action.

It takes multitudes of calls and e-mails and postings to the Mayor's Complaint Line - use the online site.

Thanks, CVN - nice to have support in numbers!

FYI- the address is 24 Johnson Park (S). Not surprisingly, there isn't voice mail to lodge a complaint after hours at the Inspections Department.

momo, it's not just about saving an old building, but rather preserving the urban fabric that reinforces Buffalo's sense of place.

Economics 101: Land in Buffalo, even downtown, is still dirt cheap. You can find vacant commercial land in downtown Buffalo for less than residential zoned land in Clarance. Unlike midtown Manhattan, where land is extremely expensive, and thus a developer has to build a multi-million dollar building for a project to be economically viable, in Buffalo all it takes is a few thousand square feet to get some decent ROI.. It's not just that the Greystone will be demolished, but rather what it will be replaced with. History tells us the site will either become a surface parking lot -- a cash cow for those that own them -- will be a much shorter building, likely surrounded by suburban-style parking.

City leaders have traditionally held the viewpoint that "any development is better than nothing," and in hundreds of cases they've allowed inappropriate, suburban-style development on sites in settings that are distinctly urban. The area around Metro Rail stations are zoned for apartment buildings and high-density retail. City offiials allowed drive-through fast food chains to be built near them instead. You see this no place else in the country, because urban land is too valuable for such sparse development. You wouldn't dream of wasting such a site on a suburban-style McDonalds in Toronto or Denver.

Buffalo isn't Amherst, and allowing suburban-style development in an urban context is just not acceptable. It hurts the long-term planning goals of re-densifying and repopulating downtown.. It destroys the sense of place that is just beginning to draw people back inside the city limits and down to its urban core; the feeling that Buffalo is a CITY with buildings and people and culture, not a collction of suburban strips with short spec buldings set behind generous parking lots and deep landscaped buffers.

If you believe that only the market should dictate the dynamics of land use, regardless of market failure, I think you would be much happier in Houston, the only American citiy that doesn't have zoning.

Dan's comments are cogent and wise, but I have to raise my point again abourt cities such as Toronto, which people in Buffalo tend to revere and look to as a model. I can't speak for Denver, but real estate development in Toronto is far from thoughtful. It's a terrifically ugly city on many levels. The height of downtown core buildings is perhaps important when we're talking about strict limits such as those in Washington D.C., but Toronto's skyline is not uniform or appealing. There are also many large parking lots in downtown Toronto, often tucked away yes, but still very visible. The sidewalks are also often too narrow to accomoadate the foot traffic. A walk down Bloor street or Spadina Ave. will show you a truly awful blend of styles, heights, and uses. I have seen few large American cities that have anything like a harmonious street vista--NYC comes close in many areas. The smaller historic cities strike me as more successful, and it's to those cities that I think we might look for inspiration.

Wow., this article has really stimulated comments. Here is a suggestion about rehabing buildings that are too far gone internally and goes on in many cities including WDC. Allow the developers to "gut" the interior but require them to save the exterior facade. Result: the original architecture on the outside but a modern building on the inside.

If I could suggest, maybe a community group of citizens who donate materials, labor and time to work to restore buildings - kind of like Habitat for Humanity. Maybe not this one, but surely there are others. What about mutual investment in buildings that the community wants to see restored? As a grad student I don't have the money to buy and restore one, or I would, but I do have time and energy to work, not to mention passion to help see this city prosper. Sorry if this sounds naive, but I'm just looking for a way to make a difference. Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Urban Fabric is great...dont we have a county and city deficit? SHows how behind outr city is through the greatest economy in history over the last ten years...we missed the economic boom of the stock market and the Huge real estate boom. a $160 million deficit proves in black and white we are WAY behind guys. Ciao

momo The list of retail you mentioned didn't hear about the lack of business "friendliness," they heard about the lack of business!

I give ALL of the small businesses, especially retail, a lot of credit. Until Buffalo expands the "money pie" with some real MODERN jobs that keep our educated college grads here, it's never gonna happen. The economy is stagnant, has been stagnant and without some new ideas to create new money, will remain stagnant.

Let's get rid of our county government and that cesspool in Albany that drains resources.

WORD!

Agreed, Its not like Intel or Google is going to bring jobs here

Let's say the finances don't work for the Greystone. That is no excuse for letting it rot.

Paladino should board it up and protect it. It is completely irresponsible (not to mention unethical and illegal) to leave this builidng open to the elments so that it is eventually demolished.

Or let someone else buy it. I don't care how many other buildings the guy has renovated. His failure to protect the Greystone is a slap in the face to everyone else working so hard to improve the city.

Contact the Dept of Inspections and demand this building be cited for Housing Court. Judge Nowak will have the ability to demand an interior inspection. This can lead to the proper mothballing process for the Greystone.

The rest is up to Paladino or 5182 Properties, LLC as he prefers to be known as for this property. All Carl has to do is embrace the surrounding neighborhood (aka - WVRG) and work with us for the acquisition of grant monies to rehab the structure. Maybe even meet with the Adaptive Reuse committee of the NPC to discuss a possibility of boutique hotel or flats. OR - sell to an investor who will contract with the proper parties to assure this structure is held in esteem for rehabilitation.

M Rodgers...good idea...lets get him to work with us instead of barraging him...honey attracts better than sheeeeiiitttt.

I have called and wrote to tne Mayor's complaint line.

Come on people: Everyone should call City Hall Permist & Inspections at (716) 851- 4932, -4924, -4925, -4926, or n5033 and ask when the Greystone was last inspected and what its status is now. Ask for a new inspection.

The mantra of Buffalo being "way behind" is tiresome and inaccurate. I don't know where all these Shangri-la cities of umimpeded development are, but the ones I know about are not impressive--Charlotte, Phoenix, Las Vegas--all very troubled and volatile places, and aesthetically about as bad as it gets. The last ten years have been anything but a boom for millions of people, and Buffalo is far head of many cities in ways that some people tend to be blind to: visual beauty, city character, neigborly loyalty, ingenuity, and just pure poetic sense of place. Take your booms if you want, but booms always fizzle at some point.

Las Vegas and Phoenix have experienced the largest boom in any cityies' history overt the last ten years...How can you say they are volatile...LV gets 8-10,000 new residents a month according to the Nevada DMV...not including people moving there without handing their Drivers licences in...population has doubled there in 6 years and is expected to double again within the next 19...Phoenix is almost 4 million people...Job growth in Las Vegas was tops in the country with over 80,000 new Jobs in 2004 alone with another 70,000 expected this year...and Im not talking shitty service jobs...but rather tech jobs with Qualcomm who just added a 2,500 employee corporate office. Even service jobs in LV some make over $100,000 per year. So volatile is an uniformed statement my friend...Im 100% certain Buffalo would lovee to be volatile with that kind of population and job growth...

Buffalo does not have to be Pheonix of Las Vegas. it can be look to Chicago, Boston, Portlland, Seattle, San fransisco, Toronto, etc. There are many beautiful urban cities that are growing and which respect the treasure of their older buildings. Good economy does not equal Pheonix

This is one (of several) articles from the Times regarding Las Vegas and its many social problems - poverty, drugs and crime.

Seekers, Drawn to Las Vegas, Find a Broken Promised Land By DEAN E. MURPHY (NYT) 4120 words Published: May 30, 2004

I don't know how to link it, you'll have to look through NYT archives.