So much for at least saving the front of the building. All of 706 Broadway is heading to the landfill. Two weeks ago the City obtained an emergency demolition order for the ornate commercial building. Preservation Buffalo Niagara was led to believe that only the rear two-story section of the building would be demolished. That’s obviously not the case.
The Common Council on October 15 approved $94,000 demolition contract with Geiter Done of WNY for demolition work on the building at the corner of Broadway and Johnson Street. Permit & Inspection Services Commissioner Catherine Amdur signed the death notice citing fallen roof and interior floors and walls and found the building structurally unsound.
“All the ‘easy’ buildings have been renovated which has left us with vacant buildings that require us to be extra creative with tools to ensure these properties thrive instead of being demolished, says Bernice Radle, Preservation Buffalo Niagara Executive Director.
“We are asking the City of Buffalo that prior to signing a demolition order to think about the tools we have at a Preservation Buffalo Niagara. Pick up the phone and ask us ‘instead of spending $95k of tax payer money – can we work together to save this building?” says Radle. “We don’t need to waste tax payer money and put the property owner in a place where their life gets ruined because of a 95k demo lien. This is a building issue and an equity issue – it costs the City money, puts the owner at risk of financial ruin and the lien will likely never be recovered if it’s sold for future development. The entire thing puts everyone in a negative spiral when it doesn’t have to be.”
Adds Radle, “The thing is, we (PBN) have the tools to stop demolitions and support renovation! Tools such as receivership, stabilization, revolving loans, small development assistance and proforma review, tax credit assistance, local landmark applications, research for tax credits and other creative ways to unstick these buildings so they get back on the tax rolls to support the services we need.”
The 7,662 sq.ft. building is owned by the estate of Edward and Ruby Parson. Mr. Parson died in the building during the Christmas 2022 blizzard and it has been vacant since. Parson ran a dry cleaning business at the site, founded by his father.