A Prospect Heights neighborhood landmark is being demolished. The remains of St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill church is being torn down this week. The church at Niagara and Vermont Streets has long been under the threat of demolition. Neglectful owners were in and out of Housing Court in recent years. A “therapeutic demolition” was performed on the circa-1903 church three years ago leaving just the church’s masonry walls and even that didn’t help much. The City deemed the property unsafe and pushed for an emergency demolition. City Housing Court Judge Patrick M. Carney signed-off on the demolition.
Myri-Oyewo purchased the vacant Episcopal church in March 2006 for $17,000 intending to use the building for a daycare center. That project did not proceed and the property’s condition deteriorated rapidly.
In 2008, after two decades of water infiltration and several neglectful owners, the City stepped up code enforcement action as the building became a safety hazard. In a calculated gamble to spur the owner to shore up or sell the building, the preservation community supported the City’s emergency demolition order. It worked. Myri-Oyewo, who lives downstate, agreed to a $30,000 “therapeutic demolition” of the building. That work involved removing the roof, building interior, windows, and shoring up the masonry walls.
Sam Savarino put an offer in on the property but was rebuffed by Myri-Oyewo. A preliminary plan developed by architect Paul Battaglia for Savarino called for a mix of 15 studio, one and two-bedroom units constructed within the historic walls. Several units would have been two-level.
Instead, the church was sold to Amansie Enterprises Inc. last June for $150,000. What the Queens-based firm plans to do with the expensive, soon to be vacant lot is not known.
“St. Mary’s-on-the-Hill has been a historic anchor in the Prospect Hill-Columbus Park district for over 100 years,” said Kathleen Mecca, President of the Niagara Gateway Columbus Park Association. “The building is not only significant because of its history but because of its location; it is one of four uniquely different buildings located on the four corners of Niagara and Vermont Street. Each building represents a different architectural style in Buffalo’s history.”
No longer.
The Guild Hall/Rectory remains untouched, but a Notice of Condemnation is ominous.
Photos © 2011 Joyce E. Young | buffaloah.com/a/niag/781/781.html