fixBuffalo

1/16/2012

Salem Evangelical: In the 'hood and off the radar

The Salem Evangelical Reformed Church, located at 413 Sherman Street, was designed by Buffalo architect Jacob Oberkircher and built in 1907 (google map). Oberkircher's church replaced this wooden chapel that established this German congregation in the neighborhood in 1873. Fast forward 100 years. The pattern is familiar. Like with many of the East Side's heritage religious structures the people who worshiped here left long ago and the minister who lead the congregation can not be located.

Salem has been on my radar for a number of years. Last year I ventured inside, following a well-worn scrapper's path. I was awed. There wasn't one piece of broken or missing stained glass. The pews were mostly intact and the bell could still be rung with a rope that was strung to the tower. Records kept by the original German congregation were still on the shelves next to hymnals and various historical records probably belonging to members of the original congregation. Now, the series of pics - individually or as a slideshow - show a new story. The stained glass is now missing, the pews are in disarray and parts of the brick facade are crumbling in multiple locations.

I stopped by City Hall the other day and sat down with Ellicott District Councilman Darius Pridgen to talk about this church. I told him about the multiple entry ways. I told him about the missing stained glass and the crumbling tapestry behind what's left of the altar. Three days later all the entrances were boarded. Yesterday the front door was open.

I've been told by neighbors that Sunrise Congregation - the current owner of record - could no longer afford to heat the church, so services were held in the former minister's residence, adjacent to the church. That residence was demolished three years ago. I haven't heard yet, who paid for that demolition.

If there's an inventory of threatened religious structures in Buffalo, Salem needs to be added to the list. The roof will continue to fail. Bricks will continue to fall. Much like the "demolition by neglect" of Christ Evangelical Luthern Church at the corner of Broadway and Fox (2005) or the collapse of the school building at Sacred Heart on Emslie (2008), near Clinton - Salem Church is likely to meet the same fate. Soon.

Additional historical images: view as a set/individually or as a slideshow.

Update January 20, 2012 - a number of local preservationists decided to padlock the church's front door. This was done in an attempt to help safe-guard the numerous religious and heritage elements still present inside this church.

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fixBuffalo flickr • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

1/15/2012

Seeing Buffalo - Week #2

Here's a look back at some of the places I've seen this past week. If you're not familiar with the locations you can see them on the flickr map next to each photo. In some cases I've provided a description of the place or links to additional information.

To see the individual photos and related maps, follow this link or you can also view the series as a slideshow.

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fixBuffalo flickr • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

1/14/2012

1370 Michigan Avenue: City-owned and "Occupied"

Members of a local Occupy Wall Street group - Occupy Western New York - contacted me recently and asked about a number of housing opportunities in the neighborhood. We discussed several possibilities. Here's what 1370 Michigan looks like today.

At Thursday evening's General Assembly they decided to go forward and "occupy" 1370 Michigan Avenue, a house the City had previously offered as $1 homestead eligible property.

1370 Michigan was acquired by the City three years ago in a tax foreclosure proceeding. Two months ago the City wanted to demolish this two-family house. It's located in a section of Midtown that's experiencing considerable grass-roots investment and support. A small group of neighbors and City residents surveyed the house and pursuaded the City not to demolish the property.

YNN carried the news about today's first Buffalo "occupation" of a foreclosed property. Based on the commitment and determination of these members of the 99%, it's only the first house to be occupied. Learn more about their activity and reach them on Facebook - Occupy Western New York.

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fixBuffalo photos • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

1/13/2012

Stripping and Scrapping the City: Wonder Bread and...

Two years ago the WONDER BREAD's N went missing, months later then the B. In October copper flashing was stripped from one of the East Side's most iconic steel-reinforced concrete industrial buildings. The building's owner pointed a finger at the tenant, East Side activist Darnell Jackson. Things got ugly. The Buffalo News covered the crime. I noticed the missing copper flashing the other day and snapped this pic.

Copper trim was stripped and scrapped from Genessee Street's City-owned Brecker Building, located where High Street meets Genessee. It's an amazing concrete building that used to house the Curtiss-Wright training school. The building's fenestration is sublime. Compare the pre-scrapping 2005 image with a more recent image from 2010. The owner of St. Matthew's stripped the flashing from one of East Ferry Street's most neglected heritage buildings. Mike Puma covered that story for Buffalo Rising. Some additional pictures of the missing copper are included in this archive about St. Matthew's.

Copper prices are high and expected to go higher this year. With sites such as ScrapMetalJunkie providing plans for copper scrapping - it's hard to believe that more of Buffalo's architectural detail won't disapper in 2012. Are there additional stories of scrapped and stripped buildings and facades? What are other Cities doing to prevent this from happening?

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fixBuffalo flickr • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

1/12/2012

38 Ada Place: Ten Years Later

Ada Place is a unique Queen Anne lined one block Street on the City's East Side (google map). It is the sister to Coe Place in Midtown. Ada Place is exactly what it sounds like - an authentic place - something that is increasingly rare in this age of mass commodification and replication. It is a place that can not be replaced.

38 Ada Place - Owner: Bethel CDC/Rev. Stenhouse

Rev. Stenhouse's organization Bethel Community Development Corporation purchased 38 Ada Place in 2002. Three years ago I included a post about 38 Ada Place in a six part series about a failed neighborhood housing plan. Rev. Stenhouse wanted to be part of that plan. 38 Ada Place looked like this in March 2009.

Rev. Stenhouse was invited to Housing Court for his failure to properly maintain a string of houses across the street from his Bethel AME Church, near the corner of East Ferry and Michigan and directly across the street from one of the City's newest school renovations - Performing Arts. He later resigned from the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority when he plead guilty in Buffalo's Housing Court in 2007. He'd been appointed by Governor Pataki to be the Control Board's Secretary and Treasurer in 2004.

What happened to that failed neighborhood housing plan? It's dead. Rev. Stenhouse and his now defunct Jeremiah Partnership are defendants in a Federal "Pay-to-Play" lawsuit. Here's a copy of that lawsuit filed on behalf of a Cleveland Ohio based developer NRP Group in June 2011. According to public records the Jeremiah Partnership failed to file the required 990's for three consecutive years. The IRS has revoked its exempt status.

Calls to Bethel CDC and Rev. Stenhouse were not returned this week. The future of 38 Ada Place remains uncertain.
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fixBuffalo flickr • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

1/08/2012

Seeing Buffalo - Week #1

Here's a look back at some of the places I've seen this past week.

To see this week's photographs, please follow this link. The entire Seeing Buffalo collection is available here.

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fixBuffalo flickr • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

1/06/2012

Buffalo ReUse's New Location: 296 East Ferry

One of Buffalo's favorite East Side non-profits, Buffalo ReUse, moved late last year to their new location at 296 East Ferry (google map). Challenger News wrote about the move, here. This change represents a solid step forward for an organization that's been struggling to overcome a number of obstacles. The new store is conveniently located in a neighborhood that's part of the East Side's strongest retail and commercial centers. There's plenty of parking near the store's entrance and donation drop-off door on Dupont Street.

The deals are rather extraordinary. If you're a homeowner, landlord, property manager or local contractor, I encourage you to stop by on a regular basis. The stock is always changing and the pricing is considerably less than anything you might find at big box retailers or supply houses. I noticed 100's of square feet of old tin ceiling - see slide show - the other day. It's the perfect material for that ceiling renovation project you've been considering. Here's a short slide show of some additional items.

The Board of Directors at Buffalo ReUse has asked me to be the organization's official photographer. I'll be collecting images in this flickr set - Buffalo Reuse East Ferry Street. fixBuffalo readers can look forward to frequent updates as I visit and photograph on a regular basis one of the East Side's most exciting and progressive organizations.

Related: August 2011- Interview with James Green - Buffalo ReUse's new Executive Director

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fixBuffalo flickr • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

1/01/2012

Seeing Buffalo

Seeing Buffalo is a series of photographs shot, edited and posted on a weekly series. The focus is the City's East Side; the the largest geographic and often least known and understood part of the City. If you're not familiar with the locations you can see them on the flickr map next to each photo. In some cases I've provided a description or links to additional information about the location. The photographs are cross posted on the fixBuffalo flickr site, Seeing Buffalo.

The weekly series will be archived in this post.

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fixBuffalo flickr • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

11/08/2011

Gillian Brown: Getting into Housing Court - Part II

The outcome of today's City Court race is critical for Buffalo. I've recently written about the reasons why Gillian Brown is the clear choice over at Buffalo Rising - Gillian Brown: Getting to Housing Court. In reference to a recent Artvoice post, Woody Brown, Gillian's son - a recent City Honor's graduate and Senior Class President - posted the following on my facebook.

Check out this latest article urging you to vote for my father, Gillian Brown, for City Court tomorrow. According to Geoff Kelly, "He’s well known in Democratic circles, well liked, and has the energy of a lot of younger progressive activists who are taken by his desire to continue Nowak’s legacy of reform and innovation in the city’s housing court." And as David Torke put it so economically, "Among the six candidates for four slots on city court in Tuesday’s election, Nowak has a natural successor: Gillian Brown."

In the event that you haven't seen Gillian's thirty second TV spot, here's the buzz:

During the recent National Trust Conference, held last month in Buffalo, NY - former Housing Court Judge Henry Nowak spoke during a session about the role of Housing Court in building a more resilient Buffalo. The case study involved Essex Street on the City's West Side and the positive role a progressive and reform-minded housing court can make in helping to stabilize an emerging neighborhood.

Former Housing Court Judge Henry Nowak - National Trust Conference - Buffalo, NY

Here's the podcast of Judge Nowak's presentation. The last portion of the audio file include's a q&a with Jeremy Clifton, former Housing Director, Westminster Economic Development Initiative and Ronald Oakerson, Professor of Political Science, Houghton College, Houghton, NY. If you are interested in the important role of Housing Court in helping to build a better Buffalo, this audio podcast provides significant insight in how this process is achieved.

Gillian Brown is the only candidate for City Court who has embraced former Housing Court Judge Nowak's reforms and if elected is capable of extending these important policies. Listen to the podcast and distribute this post to your family, friends and colleagues before they go to the polls today.

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CIty in Crisis - Gillian Brown and Aaron Bartley - Part III

This is the third part of a three part series - City in Crisis. Here City Court candidate Gillian Brown talks about the City and the importance of Housing Court. Aaron Bartley address the City's housing crisis and discusses the importance of electing a progressive reform minded judge.

Aaron Bartley is the Executive Director of PUSH Buffalo. He live's and works on Buffalo's West Side.

City in Crisis - Gillian Brown and Prish Moran - Part II

This is the second part of a three part series - City in Crisis. Here City Court candidate Gillian Brown talks about the City and the importance of Housing Court. Prish Moran address the City's housing crisis and discusses the importance of electing a progressive reform minded judge.

Prish Moran is the owner of Sweetness_7 on Grant Street on Buffalo's West Side. I talked to her about the back-story involving the role of Housing Court in the acquisition of her building that houses the cafe, store-fronts and apartments.

City in Crisis - Gillian Brown and Sam Magavern - Part I

This is the first part of a three part series - City in Crisis. Here City Court candidate Gillian Brown talks about the City and the importance of Housing Court. Sam Magavern address the City's housing crisis and discusses the importance of electing a progressive reform minded judge.

Sam Magavern is a writer and public interest lawyer, currently serving as co-director of the Partnership for the Public Good. He also teaches at the University at Buffalo Law School. He has written non-fiction, poetry, fiction, scholarly articles, a movie screenplay, and comic books. His work has appeared in many journals, including Poetry, The Antioch Review, The In 2009 he published Primo Levi's Universe: A Writer's Journey.

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fixBuffalo photos • the atlantic cities • shrinking cities • americansuburbX • copenhagenize
buffalo reuse • spacing toronto • infrastructurist

9/02/2011

Gillian Brown: Getting into Housing Court

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.

8/19/2011

94 Northampton - Bound for the Landfill

An arsonist torched 94 Northampton early Monday morning, one of Midtown Buffalo's most significant city-owned heritage residences. Two days later a $26.8K emergency demolition contract razed the building, sending yet another East Side treasure to the landfill.

94 Northampton - Wednesday late afternoon

fixBuffalo readers may remember that Commissioner Jim Comerford from the City of Buffalo Department of Permits & Inspections removed 94 Northampton from the demolition list in April 2010 - story here - granting this city-owned gem a renewed lease on life. John Hannon, Director of the city's Division of Real Estate then placed this amazing 3 family residence on the homestead eligible list - $1 house. City Hall cooperated.

94 Northampton - Wednesday early afternoon

The first ten minutes of Wednesday afternoon's demolition.

During an early 2007 neighborhood walking tour, I was handed a photograph of 94 Northampton, dated 1906. The person joining the tour that morning indicated that her grandmother is the woman sitting on the porch. With the recent success of the nearby Packard and ArtSpace developments on Main Street, private investment in the immediate neighborhood has been revived and a number of large single and two family houses have been restored along the two block stretch of Northampton between Main and Michigan.

Here's what 94 looked like, back in the day.

94 Northampton - c. 1906

There are dozens of well-maintained houses in the neighborhood, including 82 Northampton, next door. All of these houses can be found within a block of 94 Northampton. By any measure the collection of 19th century architecture in this neighborhood would qualify as an historic district. Near by, 38 Northampton was the first house on the street to sell after Artspace announced plans in early 2006 to locate in the neighborhood.

After numerous showings, no one was prepared to step-up and take on this project. With the reinvestment in St. Vincent's, a short block away on Ellicott Street, my optimism grew and I was convinced that time was on 94 Northampton's side.

94 Northampton photo archive

8/18/2011

Buffalo ReUse: James Green Executive Director - Q&A

Buffalo ReUse is located in the heart of Buffalo’s East Side. On any given day customers may include a downtown attorney searching the piles of green limestone that once graced Minoru Yamaski’s plaza at the base of the M & T tower or neighbors buying hardware and replacement screens. Landlords and local contractors were streaming through the door during a recent visit and were searching an inventory of donated doors, moldings and windows and architectural salvage. Landfilling these items no longer makes sense, especially now.

James Green - Executive Director

I had the opportunity recently to sit down with James Green, the new Executive Director and talk with him about the organization’s past, present and future. Here's the podcast (running time 10 min).

Javoun & Tyshawn - Buffalo ReUse garden volunteers

Shortly after meeting with James Green, the following Buffalo News story appeared about the organization’s eviction from the Northampton Street location. I sat down with Vince Kuntz, Buffalo ReUse board President on Wednesday morning and asked him about the eviction proceeding. Vince remains confident about the organization’s future as a number of possible options are actively explored. While the details and plans are being hammered out Vince explained that all the recent changes that have taken place on Northampton Street have resulted in a stronger organization, an organization that is rapidly becoming an organization of the East Side.

Len, Rose & Akhalaq - customers

Hear what Len, Rose and Akalhaq have to say - podcast (running time 3 min.) - about their Buffalo ReUse experience. I chatted with them while they were shopping the endless aisles of salvaged inventory from some of Buffalo’s most storied buildings and neighborhoods while working on their own home based projects.

Buffalo ReUse Archive - links to previous posts & photo set