VIDEO: 49 Johnson Park Through an Outside Developer's Eye Pt. 2
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In Part 1 of this series, Newell Nussbaumer gets a slice of the history of Johnson Park from Marilyn Rodgers of the West Village Renaissance Group, and brings in developer Mike Hananel of Horizon Realty, who discusses why his LA real estate company thought Buffalo was a perfect fit. Mike is an example of an outside investor who far from being an absentee landlord, has become a partner invested in the community, not just the buildings he rents. Overcoming what some said could never be done, in one year he helped turn 49 Johnson Place from one of the West Side's most blighted properties into a fully-occupied building, complete with students and professionals. Now his company is reaching into other neighborhoods and working to expand growing neighborhoods, and bringing new investors with him.
In Part 2, we see the challenges Mike faced, including a full S.W.A.T. raid on the property two days after purchase, and a mental climate where it was believed nothing could be done. Get first-hand examples of some of the issues involved in redeveloping the property, with Roger's observations on how Horizon has managed.
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eliz
Isn't this the group that also owns 520 Virginia? If so, the residents surrounding that large multi-unit property are not so impressed.
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iAMbuffalo
eliz, maybe you should do what the residents of the WV did and work along with them to discuss the issues you have with 520 Virginia. The process the WV group went through was very concise and thorough and really made a good collaboration for the end result you see here. If you need a contact name and number I'm sure BRO has all the information for the WV group. That way they can show your residents the ropes.
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senorita
Oh - Eliz - iAMbuffalo is so right. Horizon should be prasied for getting these properties out of the hands of the former landlord. You can't expect a miracle overnight in every dwelling and it looks like they tacked the biggest problems first. I would have done the same thing in the same order.
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Aloha
iAMBuffalo, if only it were that easy for eliz to do what "the residents of the WV" did. She may not have the same benefit as the West Village Renaissance Group, whose leader (Marilyn Rodgers) works (or worked) for Buffalo Housing Court, thereby having made several inside connections and gained insight into the workings of our city government. I do think it's a good suggestion, however, to contact the folks at the West Village Renaissance Group for some suggestions about how to procede with resolving your problem. I've heard that they are very willing, if not eager, to help their neighbors.
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MRodgers
Hi, just checking in here and wanted to make some comments regarding our work with Horizon. Aloha, I used to work wirh Housing Court but it actually held me back from doing a great deal since I also had to work within ethic codes and all. However, our work here in the West Village started way before I took the position in Housing Court and we also had started to work to get 49 JP in order before then, too.
As a matter of fact, we had the former owner in front of "Save Our Streets" and Nicole Drye (great system and leader there) and when we found out that the building was sold we had the new owners come in for a "meet and greet" for lack of a better term. Mike and company were pretty astounded at what we had to present to them and they went to work right away, as Mike said, with officers from B District.
The "Save Our Streets" program under the direction of Nicole Drye is one of the best programs the city has to offer. Ms. Drye is extremely proactive and attentive to the needs of the community. I would suggest contacting her for issues that seem unbearable AFTER communication has been attempted with ownership and has gone no where. Otherwise, anyone is free to contact us, as well at wvrg_buffalo@msn.com.
By the way, please excuse the dust all over me in these videos. I was helping a friend sand her walls of her new home on JP and got caught by queenseyes just before going in to the house to clean up. That's what most homeowners do on sunny Sundays, anyway, so I guess it's a pretty good excuse for wearing a sweatshirt (sic).
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Aloha
Ms. Rodgers, I certainly never meant to minimize the work I'm sure you do for your community. Although I don't live in the immediate area, I'm sure I can safely assume that your neighbours are lucky to be on the receiving end of your contibution. I simply intended to point out that working in City Hall, and specifically in housing court, would give you access to databases and public officials that the average citizen would not have. It would empower you with an understanding of how the system works. (i.e. how eviction proceedings can work strategically to rid the neighborhood of undesireables, how an "order to vacate" a property prevents criminal activity in the area, etc.) I once heard Judge Henry Nowak from Buffalo Housing Court speak about such things. He offered a great deal of useful information, that perhaps the woman on Virginia Street is not privy to. Working at City Hall would give you a miriad of contacts such as judges, Councilmembers, attorneys, inspectors,and the like--many of whom would know you on a first-name basis. If you ever needed to know how to go after a property owner for violating a building code, for example, it would be relatively easy for you to find out. It's not like you were assembling auto parts at the Ford stamping plant all day long, and then had to come home at 6:00 at night and try to muster the energy to volunteer for your block club. Actually, I'm a bit surprised to learn that the advantages you gained from working in your position in Housing Court all day, every day, were outweighed by the burden of having to work within an ethics code...and a bit alarmed. I thought it a bit unfair of iAMBuffalo to so casually suggest that it would be simple for eliz to do what others have done, without knowing her situation. I do hope that eliz is able to work with you, or another community-based group, to resolve problems on Virginia Street. I drive by there all the time on my way to the Thruway, and it is looking very sad.
By the way, I like the sweatshirt look on you. :)
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MRodgers
Aloha, no, don't worry, I wasn't thinking that at all. I just wanted to let you, and others, know that most of the gathering of information and contact data was done prior to my entry into Housing Court. My jump start education in neighborhood issues started in 1992 and then continued when I first met our councilperson Brian Davis. We came to Mr. Davis with a number of issues, but with also solutions to build upon for remediation. That is what makes a difference in getting things resolved - solution-based versus complaint-driven. Then the rooming house issue came to the forefront and we started going into Housiing Court as a neighborhood concerned for the tenants of these properties. As a matter of fact, I was considered a candidate for the position in Housing Court due to the activity performed in this neighborhood. Heck, there were so many times that I was singled out when I attempted to perform as I had prior to Housing Court, it was almost ridiculous. But, we have a strong group here and when I couldn't represent a situation, someone else did. More and more neighbors took on responsibilities, and we formed a stronger, more dedicated organization.
However, the one thing that I consider the best is that Housing Court introduced me to a number of block clubs and individuals throughout the city. Then, I was able to share information to these folks for purposes like the needs of the Virginia Street group mentioned here. Since leaving Housing Court (the funding ran out) I still work across the city and also am a Housing Court Liaison for the Ellicott District, so I am available to assist in any way possible.
The West Village Renaissance Group is now a nonprofit corporation with no salaried positions, but still addresses the needs of the West Village area for housing and crime issues among many others, and the rebuilding of this great, historic district. We have a representative member for each street and have recently developed an Advisory Board that is comprised of various professionals throughout the area. Everything we take on, we look to how it will benefit the city, overall, rather than just our neighborhood. As neighborhoods, we're all connected, and when one of our arms is damaged, we all feel the pain. So, we're here, use us, we welcome any e-mails.
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iAMbuffalo
Way to go! Some creative editing here. It's Johnson PARK, not Place and I believe MRodgers spells her name with a "d".
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KindOfaBigDeal
I Love this video series. The west Village has gotten one million times better since horizon realty came into town. At first the concept of YET ANOTHER out of state investor made me shudder. Visions of Drunkin’ crackheads and dilapidated units danced in my head. But after seeing the progress they have made in just one year, not just Johnson park but at ALL of their buildings, I have a newly restored faith in what out of state money can do for our city! We need more “horizons” in this city! Keep up the great work guys!
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