I had the opportunity to meet up with Gillian Brown this week. We inspected the vacant lot where 94 Northampton once stood and admired the architectural detail and structural stability of 11 Holland Place, yet another City-owned residential property, ripe for homesteading. Gillian is a City Court candidate running on the Working Families line in next week's primary race. Two incumbent judges - Eagen and Fiorella - share the same minority party endorsement (as well as the Democratic Party endorsement).
Gillian Brown in front of City-owned 11 Holland Place
Yesterday, I sat down with Gillian and asked him about his candidacy, qualifications and the importance of Housing Court. Here's the podcast (running time 20min).
In a poor City where most of the housing stock has a 50-year backlog of deferred maintenance, sky rocketing abandonment and vacancy issues and an ever increasingly longer list of City-owned real estate force so many questions. Few answers. What is clear is that a creative, intelligent and progressive person in elected office can make a difference. Remember Judge Nowak's Housing Court policies and reforms? Gillian's deep experience representing poor and working class people in City Court as an Attorney and his understanding of housing issues places him in the cross-hairs of what is needed in Buffalo right now.
If you are a member of the Working Families Party please vote for Gillian on Primary Day, September 13th. Once the ballot line is secured for the November general election - everyone can vote for the only candidate who actually wants to be in Housing Court.
Geoff Kelly over at Artvoice has been covering the pre-primary and the back room drama that resulted in Gillian being removed from the Democratic Party ballot line - see Blackballed, Gillian Brown v. Board of Elections and most recently Blood Sport: How City Court Races turn Ugly.
Gillian's next fundraiser: Thursday September 8th at Charlie O'Brian's 865 Elk Street, from 6:00 - 9:00pm. $30 includes beer, well drinks and chicken wings.
Here's the website - Gillian Brown for City Court.
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building index • fixBuffalo flickr • creative class • shrinking cities • americansuburbX
spacing toronto • infrastructurist • inhabitat
building index • fixBuffalo flickr • creative class • shrinking cities • americansuburbX
spacing toronto • infrastructurist • inhabitat
6 comments:
Being elected a City Court Judge is no guarantee of being named as the Housing Court Judge. That appointment is up to the Chief Judge to make.
It was an impressive post and I enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sharing.
Charles A
We are from Buffalo but currently live in Atlanta. My husband grew up in this house, during the 60s-70s. This so sad. He had such wonderful memories from his childhood here. One story I am personally fond of is that this is where he gained his awesome house cleaning skills. His grandma made him polish all of the intricate woodwork and the hardwood floors throughout the house. He said this was a beautiful home, in addition to all of the beautiful woodwork; it had plaster angels in the corners of some of the rooms. He remembered that his room was the one over the front porch with the bay window. The poor guy was in tears after seeing this.
It is so very sad to see this. If the lady Joyce who used to live there could contact me , I would like to get some additional photos if available. Maybe I could put
together a memory book for him. yelrihs6441@gmail.com
I am astonished to read that 94 Northampton survived relatively intact until the 1970’s! But again, it does not take long for a building to fall into disrepair with little to no maintenance and, once utilities are cutoff and no heat, moisture damage takes hold and the end result is another architectural loss.
I never had the opportunity to tour this building but it was already unsafe to enter after I first became aware of its existence. The building directly behind is worthy of renovation and the last time I was given a tour, the plumbing had been stripped-out for salvage and the doors and windows were wide open to the elements.
Unfortunately, being exposed by the loss of 94 Northampton, it too will probably fall victim to arson.
...I appreciate that you caption... Crisa
Interesting write-ups. Thanks for sharing it, I enjoy reading your article.
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