Mayor Byron Brown on Friday promised "a plan to crack down hard" on commercial landlords who don't maintain their properties.
The mayor issued his warning while standing at 435 Ellicott St., where a Civil War-era building once stood. An emergency demolition was ordered earlier this month after a second structural collapse. Preservationists accused the building's owner, Bruce Adler of Buffalo Properties Ltd., of neglecting the property and also said the city didn't do enough to force him to maintain his downtown holdings over the course of many years.
"It is absolutely unacceptable that people are maintaining commercial properties in substandard condition in the City of Buffalo, and I have asked [the Department of] Permits and Inspections [Services] for a plan to crack down hard on problem property owners who have properties that are not maintained according to the city's building code," the mayor said.
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Brown said he asked for the plan to be submitted to him with additional input from the law and strategic planning departments in 30 days.
The mayor has also directed his administration to help Susan Adamucci, the owner of Two Wheels Bakery, who had been a tenant at 435 Ellicott, to file a claim to recoup the estimated $80,000 to $90,000 of restaurant equipment lost when the building was demolished.
"I want to make it very clear that these problem properties are not owned by the City of Buffalo," the mayor said. "They are private owners who own these properties, and they will be held accountable for the condition of their properties."
The mayor added that pressure will be put on landlords to sell their properties if they won't make the necessary improvements. He said the forthcoming plan will apply to all Buffalo properties, not just those downtown.
Standing with Brown was Frank Chinnici of Buffalo-based Legacy Development, who expects to finalize his purchase of the Ellicott Street property and seven others, including four buildings, from Adler in early January.
Chinnici said he is committed to reviving the properties and working with the city. He earned praise from Brown for working closely with the city on stabilization plans.
Chinnici said he has been in negotiations with Adler for four months to buy the Ellicott, Oak and Genesee street properties. He said Adler will pay a demolition company the full cost of 435 Ellicott's cleanup as part of the sales agreement.
"Everybody wants to see this come to closure and, really, have Mr. Adler exit the scene," Chinnici said. "In order to negotiate a final sale, we got him to agree to step up for the $105,000. In return for that, we agreed to get in front of all the current code violations."
Chinnici said he expects to have his hands full with the buildings.
"Their condition is deplorable," Chinnici said. "They have been allowed to deteriorate for many years, and we hope to be able to correct that."
The most vulnerable property, he said, is 324 North Oak St.
"We are very fearful that that building will not survive the winter," Chinnici said.
He said he's working with city officials to develop a plan to stabilize the building, which he said has deteriorated for around 20 years.
"The best we can promise is we will try," Chinnici added.
Chinnici said plans for the properties are still being developed, but he expressed confidence the public will be pleased when they're revealed.
James Comerford, the commissioner of Department of Permits and Inspection Services, said he would like preservationists to give him a list of historic properties they believe to be in danger.
Comerford defended his department's record, saying its hands are often tied when it comes to troublesome landlords.
"Unless we have just cause, we can't break doors down," Comerford said. "We try to save buildings, and tried to save this building when it first collapsed," he said of the Ellicott Street building.
Brown reiterated that the city's stance will be "unyielding."
"I am telling everyone right now it will be a tough, tough plan that will put all kinds of pressure on problem property owners," the mayor said.
"So, when these problem commercial property owners are screaming and squealing and whining and crying that the city is treating them badly, we want everybody to remember this day and to remember this structure that came down," he said.
