BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tensions are rising between city officials and Darryl Carr, owner of the two Cobblestone District buildings at the center of a major fire Tuesday night and lingering eminent domain proceeding.
Carr is steadfast in his goal to demolish the two buildings, built in the mid-1800's. He has expressed the desire to build a 55-story tower consisting of 500 residential units and retail space--an unprecedented proposal by Western New York Standards.
But in the aftermath of the two-alarm blaze that needed more than 60 firefighters and 20 pieces of fire apparatus to extinguish, Mayor Brown is seeking more control over property's like 110 and 118 South Park Ave.
"We would like to see the state legislature act to give the city additional authority, sole authority, to take control of properties like this, make sure that they're stabilized and get them in. Into the hands of responsible developers that could do something to preserve them and develop them," Mayor Brown said during a media update Wednesday afternoon.
In his five terms as Mayor, Brown has only moved forward with eminent domain proceedings once--the current kerfuffle between Carr and the city.
"This is absolutely frustrating," Brown said. "This is what city government continues to say, that we don't have all of the tools and resources that are needed legally to address issues like this long time neglect of properties, properties that have been written up properties that have gone to court."
The state legislature is adjourned until January.
The two properties have been written up numerous times and cases have been slow to work through the housing court system for the last 14 years.
Preservation Board Chair Gwen Howard says the speed of the Buffalo housing court is benefitting repeat offenders.
"I know that the purpose of the court system is to provide swift justice, this was not swift, " Howard said. "There was no need for compassion in this case when the owner absolutely wanted to not take care of them, and the simple solution is resolution of the code violations that they were there for in the first place."
2 On Your Side investigative reporter Sean Mickey reviewed public data on the city's website. The properties owned by Carr have 12 active code violations, ranging from unsafe structure to graffiti.
The citations were made between 2020 and 2023.
Carr maintains that none of this would have happened if he was allowed to demolish the building, as his demolition permit was approved in January 2023.
"I had to get this taken down, the property is contaminated, it's a Brownfield, it's a former foundry," Carr said. "I want to dig a hole, clean up the entire property and start from scratch."
Carr hasn't revealed how much his 55-story tower would cost, whether there are outside financial partners involved, or how he would obtain the numerous city building code variances needed for construction.
In terms of support, Carr says he has never received support from city officials for changes to his Cobblestone District properties.
"I want to work with the city, I never said I didn't," Carr said. "Nobody from the city has ever come to me and said, let me help you--it's always the opposite."
Mayor Brown reiterated Wednesday that no demolition can occur until the judge rules on the eminent domain case, including demolition crews Carr says are available.
The mayor said that a ruling on the procedure is expected later this week, or possibly next.
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