Beth Jacob Cemetery
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- update...July 17, 2005 - right here.
- update...June 3, 2005
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While checking on the city of Buffalo owned house located at 319 Koons Avenue this past week, which is still wide open, I walked north on Koons Avenue and explored an abandoned cemetery at the end of Landsdale Place. I'd never seen this cemetery before. It's adjacent to Concordia Cemetery. Check out the satellite image on this map to orient your self to the location.
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Most of the grave stones have been vandalized and toppled. If the sun hadn't been brilliant that afternoon I'm sure I'd have come home later and pulled Sarte or a collection of essays by Camus and a bottle of vodka off the shelf before sinking into a depressive state.
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The Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo claims responsibility for this cemetery yet it appears as though no maintenance or care has been done in years.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006
How Buffalo Get a Warhol?
While trolling for writing about Buffalo I stumbled upon this the other day. It was written by Craig Reynolds over at Soundlab and first appeared back in 1997.
Unlike other cities, where it’s easy to sink into the flow of everything’s fine, in Buffalo, you must be a prophet or drown in utter mediocrity. Buffalo demands existential authenticity, and the rock we push up the hill (only to have it roll back down over us time and time again) is our only salvation. Like Rimbaud in the gutters and back–alleys of Paris, in Buffalo, you have no choice but to remake life; there’s no bullshit left to buy, no palace gates to hide behind...
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006
Here you'll find a number of posts about St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum, on Ellicott Street. Designed by Buffalo's leading architects Edward Green and William Wicks the orphan home was constructed in 1898 and was last used by Erie Community College as a City Campus 25 years ago. The building and grounds are currently owned by a local businessman. If you're interested in additional orphanages in Buffalo you may want to visit Buffalo Orphan Studies.
Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickr
the creativity exchange • shrinking cities
About the Psych Center...
I originally posted "Urban Exploration & Modern Ruins" in January after visiting the J.N. Adam site in Perrysburg. The Preservation Coalition hosted a tour of the Richardson Complex this morning so I thought it might be helpful to re-post.
The Preservation Coalition has a picture of the Woodlawn Row Houses on their site with a link to the petition to save the Woodlawn Row, too. It's sandwiched in between the the picture of the Atwater House and AMA's.
So if you are intereseted Buffalo's architectural heritage and preserving outstanding examples of our built environment, consider reading and signing the petition to save the Woodlawn Row Houses.
The Preservation Coalition has a picture of the Woodlawn Row Houses on their site with a link to the petition to save the Woodlawn Row, too. It's sandwiched in between the the picture of the Atwater House and AMA's.
So if you are intereseted Buffalo's architectural heritage and preserving outstanding examples of our built environment, consider reading and signing the petition to save the Woodlawn Row Houses.
Here' that earlier post...
Urban Exploration & Modern Ruins
While thinking about "Modern Ruins" this past weekend I stumbled on this site by Shaun O’Boyle. A totally cool sight displaying his work photographing old things. He calls this stuff “Modern Ruins.” If you are interested in almost any aspect of photography as a way to document the past, this guy is really good. This is an example of Shaun O'Boyle's work and depicts part of our Asylum's interior.
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Awesome links and brilliant slide show “Insane Asylum” takes you through our own Asylum on Elmwood Avenue, the Buffalo Psychiatric Center aka H.H. Richardson Complex which local librarian Cynthia Van Ness describes. The slide show has a haunting sound track from Phillip Glass and closes with the disturbingly sweet poem by A.C. Swinburne (1837-1909) “From Too Much Love of Living.”
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Buffalo BloggerCon 2005
Alan, well done and Craig, well said! We met, talked, mediated, and loved the wings at Buffalo's Anchor Bar.
click to enlarge & see a few more
This photo taken by my "urbex" partner
David J. Goehrig
Craig, Ali, David, Jennifer, Kevin, Cynthia, Jennifer, Erin, Jennifer, Cynthia, Amy, Newell, & Alan who got us together in one room!
Alan, well done and Craig, well said! We met, talked, mediated, and loved the wings at Buffalo's Anchor Bar.
click to enlarge & see a few more
This photo taken by my "urbex" partner
David J. Goehrig
Craig, Ali, David, Jennifer, Kevin, Cynthia, Jennifer, Erin, Jennifer, Cynthia, Amy, Newell, & Alan who got us together in one room!
Don't miss what Jennifer@ AllthingsJennifer had to say about last night. And Erin from Erin-Go-Blog had this to say. Kevin over at The Talk Arena came up with this, too. Ali from AllThingsAli wrote this piece about last nite.
Jennifer from Random Daily Thoughts hasn't recovered from her recent Ebay shopping spree to post about last nite. Newell and Amy are still recovering, too. I'll add their posts and thoughts about last nite I imagine real soon.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006
Google & Joel Kotkin...
Just keeping tabs on local Buffalo bags blogs that stimulate the debate about urban planning is frustrating when links aren't provided. Perhaps we'll be discussing this at the BBC this evening at the Anchor Bar.
Yet it's remarkably easy to keep tabs on the ground breaking and "corrective work" of Joel Kotkin one of the most remarkable and often mis-understood urbanist thinkers and students of the history of cities. Pretty wild considering he begins his critique way back in Babylon!
Google News about Joel Kotkin continous updates about this guy's work. I've just archived The New Republic article by Kotkin over here. It's called:
Yet it's remarkably easy to keep tabs on the ground breaking and "corrective work" of Joel Kotkin one of the most remarkable and often mis-understood urbanist thinkers and students of the history of cities. Pretty wild considering he begins his critique way back in Babylon!
Google News about Joel Kotkin continous updates about this guy's work. I've just archived The New Republic article by Kotkin over here. It's called:
- Cities Aren't Doing as Well as you Think, Joel Kotkin
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Shrinking City...Shirking Church?
I've been interested in old things about as long as I can remember. From the building trades and learning how to erect old style post and beam passive solar buildings in Vermont, driving 25 year old German cars that never seem to break down, fixing up and living in historic property or even my academic pursuits in history...the appreciation and fascination for our built environment, praised by so many, is quickly developing into a burning nausea.
We learned on Wednesday in the Buffalo News that the Catholic Church here locally is shrinking at faster pace than we had ever thought possible. And this means...
What lessons are we learning from the adaptive re-use of these old church buildings?
There are two outstanding examples that come to mind. St. Mary of Sorrows on Genesee has been successfully transformed into the King Urban Life Center. Remember, it was Bishop Edward Head who wanted to demolish St. Mary of Sorrows. I had the opportunity to tour the building recently and it's really an oasis. We also learn that the Zion Dominion has sold their building to a local business and is moving to The Chapel in Amherst.
And when the lessons go wrong? What happens?
The city's official property description lists 929 Sycamore as belonging to Paul Francis Associates, Inc. One of the adjacent buildings at 34 Stanislaus, according to the city's official property description is owned by the Islamic Society of America. (Anybody, I need that link.)
click to enlarge
Related Post: "Demolition by Neglect" Meets Urbex
We learned on Wednesday in the Buffalo News that the Catholic Church here locally is shrinking at faster pace than we had ever thought possible. And this means...
- "It is never easy to make a decision like this," said Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, who toured Immaculate Conception on April 21 and conferred with the diocesan Priests' Council before making the decision. "But over the years the parish population has dwindled significantly, and the church, rectory and adjacent school need approximately $830,000 in repairs. The church itself is quickly becoming an unsafe building."
What lessons are we learning from the adaptive re-use of these old church buildings?
There are two outstanding examples that come to mind. St. Mary of Sorrows on Genesee has been successfully transformed into the King Urban Life Center. Remember, it was Bishop Edward Head who wanted to demolish St. Mary of Sorrows. I had the opportunity to tour the building recently and it's really an oasis. We also learn that the Zion Dominion has sold their building to a local business and is moving to The Chapel in Amherst.
And when the lessons go wrong? What happens?
click to enlarge
At 929 Sycamore on the city's east side we have a stunning text book example of demolition by neglect in its advanced stages. I photographed the Transfiguration Church in January. I found huge holes in the roof where the slate used to be and plenty of broken windows which gives the church that bombed out Sarajevo-like look and feel.The city's official property description lists 929 Sycamore as belonging to Paul Francis Associates, Inc. One of the adjacent buildings at 34 Stanislaus, according to the city's official property description is owned by the Islamic Society of America. (Anybody, I need that link.)
click to enlarge
So what's next for the Immaculate Conception church? Some one on Buffalo Issues Alert thought it might make a cool brewery! I really doubt if there are any takers and any reasonable developer will most probably pass on the project and perhaps site what's happening at Delaware & Tupper as the reason. Meanwhile, who is going to hold Bishop Kmiec accountable for this property? $830,000 of repairs - sounds like there might be a few building code violations here. In the past property like this has often been "flipped" to un-suspecting congregations that think they are getting the deal of the century.
Two other examples to ponder when considering what to do with Bishop Kmiec's decsion to close the doors at Elmwood & Edward - 768 Broadway which is collapsing by neglect and 198 Emslie, a once beautiful campus of buildings, that may not make another winter. Both places can no longer be maintained by their congregations.
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Two other examples to ponder when considering what to do with Bishop Kmiec's decsion to close the doors at Elmwood & Edward - 768 Broadway which is collapsing by neglect and 198 Emslie, a once beautiful campus of buildings, that may not make another winter. Both places can no longer be maintained by their congregations.
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Nauseous yet? Here are some more pics and stunningly depressing interior shots of the Transfiguration Church taken by David Kohrman in 2003. The same guy who is documenting Forgotten Detroit.
Imagine the headlines. "Church-Flipping" scam hits Buffalo - again!Related Post: "Demolition by Neglect" Meets Urbex
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Planetizen...Dead On!
The latest issue of Planetizen arrived today. Get it here, it's free! Three pieces caught my eye.
- Why We Neglect Historic Preservation in Low-Income Neigborhoods
- Philadelphia's most attractive and expensive neighborhoods are often at least partially contained within historic districts that protect the old urban form of the built environment. Not so for low-income sections. "While most of Philadelphia's historic districts are in well-off areas, it is our poorest areas that need protection the most." Read it here.
- A Letter from Jane Jacobs
- "My name is Jane Jacobs. I am a student of cities, interested in learning why some cities persist in prospering while others persistently decline; why some provide social environments that fulfill the dreams and hopes of ambitious and hardworking immigrants, but others cruelly disappoint the hopes of immigrant parents that they have found an improved life for their children." Read it here.
Jane's letter is addressed to Mayor Bloomberg is response to a project going down in Brooklyn. It first appeared earlier this month in The Brooklyn Rail, which I always check out when I am in Williamsburg.
I've archived A Letter from Jane Jacobs as many of these lessons pertain to the eventual long-term revitalization of Buffalo. Recent posts about the life and work of Jane Jacobs can be found here in May and over here in January.
I've archived A Letter from Jane Jacobs as many of these lessons pertain to the eventual long-term revitalization of Buffalo. Recent posts about the life and work of Jane Jacobs can be found here in May and over here in January.
- Being Cool Isn't Enough, A City Needs A Soul
- Cities need a sense of moral purpose to survive and flourish. It's not enough, [Joel Kotkin] argues, for them to serve merely as a center of commerce. It's that idea that helps me the most as I continue my critique of the modern planning movements. In a recent interview, Kotkin complained to me that New Urbanists and others who want to recreate urban living as a rebuke to suburbanization tend to miss this almost-spiritual side to city planning." Planetizen Link requires registration, so I've archived it here.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
I recieve dozens of emails everyday from fixBuffalo readers all around the world. I enjoy reading the individual narratives explaining various aspects of neighborhood life here on the City's East side from back in the day when every corner was alive, sidewalks were filled with people going to school and work. Many emails reflect the sense of loss and what I'm writing about in terms of the pervasive "hollowing out" of entire neighborhoods. Urban planners, design students, teachers and investors are reading what has started out as a little neighborhood blog - highlighting the insanely irresponsible City ownership of a local-landmark, the Woodlawn Row Houses - and offering suggestions and critique.
I also receive some amazing pictures of what Buffalo used to look like. I really enjoy these and will start to tag in my flickr for collaborative purposes. Scan 'em and send 'em. Thanks.
If you aren't familiar with blogging, ask me via email and I'll help you if you want to leave a comment in one of my posts and find the process somewhat confusing. You should know this blog is not a democracy. If I decide that your comment is offensive or in bad taste - not mild, but severe - I'll remove it. I don't like doing this but I have and I will. Rule is - pretend there are other people in the room who are listening to what you have to say.
Click here to send email or cut and paste - fixbuffalo@gmail.com - in to your email program.
Thanks for looking around, reading what's here and contributing to the conversation involving what's happening here in Buffalo, NY.
Best,
David
Ps...if your pics are on-line or in Flickr or elsewhere and you want to make them available, let me know.
If you aren't familiar with blogging, ask me via email and I'll help you if you want to leave a comment in one of my posts and find the process somewhat confusing. You should know this blog is not a democracy. If I decide that your comment is offensive or in bad taste - not mild, but severe - I'll remove it. I don't like doing this but I have and I will. Rule is - pretend there are other people in the room who are listening to what you have to say.
Click here to send email or cut and paste - fixbuffalo@gmail.com - in to your email program.
Thanks for looking around, reading what's here and contributing to the conversation involving what's happening here in Buffalo, NY.
Best,
David
Ps...if your pics are on-line or in Flickr or elsewhere and you want to make them available, let me know.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Google Crack!
I'm hooked. Just can't get enough. While getting my daily fix over here at Google Maps Mania, I stumbled on this cool Google hack called Google Maps Wallpaper. Here, all you do is "cut 'n paste" a url from Google Maps and you are off and running.
I selected three Google satellite images of Buffalo. These two images compare life along Utica. The first one centered on Utica & Elmwood and the other one is centered a few blocks away on Utica & Jefferson intersection. It's an older image cause the new suburban style Tops Market doesn't show up. What you can see is the ever increasingly larger "urban prairie," where houses are being replaced by vacant lots.
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Google Sightseeing is totally amazing.
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I selected three Google satellite images of Buffalo. These two images compare life along Utica. The first one centered on Utica & Elmwood and the other one is centered a few blocks away on Utica & Jefferson intersection. It's an older image cause the new suburban style Tops Market doesn't show up. What you can see is the ever increasingly larger "urban prairie," where houses are being replaced by vacant lots.
Life Along Utica
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click to enlarge
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Blog Spring!
Alan, from Buffalo Pundit, has taken a great idea and turned it into the BBC. That's right the first ever Buffalo Blogger Convention.
Thursday - May 26th
7:00pm
Anchor Bar
Come and check it out and let Alan know if you are planning to attend!
7:00pm
Anchor Bar
I'm not sure if Alan has a string of awards to pass out and aside from all the innovative tech stuff to discuss I think at least some of the discussion will include how we can best advocate for a Wi-Max cloud over Buffalo. It's happening in Portland and it should happen here in Buffalo. I'd like to see us reach out to tech, civic and biz groups that desire to do the same.
Imagine a totally wired city, Vonage or Skype everywhere...a local entrepreneur and "urbex" partner of mine told me that the main trunk of the entire internet connecting New York City and Chicago runs right through Buffalo, down Elmwood Avenue.
Just caught this about Buffalo Wi-Fi. Site says the old Apollo Theatre, now Apollo Media Center over here in the 'hood is a wi-fi hot spot. Didn't know that.
Imagine a totally wired city, Vonage or Skype everywhere...a local entrepreneur and "urbex" partner of mine told me that the main trunk of the entire internet connecting New York City and Chicago runs right through Buffalo, down Elmwood Avenue.
Just caught this about Buffalo Wi-Fi. Site says the old Apollo Theatre, now Apollo Media Center over here in the 'hood is a wi-fi hot spot. Didn't know that.
I'm sure we'll be mapping "wi-fi hot spots" in Buffalo - both public and not-so public - by this time next week. Know of some...let me know.
Come and check it out and let Alan know if you are planning to attend!
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Revitalize This?
I pass these "urban-monsters" a couple times a week on the Kennsington and finally explored them the other day. I've placed a few pictures on a Google Map to help orient and locate this city owned complex. Make sure to click the "satellite" link and play with the slide bar to see the proximity of these poverty palaces to ECMC. The brown area just to the south of the BMHA property is a baseball and football field. It was in great shape last week, well kept and as I left the place I was wondering if the broken fences are going to be repaired anytime soon.
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As you can see the place is wide open. The buildings all face "in" towards each other and there are a few benches that still line the walk. The place reminds me in some respects of Peter Cooper Village & Stuyvesant Town in the city. click to enlarge
I first started writing about BMHA over a few months ago when we learned that Sharon West, the former Executive Director finally left town, A Legacy of Vacany & Waste. Dick Kern and Jim Ostrowski have been some of the harshest critics of BMHA, there are all sorts of links there to their critique.
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BMHA is still building. Last I heard they had contracted with Rocco Termini to build on 217 West, the site of a community garden. Let's hope it doesn't look like one of Rocco's first projects over on Emslie Street.
I've been in touch with one of Buffalo's best research librarians and I'm looking for some history and pics of the construction and when it was in use. Any leads? Let me know.
click to enlarge
I've been in touch with one of Buffalo's best research librarians and I'm looking for some history and pics of the construction and when it was in use. Any leads? Let me know.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Things Google are...Great!
Oh...just released, yesterday! Check it out.
I've been a huge fan of Google products from the start. They seem to do things better and the way you imagine things should be. The list includes G-Mail, (let me know if you want an invite) Picasa, Blogger, Google News and of course the coolest maps are available at Google Maps. Most of the territory is also covered by satellite images, too. The code here is open and when you start mixing innovation, GPS technology, open-code and the Google Map interface good things are bound to emerge, fast.
Paul Rademacher just put together a Craigslist & Google Map Combo. Apartments in major North American cities are shown. I first learned about that at The Map Room and when they hooked-up with a Google Map Group, I was hooked. So earlier this week I joined and asked the question, "How can I do something like Paul did?" I wanted to map stuff about the 'hood and display it in the coolest format possible, using Google Maps.
Paul Rademacher just put together a Craigslist & Google Map Combo. Apartments in major North American cities are shown. I first learned about that at The Map Room and when they hooked-up with a Google Map Group, I was hooked. So earlier this week I joined and asked the question, "How can I do something like Paul did?" I wanted to map stuff about the 'hood and display it in the coolest format possible, using Google Maps.
Arj, at GMapTrack, picked up on my interest and directed me to his beta-site. The interface is too easy to use. I just linked several points of interest and came up with my own:
Imagine all sorts of applications. Locating the best cheese-burger or all available public (and not so public) wi-fi sites in Buffalo. Google Maps Mania just linked to ChicagoCrimes.org that uses Google Maps to plot crime in Chicago...this is getting good!
Btw...More good news from Google. The stock closed on Friday at $241.61 up $2.43 and here's that full story...GOOG: news, chart, profile. Now if they had a personal homepage product.
Oh...just released, yesterday! Check it out.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Death and Life...of Great American Cities...
I was first introduced to the work of Jane Jacobs while reading Craig Howard's blog A Voice from America's North Coast, in January. When I ordered Death & Life of America's Great Cities, it couldn't have arrived at a better time. I just began networking with the PTO at Performing Arts High School and acted as a neighborhood activist to help smooth a decision to help make a new home for the Performing Arts High School here in this little corner of Masten. Iwrote about a number of neighborhood assets and attended the meeting where the decision was finally made to re-locate Performing Arts High School, directly across from the Woodlawn Row Houses.
Here's what I wrote about Jane Jacob's work back in January in reference to what's going on with this little corner of the city's east-side. Hank Bromely, a Performing Arts High School parent, made the full transcript of his interview with Jane Jacobs (July 2000) available, too. James Howard Kunstler interviewed her a few months later. His work, The Cluster Fuck Nation Chronicles is still, pretty wacky and often dead on!
The decision to re-locate Performing Arts High School one block from Main Street on Ferry at Masten, (see google map/satellite image) that shows proximity to Elmwood, is a hugely important decision that has transformative qualities for our city. I've written about that that decision, over here. Florence Johnson, Buffalo School Board President, picked up on this and included it as the second story in her totally awesome blog, Fix Education.
Now we are building a working committe, PTO, neighbors, Cannon architects, a Buffalo City planner and members of other community organizations. We will be reviewing the plan document and determine where we need to extend and add a few design pieces to firmly integrate the "new" school within the streetscape along Ferry Street between Main and Jefferson. We are identifying private funding sources that may be interested in lighting, landscape and other issues that will insure the success of this venture.
Oh yeah...make sure to check out Figmo's new post about Jane Jacobs at Buffalo Rising and Alan has something to say about it already at Buffalo Pundit.
And I finally had the opportunity to meet Craig Howard over here in the 'hood about a month ago. You can read about it here, great pics from Craig, too!
The decision to re-locate Performing Arts High School one block from Main Street on Ferry at Masten, (see google map/satellite image) that shows proximity to Elmwood, is a hugely important decision that has transformative qualities for our city. I've written about that that decision, over here. Florence Johnson, Buffalo School Board President, picked up on this and included it as the second story in her totally awesome blog, Fix Education.
Now we are building a working committe, PTO, neighbors, Cannon architects, a Buffalo City planner and members of other community organizations. We will be reviewing the plan document and determine where we need to extend and add a few design pieces to firmly integrate the "new" school within the streetscape along Ferry Street between Main and Jefferson. We are identifying private funding sources that may be interested in lighting, landscape and other issues that will insure the success of this venture.
Oh yeah...make sure to check out Figmo's new post about Jane Jacobs at Buffalo Rising and Alan has something to say about it already at Buffalo Pundit.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
And I finally had the opportunity to meet Craig Howard over here in the 'hood about a month ago. You can read about it here, great pics from Craig, too!
More about Flickr...
click each photo to see tons more!
If you didn't know, Flickr does a whole lot more than just host photos. It's totally interactive and there's a whole lot going on behind the scenes.
Once you belong, it's free, you can join groups like this one about Buffalo. Easy, members submit photos to the group and wammo-o there's a group slide show. It's ever evolving...There are currently 95 images.
Once you belong, it's free, you can join groups like this one about Buffalo. Easy, members submit photos to the group and wammo-o there's a group slide show. It's ever evolving...There are currently 95 images.
click each photo to see tons more!
And the Suburban Hell slide show is worth a look, too! Couple hundred images from the wasteland.
Still waiting for the app that will integrate Flickr and Google Maps. Check out the Flickr Blog, too.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
The Buffalo Blogosphere...On Urban Decline
Looks like something more than just a hipster shoot-out developing, finally!
Craig at North Coast first posted, Bill Gates Doesn't Live in Buffalo. He presented an academic article by Edward Glaeser and Joseph Gyourko and linked to a post by a former Buffalonian, (must see) and now in exile. He helps us answer that question, "Should I stay (in Buffalo) or should I go now..."
Then, Figmo at that way too cool Buffalo Rising Blog responded.
Craig shot back right back.
Looks like something more than just a hipster shoot-out developing, finally!
Craig at North Coast first posted, Bill Gates Doesn't Live in Buffalo. He presented an academic article by Edward Glaeser and Joseph Gyourko and linked to a post by a former Buffalonian, (must see) and now in exile. He helps us answer that question, "Should I stay (in Buffalo) or should I go now..."
Then, Figmo at that way too cool Buffalo Rising Blog responded.
Craig shot back right back.
- I'm a believer in "classical" economic principles. I think the Wharton paper relied too heavily on the Creative Class writings of Richard Florida. Florida, an economics professor, developed his now-stylish theories during the tech-bubble of the late 90s. His theory attempted to explain the "new economy." Remember that? High-tech businesses were exploding and they did'nt follow the old rules.
While I agree with Figmo regarding the reasons why many people live on the east-side, myself included, I think there are other reasons why people stay. They can't move.
The dynamic is difficult to understand if you haven't lived here and heard the first-hand accounts of people not being able to sell their houses for what they originally paid for them. (See.. "black" housing values vs. "white" housing values.) On my block, there are 14 houses. I know two people who have completly abandonded their property because they couldn't sell it or even give it away. Many seniors feel trapped in other parts of the 'hood and lead very quiet, desperate lives just trying to feel even a semblance of security. Not a good thing.
Of course this dynamic is made more difficult by layers of neglect. I mean the city hasn't even boarded up and properly secured the Woodlawn Row Houses, an historic property and "local-landmark." A neighbor is so concerned about vandalism and security. There were two small fires last year and evidence of forced entry again. Her house is just 4 feet away! I've been documenting this mess for 17 months. Remember these row houses are less than 100 feet away from the "new" home of Performing Arts High School.
The fact is that 15/day are leaving Buffalo. (Simple math...take the 2000 and 2003 census numbers for Buffalo...divide by 3 and then again by 365...) If 1000 people move downtown and 10,000 people leave Buffalo...Where's the trend?
Figmo referred to Joel Kotkin's piece that I mentioned last month. A close reading of Kotkin reveals a warning against relying on just the creative class for the revitalization of places like Buffalo.
And to answer the question "Why would we want him, Bill Gates, here anyway?" We should be welcoming anyone who wants to start and develop a business...
The dynamic is difficult to understand if you haven't lived here and heard the first-hand accounts of people not being able to sell their houses for what they originally paid for them. (See.. "black" housing values vs. "white" housing values.) On my block, there are 14 houses. I know two people who have completly abandonded their property because they couldn't sell it or even give it away. Many seniors feel trapped in other parts of the 'hood and lead very quiet, desperate lives just trying to feel even a semblance of security. Not a good thing.
Of course this dynamic is made more difficult by layers of neglect. I mean the city hasn't even boarded up and properly secured the Woodlawn Row Houses, an historic property and "local-landmark." A neighbor is so concerned about vandalism and security. There were two small fires last year and evidence of forced entry again. Her house is just 4 feet away! I've been documenting this mess for 17 months. Remember these row houses are less than 100 feet away from the "new" home of Performing Arts High School.
The fact is that 15/day are leaving Buffalo. (Simple math...take the 2000 and 2003 census numbers for Buffalo...divide by 3 and then again by 365...) If 1000 people move downtown and 10,000 people leave Buffalo...Where's the trend?
Figmo referred to Joel Kotkin's piece that I mentioned last month. A close reading of Kotkin reveals a warning against relying on just the creative class for the revitalization of places like Buffalo.
- Perhaps most important, an economy oriented to entertainment, tourism, and "creative" functions is ill-suited to provide opportunities for more than a small slice of its population. Following such a course, it is likely to evolve ever more into a city composed of cosmopolitan elites, a large group of low-income service workers, and a permanent underclass--or into what San Francisco is already becoming, what historian Kevin Starr describes as "a cross between Carmel and Calcutta."
And to answer the question "Why would we want him, Bill Gates, here anyway?" We should be welcoming anyone who wants to start and develop a business...
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Latest Issue of Planetizen
If you're not subscribing to this on-line zine of all things urban, culture, economy and planning consider it. Planetizen is free.
If you're not subscribing to this on-line zine of all things urban, culture, economy and planning consider it. Planetizen is free.
In the latest issue there's a piece featuring the writing of Washinton Post writer, William Raspberry. History, Racism or Neither? has all sorts of references to Thomas Sowell's work. Sowell's latest, Black Rednecks & White Liberals, is sure to stimulate discussion of race on both sides of Main Street. Raspberry writes...
- The danger is that in our zeal to score points off one another, we'll forget what the game is about in the first place...One thing seems beyond dispute: Maybe we haven't laid racism to rest, but we have reached the point where what we do matters more than what is done to us.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Property of the Weak... #3
Any takers? The house appears to be in good structural condition.
click to enlarge
I've archived the Other Property of the Weak for your review!
click to enlarge
This house is located at 905 Humboldt Parkway (check that google satellite image!) According to City Hall, Annie Harden is the owner of record. (Seems like the bank forgot to transfer the deed...go figure.) It's a 2/2/2 three family house and it's currently assessed at $39,900.00. According to neighbors its been looking like this for years.
Any takers? The house appears to be in good structural condition.
click to enlarge
***Update***
May 16, 2005
May 16, 2005
Had a conversation with one of Buffalo's most innovative realtors this afternoon,
JM Reed from Polis Realty.
He has keys to the place and would be very interested in helping
a serious buyer with the purchase of this totally cool property.
JM Reed can be reached at 716-881-1200
or jmreed@polisrealty.com
JM Reed from Polis Realty.
He has keys to the place and would be very interested in helping
a serious buyer with the purchase of this totally cool property.
JM Reed can be reached at 716-881-1200
or jmreed@polisrealty.com
Just to the right of this property you'll see this Carriage House. Pretty cool for the 'hood. You'll also see this sign posted on the door of 905. National Home Marketing Solutions is a property and asset management company that specializes in HUD properties. They are located in Georgia.
I've archived the Other Property of the Weak for your review!
Follow up...Weak #1
The house at 2 Girard is still available for the adventurous urban pioneer. Here are some current pics. It's located on the other side of Humboldt Parkway from 905. The basement is now wide open, so it will probably need all new plumbing, fixtures and I imagine the heating system has been stripped by this time, too. Something tells me that this property will be demolished by this time next year. Wanna bet?
The house at 2 Girard is still available for the adventurous urban pioneer. Here are some current pics. It's located on the other side of Humboldt Parkway from 905. The basement is now wide open, so it will probably need all new plumbing, fixtures and I imagine the heating system has been stripped by this time, too. Something tells me that this property will be demolished by this time next year. Wanna bet?
click to enlarge
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Picture Problems Solved...
A few frequent readers have pointed out that when they "click to enlarge" photos in some of my postings there were often "porn links" that popped up as adds around the pictures. I was using a free image hosting program from Image Venue. I've successfully switched to Image Shack, another free image hosting program with a reputation that teachers and parents can safetly adopt for use at home or in the classroom.
I'm also using another free image hosting program from the good people over at Flickr. If you have images to host and share with others really check it out. The program is totally relational, easily navigated and wildly imaginative. I created a few slide shows using Flickr. Just click below to see how they look...
I'm also using another free image hosting program from the good people over at Flickr. If you have images to host and share with others really check it out. The program is totally relational, easily navigated and wildly imaginative. I created a few slide shows using Flickr. Just click below to see how they look...
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Fugitive & Notorious Slumlord...Busted!
Venere Hutchinson
In this morning's Buffalo News we learned that the fugitve and notorious slumlord Venere Hutchinson and his wife, Dana Upcher, were apprended by a former classmate on I-75 in Cleveland, TN. Here's that story... True, the fugitive's former classmate, Officer Andy Ratcliff, picked him up and sent him back to Housing Court Judge Nowak.
"Fugitive & Notorious"
Venere Hutchinson
Checking out the story further... seems like our own venerable Dick Kern was writing about the "fugitive & notorious" long before his actions were taken seriously by our local elected and anointed. Dick Kern was writing about Hutchinson & Upcher four years ago in April of 2001 and again a few months later in July 2001. NYS Attorney General Elliot Spitzer has some not so kind words about Hutchinson & Upcher, too a full year after Dick Kern placed these two on the radar screen. No one was listening as their rampage continued on at 490 Linwood Avenue. Make sure to check out the possible motives for keeping this on the back-burner! See the May 16, 2002 Buffalo News article, too about their fugitive status...
This afternoon I went out to take a few pics of the Hutchinson & Upcher property here on the city's east-side.
This property located at 630 High Street was mortgaged by Hutchinson for $120,000. Here's the city's official property description. The building has significant architectural detail to warrant a preservation study...This property should not be demolished. A settlement to resolve the criminal case against "Hutchinson & Upcher" should consider alternatives to the demolition of this property.
This afternoon I went out to take a few pics of the Hutchinson & Upcher property here on the city's east-side.
This property located at 630 High Street was mortgaged by Hutchinson for $120,000. Here's the city's official property description. The building has significant architectural detail to warrant a preservation study...This property should not be demolished. A settlement to resolve the criminal case against "Hutchinson & Upcher" should consider alternatives to the demolition of this property.
More pictures and details about other "Hutchinson & Upcher" property to follow...
*Update*
I had the opportunity Saturday afternoon to take pictures of the 5 "Hutchinson & Upcher" properties that were mentioned in the recent Buffalo News article.
- 630 High Street - I first started taking pictures of this building a few weeks ago for someone who used to live in the neighborhood. The building appears to be in very stable condition. It is rich in architectural detail and sits in a very prominent part of this neighborhood that has seen more than its share of demolitions in recent years. I noticed a number of transom windows filled with "Luxfer" prism squares including the much sought after "rain-drop" pattern. Frank Lloyd Write designed many of these. A settlement involving "Hutchinson & Upcher" should include alternatives to the demolition of this building. Two short blocks away at 669 Genesee Street, a city owned and neglected building - waiting for a law suit to happen - will most probably be demolished, too. Get this, it's not even on the list of city owned property for sale. Here's a quick slide show of properties in the vicinity of 630 High Street. Make sure to orient yourself to this neighborhood, if you don't know it, by using this cool google satellite map. This image will also clearly show the ever increasingly larger "urban prairie" here in what some observers call the future agricultural district of Buffalo.
- 11 Holland Place - Again this two family house appears to be in very sound condition. On this short one block street here in Masten, one block from Main Street and just behind the Squier Mansion, there are 32 parcels. 13 of these parcels, 40% of the street, are owned by the city. Not one of those properties is offered for sale in the current catalog that John Hannon provided me a few weeks ago. Many of the houses on the street like 30 Holland Place are still in remarkable condition, despite years of neglect at many different levels. When I walked around the property at 11 Holland, Saturday afternoon, I noticed a new electrical service. People were living there. When I knocked, they saw me, no one came to the door. Again as part of a settlement in the larger case against "Hutchinson & Upcher" alternatives to the demolition of this house should really be considered. This beautiful victorian, just around the corner at 94 Northampton is marked for demolition, too.
- 152 Sumner Place - This building was marked with red spray paint, indicating a future demolition. I'm sure Tracy Krug, city of Buffalo Builidng Inspector has a good reason to want to see this place torn down.
- 92 Mohr & 367 Normal Avenue - These properties are vacant lots. I spoke with neighbors and in both cases I was told that the houses were demolished years, perhaps 2 years, ago.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Sweet Kleen(ed)!
In Thursday's Buffalo News, we learned that the "Sweet Kleen" site at 764 Kensington Avenue (see google satellite image...awesome view) is being cleaned up! While this is a very good thing and the EPA has been doing fantastic work here in WNY with Superfund dollars, Buffalo News staff reporter John F. Bonfatti failed to mention that the current owner of the property is, yes...brace yourself...the City of Buffalo! Here's the official property description. There was no mention in Bonfatti's article of the environmental hazards and levels of contamination. Another example of loserville journalism.
click to enlarge
On my way to dinner Thursday evening I took the opportunity to check out the property to see what was going on. I spoke with a few long term neighbors - 25 years in one case - of the site. He had no clue who the owner was and the amount of money that was being spent to remediate the site and demolish the structure. I told him about the article in the paper and the $600,000 that it was going to take. He told me he would'nt give me six cents for the place.
So, sort of knowing how the city takes care of its property, I wanted to take a closer look. I walked around to the Federal Avenue side of the property and noticed that the window here was wide open. I'm not an environmental engineer or toxicologist, but wouldn't you think the EPA and the SuperFund peopel would have at least secured the window? Neighborhood kids had just found a crate of old record albums in the building and shared their new treasure with me. A 7th grade boy gave me Aretha's - Live at Fillmore West. R-E-S-P-E-C-T...not here, on Buffalo's east side.
I would love to get my hands on the corporate records and find out who knew what when. I mean was anyone in the City's Law Department watching this one. There was a very public auction at the site years ago, which I attended. All sorts of corporate assets were being sold.
There are just so many questions....does anyone have the answers? What about that really cool tile on the building's facade...the deco metal work? Developing...
click to enlarge
So, sort of knowing how the city takes care of its property, I wanted to take a closer look. I walked around to the Federal Avenue side of the property and noticed that the window here was wide open. I'm not an environmental engineer or toxicologist, but wouldn't you think the EPA and the SuperFund peopel would have at least secured the window? Neighborhood kids had just found a crate of old record albums in the building and shared their new treasure with me. A 7th grade boy gave me Aretha's - Live at Fillmore West. R-E-S-P-E-C-T...not here, on Buffalo's east side.
click to enlarge
I fully understand the leverage the city needs to have over property owners who do not pay their property taxes, but come on...seriously why take back a property - which is the case here at 764 Kensingtion Avenue - with known environmental hazards.I would love to get my hands on the corporate records and find out who knew what when. I mean was anyone in the City's Law Department watching this one. There was a very public auction at the site years ago, which I attended. All sorts of corporate assets were being sold.
There are just so many questions....does anyone have the answers? What about that really cool tile on the building's facade...the deco metal work? Developing...
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Following Up...
click to enlarge
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
I've been documenting the public safety and heath problems that exist around Buffalo Public Schools for the last few months. I've written a larger piece about the problem and called it the School House Project. Today I had an opportunity to check in on a few of the properties I've been monitoring over the past few months. While a few demolitions such as this one on Northampton Avenue continue to happen, I'm still left wondering if there is any systematic approach to monitoring and maintaining these properties.
Demo near "new" East High School
click to enlarge
The problem directly across from Buffalo's City Honors High School still exists. Here, at 212 Best Street I first documented these conditions six weeks ago. Today I followed up and found these conditions across the street from City Honors High School. Nothing has changed. The house is still wide open, 50 feet from the school.
click to enlarge
Further into the 'hood I re-visited 319 Koons Avenue. I first wrote about this city of Buffalo owned property a few weeks ago, over here.
Since my first posting about 319 Koons Avenue I had an awkward conversation with John Hannon, Director of Buffalo's Division of Real Estate. I re-introduced myself to him at the press conference last week for the Mayor's Newly Revised Housing Task Force at 41 Loepere Street. You can read about the press conference, over here. John Hannon told me that I couldn't believe what a difficult job his Dept. has here in the city. I tried to sympathize with the overwhelming problems the entire city is confronted with in dealing with abandoned, boarded, derelict and vacant residential, commerial and industrial property. I didn't get very far. He did promise me an opportunity to sit down and discuss some specifics about his department's policy and practices of maintaining and selling city of Buffalo property.
I'll make sure to focus my questions on innovations and marketing mechanisms such as using "for-sale signs" on the properties and having a complete listing of city owned properties on the city's website with pics! Even if we use a stencil and spray paint for the "for-sale" signs at least people will know that the property is available.
I'll make sure to report about that conversation with John Hannon as soon as possible. Wish me luck!
click to enlarge
Nothing has changed. This city of Buffalo owned property is still wide open. 319 Koons (use that satellite image to see the relationship to the school) is one block away from the recently renovated Emerson High School at 1405 Sycamore Street and directly across the from 320 Koons, the scene of four murder violent crime spree just a few weeks ago. A few months ago a group of housing activists lead by the inspiring work of Michele Johnson focused their attention on correcting a problem of neglect and abandonment at 242 Koons Avenue.Since my first posting about 319 Koons Avenue I had an awkward conversation with John Hannon, Director of Buffalo's Division of Real Estate. I re-introduced myself to him at the press conference last week for the Mayor's Newly Revised Housing Task Force at 41 Loepere Street. You can read about the press conference, over here. John Hannon told me that I couldn't believe what a difficult job his Dept. has here in the city. I tried to sympathize with the overwhelming problems the entire city is confronted with in dealing with abandoned, boarded, derelict and vacant residential, commerial and industrial property. I didn't get very far. He did promise me an opportunity to sit down and discuss some specifics about his department's policy and practices of maintaining and selling city of Buffalo property.
I'll make sure to focus my questions on innovations and marketing mechanisms such as using "for-sale signs" on the properties and having a complete listing of city owned properties on the city's website with pics! Even if we use a stencil and spray paint for the "for-sale" signs at least people will know that the property is available.
I'll make sure to report about that conversation with John Hannon as soon as possible. Wish me luck!
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Support the Arts Here on Buffalo's East Side...
The Harvey Austin School Fine Arts Department Proudly PresentsCome see the hard work our children have done on this project! It's the first school musical for the newly renovated Harvey Austin School, 1405 Sycamore Street, and one of the few school musicals in Buffalo.
May 26th 7:30 PM May 27th 7:30 PM May 28th 2:00 PM
Tickets on sale NOW, or get them at the door!
$2.00 Students/Seniors $3.00 Adults
For tickets call: 816-3460
This show is produced through a special arrangement with Music Theater International, New York, NY
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
From...The Old First Ward
I strapped the Mad River canoe to my car late this morning and set off for the Old First Ward. Before entering the Buffalo River near the Ohio Street Lift Bridge, I checked out a few places and stumbled upon this K-9 training lot adjacent to an abandoned police precinct house. Some of the exterior lights were still on though most of them were missing or broken. There was a grimy, worn and tattered American flag barely blowing in the breeze on the city's flag pole. It seemed like it was holding on by just a thread. Way too bleak and unbelievable. The property, 294 Louisiana Street was home to old police precinct 7. This property doesn't appear on the most recent list of property the city is selling. Should we wonder why?
Here in the "Old First Ward" residents seem to have their fair share of abandoned, boarded, derelict and vacant houses in this part of the city, too. This place is located at 73 Louisiana Street.
This is where I put the canoe in the water. Make sure to check out this really cool google satellite image of the area. The boat lauch here is full of drift wood and debris yet just right for my canoe or kayak. The Buffalo Rod & Gun Club's building is near here. The sign said it was established in 1938. Great history about Buffalo sportsman's clubs from Western New York Heritage Press.
Here are a few other shots from the afternoon's exploration. Paddling along the Buffalo River brings some interesting things into view. While paddling along, I started to think about other abandoned commercial and industrial property here in Buffalo. I imagined that the corporations that were once paying property taxes might no longer worry about city taking back their property for non-payment. Interesting study. I did manage to fill a 128 mb card, so a few more silo pics and views from the water to follow soon...
I crossed the river near the Ohio Street Lift Bridge and stumbled upon this aging hulk. Does anyone know what sort of ship this might have been attached to? Interesting rehab project.
***New***
***New***
- Just heard from über urban observer Hank Bromley and frequent reader of Fix Buffalo, that the "hulk" is most probably the wheel house from the good ship "The Canadiana." Karl Josker, a phenomenal photographer, has additional pics, over here. Click around his photo-albums for all sort of surprises. Chris Byrd, from InDaBuff - great local blog - suggests that this would make a fine "visitors kiosk" for the new inner-harbor project.
I just joined the yahoo group for the Crystal Beach Amusement Park and was told there was a thread about the S.S. Canadiana. Here's the link for a Canadiana Preservation Group that I found there. Lots of jucicy details describing what happened and didn't.
- The Canadiana's Maiden Voyage May 30, 1910
- The Canadiana 1984 by Karl Josker
- The Canadiana's Dismanteling Buffalo News April 18, 2004
A little further away I saw this fantastic shot of the city's skyline and what looks to be like another shovel ready site. Come to Buffalo and be (t)axed to death. By late afternoon I was back on the Titanic's main deck and joined friends at Cafe Aroma. Read the Times and fought over "IQ" as viable word while playing Scrabble.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Another Park...See, I Told You So!
Dr. Beahan is a member of the Sierra Club, the Adirondack Mountain Club and serves as a representative to the re-licensing of the Niagara Power Project. He is a local author and has written a rather compelling narrative about life in Buffalo, back in the day when we could afford things like city parks. One of his books, My Grandpa's Woods, recounts tales of his grandfather as a logger in the family's Adirondack logging business, again back in the day...I guess when it was ok to be a logger.
Hi, I'm a Council President, Welcome to Buffalo!
Frequent readers of my blog may still appreciate
this reference to "One FlewOver the Cuckoo's Nest."
I was wrong, sorry. Back in January I thought Council President David Franczyk wanted to make the former JN Adam TB Hospital in Perrysburg a city park. I should have known better. A local environmentalist, Dr. Laurence Beahan of Amherst would like to see the 650 acre complex become the latest New York State Park. The good doctor's plan is detailed in a letter to the editor that appeared in the Buffalo News last week.this reference to "One FlewOver the Cuckoo's Nest."
Dr. Beahan is a member of the Sierra Club, the Adirondack Mountain Club and serves as a representative to the re-licensing of the Niagara Power Project. He is a local author and has written a rather compelling narrative about life in Buffalo, back in the day when we could afford things like city parks. One of his books, My Grandpa's Woods, recounts tales of his grandfather as a logger in the family's Adirondack logging business, again back in the day...I guess when it was ok to be a logger.
Dr. Beahan's letter is wrong on a number of points. First, the Town of Perrysburg already has a town park and the former J. N. Adam site is clearly marked, "No Tresspassing." I think this means you're not supposed to use the place. Second, his perfect outcome...get this...
- A perfect outcome would be for the state to buy the site from cash-starved
Did you catch that? The good doctor seems to think that money grows on trees. Before suggesting that the people of Perrysburg give up potential tax revenue, Dr. Beahan should consider what happened a few years ago in East Aurora, NY. There, another 650 acres of land was removed from the tax rolls under Governor Pataki's Open Space Initiative. The tax generating Knox Polo Fields and Farm were purchased from the Knox family with New York State tax money (yes...that's right...your tax money funding the Knox family retirement fund) and the people of East Aurora were forced to offset that lost tax revenue with higher property taxes.
Meanwhile in Perrysburg, the people are counting on new tax revenue. That 650 acre site hasn't generated a penny for the town in 100 years. The Trathen offer is legitimate and it's the first offer in years according to Perrysburg Town Supervisor, Myrton Sprague who still enjoys wide spread support for the deal.I'm sure, I'll hear from Dr. Beahan. Another park, please. Just what we need. Will some please remind him - David Franczyk, too - that we can't afford the parks we currently own. Imagine this letter...
- Dear Dr. Beahan, In my neighborhood money doesn't grow on trees. If it does in your neighborhood would you please send some. We sure could use it. Thanks, Brian Lipke - Chairman of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority
Let's finish the deal with Tom Trathen and move on to core business. Let's focus on Forest Avenue instead of some trees 40 miles away. The good people of Perrysburg can mind their own business just fine.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Michele Johnson...Mayor's Housing Task Force
Michele Johnson addressed a gathering of the Mayor's Housing Task Force at 41 Loepere Street on Friday morning. Michele has done some very important ground breaking work addressing the problems impacting residential neighborhoods on the city's east-side. This press conference marks the launch of this latest task force.
I was the first to show up and was wondering why the house was still wide open. I talked with some of the neighbors "staying" across the street. When I told them what was going to happen and that this house, 41 Loepere currently owned by Victoria Goodwin, had been "flipped" on Ebay a few times in the past two years and went from $10 - $20,000, one guy responded, "@^#%ing, eh..I made a few g's from that house just last week." Later after everyone left, I returned and saw that the house was properly secured and the grass was mowed. Some of the vacant houses across the street - one in particular where the long time owner was forced to abandon - was still wide open. I'd met her years ago. She raised rotweilers for police departments all over the country.
Michele Johnson addressed a gathering of the Mayor's Housing Task Force at 41 Loepere Street on Friday morning. Michele has done some very important ground breaking work addressing the problems impacting residential neighborhoods on the city's east-side. This press conference marks the launch of this latest task force.
I was the first to show up and was wondering why the house was still wide open. I talked with some of the neighbors "staying" across the street. When I told them what was going to happen and that this house, 41 Loepere currently owned by Victoria Goodwin, had been "flipped" on Ebay a few times in the past two years and went from $10 - $20,000, one guy responded, "@^#%ing, eh..I made a few g's from that house just last week." Later after everyone left, I returned and saw that the house was properly secured and the grass was mowed. Some of the vacant houses across the street - one in particular where the long time owner was forced to abandon - was still wide open. I'd met her years ago. She raised rotweilers for police departments all over the country.
Michele Johnson - Mayor's Housing Task Force
Michele is also the Fillmore District Liaison to Judge Nowak's Housing Court. She often works side by side with Tracy Krug, City Building Inspector, fighting the good fight and keeping the city's neighborhoods safe. Tracy has been very responsive in helping us address some of the abandonded and vacant property over in the Masten District, too.
Michele & Tracy Krug - City Building Inspector
I speak with Michele a couple times every week and often provide photos to support some of her investigative work. The Mayor's task force was formed largely because of Michele's work. Knowing what I about Michele, if this task force turns into a talk-fest, Michele will be the first to resign. I'll stay close to this story and provide additional information, details and policy changes as they develop. Michele writes and publishes some of her work, over here at WNYmedia.net...check it out!
- 41 Loepere - city crews securing the property
- Pics of the rest of the press conference at 41 Loepere - Sam Hoyt, Bill Stachowski, David Franczyk, check it out!
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Buffalo's Loss...
I first met Dick Kern 13 years ago on the east-side of Bufalo. He was investigating another HUD scam. He introduced me to the politics of housing here in Buffalo. And for those people who listened, Dick Kern provided a graduate program in municipal malfaesance and the corrupt nature of how neighborhoods in Buffalo end up looking like war torn Berlin, Beirut and Baghdad. While many people here in Buffalo were overjoyed to see Sharon West, former Executive Director of Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA), leave Buffalo earlier this year, it is very sad day to know that Dick Kern is leaving now, too.
Dick we all wish you well in you future work and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the extraordinary example you have set in your pioneering "Blight Busting" work and willingness to race to the bottom line on issues and developments that are central to understanding the malaise that afflicts us here in Buffalo.
Much of his work is still gathered over here at KernWatch. Here's the link to the story in today's Buffalo News about Dick Kern. I've archived the story, over here.
I first met Dick Kern 13 years ago on the east-side of Bufalo. He was investigating another HUD scam. He introduced me to the politics of housing here in Buffalo. And for those people who listened, Dick Kern provided a graduate program in municipal malfaesance and the corrupt nature of how neighborhoods in Buffalo end up looking like war torn Berlin, Beirut and Baghdad. While many people here in Buffalo were overjoyed to see Sharon West, former Executive Director of Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA), leave Buffalo earlier this year, it is very sad day to know that Dick Kern is leaving now, too.
Richard Kern
Much of his work is still gathered over here at KernWatch. Here's the link to the story in today's Buffalo News about Dick Kern. I've archived the story, over here.
click to enlarge
While peddling around the east-side this week and leading an "archeological tour" of Buffalo's soon to be famous ruins, I took these pictures. Pictures that will always remind me of Dick's uncompromising desire to uncover the story behind the story. The first picture is from a memorial located in MLK Park and the second picture is part of the latest chapter in Buffalo's history, the ever increasingly larger "urban prairie" and home to what some people think is the future agricultural district of Buffalo. This is one of the BMHA buildings located at 1827 Fillmore Avenue. Make sure to see that satellite image, it is clearly the largest tract of abandonded, boarded, derelict and vacant property in the city of Buffalo. And make sure to check out the city's assesment of the property here, the official property description.
If you don't like the looks of this place and think it should be properly secured, call Gillian Brown. He's now the acting Executive Director of BMHA. He can be reached at 855-6711 x 204. And if you would like to receive e-mail from Dick Kern, let him know. I'm sure he's preparing the fall semester's course right now.
If you don't like the looks of this place and think it should be properly secured, call Gillian Brown. He's now the acting Executive Director of BMHA. He can be reached at 855-6711 x 204. And if you would like to receive e-mail from Dick Kern, let him know. I'm sure he's preparing the fall semester's course right now.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
About the Photos...
This afternoon I had a conversation with a frequent reader of my blog. He informed me that when he clicks on pictures to enlarge them he often sees little blue links advertising services that he would prefer not see. I agree.
In January I started using the free image hosting services provided by Image Venue. The ads surrounding the pics were innocuous little ads relating to "how to blog," "credit reporting" and other services. Now, after a review it seems like Image Venue is cycling ads that some people might consider offensive. I agree.
So, I am actively looking for another image hosting service that doesn't display this type of ad. In the meantime, the only way you access the products or services that are offered in relation to those "offensive" ads is to click them. Until I switch to a new image hosting service and begin converting the old pics, my suggestion for now, if you are offended by those ads, just don't click them. Thanks for your patience.
In January I started using the free image hosting services provided by Image Venue. The ads surrounding the pics were innocuous little ads relating to "how to blog," "credit reporting" and other services. Now, after a review it seems like Image Venue is cycling ads that some people might consider offensive. I agree.
So, I am actively looking for another image hosting service that doesn't display this type of ad. In the meantime, the only way you access the products or services that are offered in relation to those "offensive" ads is to click them. Until I switch to a new image hosting service and begin converting the old pics, my suggestion for now, if you are offended by those ads, just don't click them. Thanks for your patience.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
New Erie County Library...and the "old" one?
I first mentioned a few months ago, back here, that Robert Traynham Coles is the architect for the new Frank E. Merriweather Library, located at 1326 Jefferson Avenue. Contruction of this new library is proceeding despite the Erie County budget crisis and the precarious position of Buffalo's own budget. Here's what things are looking like.
click to enlarge
The question is now being asked what should be done with the building owned by the City of Buffalo that houses the "old" North Jefferson Branch Library, at 334 East Utica? When I stopped in yesterday to take some pictures, I asked the librarian when the big moving day is planned. She informed me that the library will moving accross the street sometime late summer. I asked what was going to happen to this "old" libary building. She informed me that the City of Buffalo is the owner of the building and told me to call Masten District Council Member Antoine Thompson's office for additional information.
Still, I really don't really know why Bruce Jackson from Buffalo Report told us in February 2003 that the North Jefferson Branch was decripit. While acknowledging Microsoft's contribution which I knew nothing about:
Meanwhile, I didn't see a "for-sale" sign on the property either. I mean if you knew you were going to be moving in a few months, would'nt you have have a "for-sale" on your house? With real estate, as with so many other aspects of municipal life here in Buffalo, there has to be a more effective way of handling "surplus property."
Way cool loft possibilites and artist studios...
- Bill Gates’ personal foundation has put a lot of money into inner city libraries in Buffalo...
Meanwhile, I didn't see a "for-sale" sign on the property either. I mean if you knew you were going to be moving in a few months, would'nt you have have a "for-sale" on your house? With real estate, as with so many other aspects of municipal life here in Buffalo, there has to be a more effective way of handling "surplus property."
Way cool loft possibilites and artist studios...
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006
Revitalize Buffalo...another look...
Since posting my impressions and thoughts about what happened last Thursday evening at the Revitalize Buffalo meeting, a few other local Buffalo Bloggers have picked up the story.
Since posting my impressions and thoughts about what happened last Thursday evening at the Revitalize Buffalo meeting, a few other local Buffalo Bloggers have picked up the story.
- Craig Howard, from North Coast US, just wrote this piece...
- Alan Bedanko, from Buffalo Pundit, had this to say about the meeting...
- Newell Nussbaumer, from Buffalo Rising, had this to say...
- And from The Talk Arena, an up and coming local blog, someone wrote this...
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
109 Genesee Street...Murals
click to enlarge
While photo-documenting a number of sites Sunday afternoon on the city's east side, I decided to take a closer look at the Willert Genrich property at 109 Genesee Street. It's been the subject of recent debate. (Will someone please comment on the latest developments...thanks.) Here's the building which I guess Mr. Genrich has now owned for 20 years.
front view
click to enlarge
I walked around to the back of the property, too. I've never seen this view of the buildings as I am usually racing down Oak Street to make the lights.
click to enlarge
click to enlarge
rear view
click to enlarge
Seeing how totally messed-up these buildings are really inspired me. I thought wow, if so many people want to save these buildings and preserve a really cool and unique 19th century urban streetscape, then the Woodlawn Row Houses just might be saved, too.
I stayed on Genesee Street for a while and admired the murals about Buffalo architecture and history. Here's the complete set of scenes from the murals along the 100 block of Genesee Street. Does anyone know who the artist(s) are and when they were first displayed? I think these are rather unique and may have been first displayed 10 years ago. Please share what you know about this project...thanks.
I stayed on Genesee Street for a while and admired the murals about Buffalo architecture and history. Here's the complete set of scenes from the murals along the 100 block of Genesee Street. Does anyone know who the artist(s) are and when they were first displayed? I think these are rather unique and may have been first displayed 10 years ago. Please share what you know about this project...thanks.
click to enlarge
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Woodlawn Row Houses...Still Wide Open
Some people have told me, most notably Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, that we need new laws such as this, assembly bill A-06980, to protect our architectural heritage from "demolition by neglect." Sam Hoyt has sponsored this bill. Yet no one has convinced me that enforcing the Hoyt "demolition by leglect" law will be any easier than enforcing existing building codes. I wrote about this awhile ago, over here. Something tells me that the Wollenberg Grain Elevator won't get any help from new legislation either.
In fact, the case involving the Samuel Tredwell House in NYC, which Buffalo News reporter Mark Sommer described in the article introducing Sam Hoyt's bill a few weeks ago, and apparently completly foreign to Sam (I'll forward the e-mail from Sam to me), used existing building code enforcement to win the case against a negligent owner of historic property. I first started writing about that case from NYC last December, over here.
Sam, you know Mayor Masiello and Common Council President David Franczyk better than I do, so maybe you could help. Would you please call them and see if we can get the Woodlawn Row Houses properly secured. I've tried for 17 months. It's not Elmwood, I know and it is out of your district...but hey, you never know.
Meanwhile, please take a moment to sign the petition to help save the Woodlawn Row Houses.
Once a month I take pictures of the Woodlawn Row Houses and document the "demolition by neglect" that happens when the city of Buffalo, the legal owner, has given up on its architectural heritage. In the last few weeks I've visted the site on numerous occasions and noticed only today evidence of vandalism and forced entry. I feel like I'm a physician who knows that his patient is going to die, no matter what he does. Here, I'm becoming convinced that city officials are only providing lip-service to preservation issues and the architectural legacy we have inherited. Again, these Woodlawn Row Houses were designated a "local-landmark" in 1982. Today, the rear of the building is still wide open to elements and vandals.
Here are the pics for this, the seventeenth month of documenting the demolition...Some people have told me, most notably Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, that we need new laws such as this, assembly bill A-06980, to protect our architectural heritage from "demolition by neglect." Sam Hoyt has sponsored this bill. Yet no one has convinced me that enforcing the Hoyt "demolition by leglect" law will be any easier than enforcing existing building codes. I wrote about this awhile ago, over here. Something tells me that the Wollenberg Grain Elevator won't get any help from new legislation either.
In fact, the case involving the Samuel Tredwell House in NYC, which Buffalo News reporter Mark Sommer described in the article introducing Sam Hoyt's bill a few weeks ago, and apparently completly foreign to Sam (I'll forward the e-mail from Sam to me), used existing building code enforcement to win the case against a negligent owner of historic property. I first started writing about that case from NYC last December, over here.
Sam, you know Mayor Masiello and Common Council President David Franczyk better than I do, so maybe you could help. Would you please call them and see if we can get the Woodlawn Row Houses properly secured. I've tried for 17 months. It's not Elmwood, I know and it is out of your district...but hey, you never know.
Meanwhile, please take a moment to sign the petition to help save the Woodlawn Row Houses.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Speak Up WNY...
There is an excellent discussion thread over here at SpeakUpWNY regarding the various sides of the "demolition vs. preservation" argument and how it relates to various projects here in Buffalo.
I've made a few posts as dt14209 and started this thread about the JN Adam site in Perrysburg.
The discussion is lively, informed and enlightening. Become a member, it's free and join the discussion.
There is an excellent discussion thread over here at SpeakUpWNY regarding the various sides of the "demolition vs. preservation" argument and how it relates to various projects here in Buffalo.
I've made a few posts as dt14209 and started this thread about the JN Adam site in Perrysburg.
The discussion is lively, informed and enlightening. Become a member, it's free and join the discussion.
__________________________________________________________________________
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq • my flickr
Here's the Church, Here's the Steeple...
click to enlarge
Where did all the people go? I know...Charlotte, Houston and Phoenix. With 50 people leaving Buffalo every week, I guess it's just a matter of time before we see addtional church property abandonded, derelict and "demolished by neglect" here, on Buffalo's east-side.
I first started investigating old churches here on the east-side a few months ago when Zion Dominion was in the news. Here's what I wrote about their move to Amherst. This is an excellent example of the adaptive re-use of old buildings. I contrasted Zion Dominion's decision with the Buffalo Diocese's decision over here at 564 Dodge Street (cool satellite pic). I took these pics in January.
I first started investigating old churches here on the east-side a few months ago when Zion Dominion was in the news. Here's what I wrote about their move to Amherst. This is an excellent example of the adaptive re-use of old buildings. I contrasted Zion Dominion's decision with the Buffalo Diocese's decision over here at 564 Dodge Street (cool satellite pic). I took these pics in January.
564 Dodge Street - the former
German Roman Catholic Orphan Home
German Roman Catholic Orphan Home
click to enlarge
This history of this Buffalo instiution, the former German Roman Catholic Orphan Home, is preserved here, by Ralph A. Handley. Charles Hendler from the Preservation Coalition of Erie County was quick to point out information regarding some of the recent ownership of the property. Charles also shared this website, Buffalo's Faith Elevaotrs, documenting a number of churches here on the east side.
Here are two additional church properties that are ready for "demolition by neglect" on Buffalo's east-side.
click to enlarge
Here are two additional church properties that are ready for "demolition by neglect" on Buffalo's east-side.
click to enlarge
More about these two church properties on the east-side later this week. I'll report back on ownership and their "inspection status."
If you know of other east-side church property web-sites and information about other church structures that are experincing "demolition by neglect," let me know...thanks.
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Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
Artspace Archive • Annals of Neglect • BAVPA • Where is Perrysburg? • Broken Promises...
Writing the City • Woodlawn Row Houses • Tour dé Neglect - 2006 • faq
