Advisory as sent to us by a BRO reader:
Endangered Residents Organize to Save Historic Building After Brick Wall Collapse
Demonstration planned to protest against demolition of landmark livery
stable:
Citizens for Stable Neighborhoods, an ad-hoc group launched to save Richard Waite’s 1889 White Bros. Livery Stable at 428 Jersey Street in Buffalo and control problem landlords, is staging a protest against the emergency demolition of the stable.
When: 4:00 PM, Friday, June 13, 2008
Where: Corner Jersey Street & Richmond Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213
Citizens For Stable Neighborhoods is concerned about an emergency demolition process which occurs at public expense with no guaranteed reimbursement by negligent property owners. The long-time owner of the stable, Robert Freudenheim, has not sufficiently maintained the property or others he has owned, including a building on Wadsworth St. in the Allentown Historic District which suffered collapse and had to be demolished.
“The City of Buffalo promised to address the neighborhood’s concerns about the building’s deteriorating condition and the owner’s apparent neglect in a meeting with his department heads last month (May),” said Kitty Herrick, coalition spokeswoman. “Now our fears have come to pass. Demolition of such a large structure will cause serious harmful consequences to the urban fabric of the surrounding neighborhood.”
The group would like to save all or as much of the huge stable as possible because of its architectural and urban design merit, and the fact it forms a safe, quiet urban oasis that is the foundation of neighborhood life and attractiveness in what has come to be known as the Cottage District.
The group demands that the demolition process be stopped, and time given to explore other options to mitigate the hazard caused by landlord neglect, and that Robert Freudenheim be held accountable for his negligence to the fullest extent of the law.
“What we are seeking from the City of Buffalo is their assistance to stabilize the building and allow the displaced residents to return to their homes, allowing the neighborhood to explore saving as much of the structure as possible,” said Tim Conroy, who’s backyard at 64 Richmond contains debris from the collapse.
Residents evacuated from their homes by the collapse will be available for questions.
In addition, some neighborhood residents made a web page to voice their concerns and rally support.
Will the efforts of these groups come to fruition, or will we be doing another architectural postmortem next week?