BUFFALO, N.Y. — There has been a decision on the Great Northern Grain Elevator, which was damaged during a wind storm last month.
A judge on Wednesday ruled the City of Buffalo properly issued an emergency demolition permit, which now clears the way for the building's owners, ADM Milling, to tear it down.
On Monday, a judge held a fact-finding hearing to figure out how the city reached its decision to grant that permit, and if it had a rational basis to do so.
You might remember the building was damaged last year during the wind storm on December 11, where there was a partial wall collapse.
Less than a week after the building was damaged, the City of Buffalo granted an emergency demolition permit to bring it down. ADM Milling owns the building and wants to demolish it.
Preservations took the case to court asking a judge to stop the demolition from happening saying the grain elevator is the only one of its kind left in the United States.
The judge sent both sides to mediation to come up with a solution last week, but that didn't work. So on Monday, for several hours in a courtroom, both sides presented their cases to the judge who will ultimately decide what happens with the huge building.
"You guys have argued as submitted to the court that it's in no danger of falling down. I would argue that perhaps there are a number of people who might think the opposite," New York State Supreme Court Justice Emilio Coliacovo said on Monday.
In a statement released after the judge's ruling, ADM Milling said:
Our primary concern is always the safety of the public, our neighbors, and our employees. The court’s decision now allows us to actively address the significant safety concerns the structure poses on-site and at adjacent properties and roadways. Pursuant to the order, we will begin the required demolition activities without delay to address the immediate safety concerns.
In the meantime, we are identifying artifacts from the structure that can potentially be preserved safely. We are also reaching out to potential partners to discuss ways in which those items can be displayed and shared with the community to celebrate the legacy of the structure for years to come.
We are committed to completing the demolition in a prompt, responsible and safe manner and appreciate the support and understanding of the local community as we prioritize colleague and community safety in this difficult circumstance.
The City of Buffalo also chimed in. A spokesperson released this statement regarding the judge's decision saying:
While safety is and always will be our first priority, we hope that today's decision is not the end for this historic structure. We continue to urge ADM to look at every and all possibilities to preserve this piece of Buffalo and Western New York history.
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