BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Common Council made its latest push to preserve history in the Cobblestone District Tuesday, approving a $395,000 emergency stabilization of the embattled property on South Park Ave.
The property was ravaged by a fire in June after being the subject of an eminent domain battle between the City of Buffalo, which wants to preserve the building, and its owner Darryl Carr, who says there’s nothing worth saving. He wants them to be demolished, so he can instead build a high-rise.
“Anything done would be a band-aid,” Carr told 2 On Your Side Tuesday evening. “That's not just me saying that. That's experts saying that.”
The Civil War Era property looks as if it’s just seen battle, and it’s gotten to the point where the city now believes it's a safety concern.
The Buffalo Common Council released a statement saying it gave the property owner until August to stabilize the building himself, but that his decision not to, paired with the unresolved eminent domain case, left them no choice but to take action.
“The buildings, which once held promise as historic and potentially revitalized sites, have been plagued by neglect,” the statement said. “The owner, despite being taken to housing court on multiple occasions, failed to maintain the properties, leading to their steady decline. Over time, the structures became increasingly hazardous, prompting community outcry and further legal action.”
Carr said he struggles to understand the city’s reasoning — and that he didn’t want to put additional money into properties that have unresolved cases over eminent domain and possible demolition.
“They're trying to take my properties, but then make me stabilize them,” he said. “It's really none of this makes any sense.”
The common council also told 2 On Your Side that Carr will be responsible for the $395,000 bill and will be billed at a 12% interest rate. The money will be collected through a lien, added to his tax bill, or go against any potential proceeds he is entitled to in the eminent domain case, the common council said.
Carr, however, said he plans to fight that.
“We keep pursuing, fighting to try to save this project and my life savings,” he said.
The common council said there is no timeline yet for the emergency stabilization.
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