1/06/2007

Just Imagine...

Imagine for a moment if Carl Paladino owned this property and nothing happened...for four very long years! Yes...we know who would be leading the campaign to ride Carl out of town, again...
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Please take a moment to read what Buffalo News reporter Sharon Linstedt wrote on October 9, 2006...
"This situation goes back quite awhile. Both buildings are seriously deteriorated, and the problems have not been addressed," City Development Commissioner Richard Tobe said. read the rest
Some people have suggested that these two buildings are the worst offenders in Buffalo's emerging retail and residential downtown. While the promise has been made - Jessie Schnell, who claims ownership as a representative of Triangle Development LLC and is also the Board President of Forever Elmwood - to have these buildings secured by Monday January 8th, the future of 85 & 91 Genesee Street is very much in doubt.

Here's my flickr slide show and some additional background - right here.

Here's a copy of the housing court file #1860/2005.
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Artspace ArchiveAnnals of NeglectBAVPAWhere is Perrysburg?Broken Promises...
Writing the CityWoodlawn Row Housesfaqmy flickr

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Buffalo is a trash pit, and raising kids there should be considered child abuse. But seriously, unless American manufacturing, including the steel industry, somehow is reborn in the area, and if they shut down the St. Lawrence Seaway such that the Erie Canal ceases to be a useless historical artifact and becomes necessary for commerce, then, yes, Buffalo will be reborn. In other words, it ain't never gonna happen, folks. And its just a matter of time before you lose your beloved Bills--the biggest choke NFL team in the league's history. When Mr. Wilson, who doesn't even live in Buffalo anyway, checks out, you can say goodbye to your team, you losers. You guys don't even rate with New Orleans post-Katrina. Want to meet an intelligent, well-rounded and affable person from Buffalo? Just go to New York City, Boston, DC, San Francisco, Philly or LA, because anyone that has anything at all going for them leaves your so-called city in a heartbeat. And all you have left is low-rent, white-trash, mouth-breathing and incompetent human capital--just what business doesn't want, except maybe Wal-Mart.

So continue to hinge your hopes upon warmed over and decades old development plans, a low-cost of living fueled only by the fact that you have lost more than half of your population and no one wants to live there, and idiotic notions that a hunting and fishing supply retailer will bring untold riches to your town. So mired are you in ignorance, the only thing you have going for you is being unable to see what a shambles you are as compared to the rest of the country. Buffalo, you are a DEAD TOWN.

fixBuffalo said...

Anon 10:56,

Come on, please. Some people are well intentioned. Doesn't that count?

Anonymous said...

I makes one wonder just how hollow life in paradise is when its inhabitants have the need to come back and put others down just to make themselves feel better.

It always amazes how some people never get past a jr high school mentality or never really do anything of much consequence in thier lives. You must feel very fullfilled following success where ever it may go like a dog.

Some people don't mind a challenge. Some people care about more than "how am I going to afford that bigger TV so my neighbors will think I'm cool too?" Some people find great pride and fullfillment in saving and restoring what others gave up on. The fact thier true happiness and pride, and possibly of turning around what others could/would not brings out these displays of insecurity is sadder than the picture of Buffalo that anonymous paints above.

Anonymous said...

I'm confused. You link to an October post where the buildings are sealed and now in this post the wood is all over the place. Is that the current state? Also, many small towns and cities in NYS and other states are depressed because shopping malls and big box retailers destroyed one of their primary economic functions that being retail centers. The stores close, the buildings sit empty, no one goes into "town" anymore and voila - DEAD. And unfortunately, heavy mfg will never return to Buffalo or to the US. It's just a matter of time before mfg in the south and south border states moves offshore.

fixBuffalo said...

Jefferson,

Yes, as of this afternoon the boards are still off and the place is wide open.

Met up with building inspector there the other day...these guys are so upset with the total lack of progress at this location, too...

You may be right about manufacturing...perhaps we need a WalMart in the 'hood to stabilize the retail side of things...

David

Anonymous said...

It's just a matter of time before mfg in the south and south border states moves offshore.

Jefferson, I think that depends totally on the type of product and how simple it is to manufacture it.

For just one example of many, consider the auto industry. Toyota and other Asian vehicle companies (Nissan, Honda, etc.) are investing billions in new U.S. plants over the next few years.

Their plants are not just in the South but also in states such as Indiana, Ohio, and California.

If they planned to offshore everything in the forseeable future, then it would seem like bunch of stupid business decisions for them to keep building new plants and expand existing ones in this country. I think they realize cars can be made here profitably, only not in UAW shops. Many of the simple parts are offshored, but still many good jobs will stay here for the assembly plants.

Sorry if all that was off-topic for Buffalo - I realize no company like that would consider putting a plant here or anywhere in NYS.

About Buffalo, I think "anonymous" is unfortunately basically spot on, except the first sentence is borderline. Child endagerment, maybe, from an economic sense, but calling it abuse is over the top. Hey the kiddos are free to move away if they want when they're 18, so as long as they get food in their belly every day until then they can put up with all this! If we can, they can.

Anonymous said...

B - Yes, foreign auto cos. are investing millions here in the US - forgot about that. Why not western NY? Also, there is a niche for sophisticated mfg in the US.
FIX - no, no WALMART PLEASSEEEE.