Sub-Standard?

Buffalo Rising recently reported on Rocco Termini, Any Building Can Be Restored...

Rocco Termini does not give up. He will do whatever it takes to see through one of his development projects downtown - last week, he nearly got arrested.

While I certainly trust that the issues surrounding the very unfortunate death of 24 year old construction worker Jonathan Fundalinski at the Webb Building earlier this week will be fully investigated and any and all responsible parties will be held accountable, I had a chat this afternoon with someone who's finger is on the pulse of housing issues here in Buffalo, NY.

update 3/25/07...Rocco's day in Housing Court - index# 908/2006

He reminded me that Rocco Termini has been embroiled in controversy a world away from "new Buffalo" and his recent loft(y) projects. Last June Rocco was front and center in a Buffalo News article. It focused on various issues involving predatory lending in sub-prime mortgage land.

Given their income and poor credit, however, the Wilsons were repeatedly turned down for a traditional bank mortgage. Besides the car loan, they had credit card debt and medical bills for Wilson, who was disabled in a 1997 work accident. So they turned to their builder, Rocco Termini of Burke Brothers Construction. He suggested National City Mortgage, a broker that finds lenders for clients. National City, a Cleveland bank's subsidiary that had an office on Main Street in Amherst, contacted Fremont Investment & Loan of California. And Fremont, a mortgage company that lends to people with bad credit, loaned the Wilsons $78,600 in October 2001, with a $500 down payment. [read the rest]

I'll make it a point to stop in and see the Wilsons this week. According to City records they live a few blocks away in a house the Rocco built.

'Early Rocco'

Back in the Fall of 2005 while coordinating the 2006 Tour d'Neglect...I noticed this place on Emslie Street near Clinton. Upon further investigation I learned that this building - that I've come to know as 'Georgia Ghetto' - was one of Rocco's first projects in Buffalo, NY.

There are four of these buildings in this development that were originally built for veterans. I know, a whole world away from 'new Buffalo'...

update...just noticed this...make sure to see Newell's slideshow - Inside the Webb Building - from February 1, 2007.

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