BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The City of Buffalo filed a petition with the state Monday to acquire several historic properties in the Cobblestone District through eminent domain.
It cited years of neglect and a prolonged legal dispute over their future.
The properties at 110 through 118 South Park Avenue were the sites of a major fire in June 2024 that caused more than $1 million in damage. Since then, the city and property owner Darryl Carr have been in a legal battle over what should become of the buildings. Carr is looking to demolish what remains of them and has plans to build what he calls the Unity Tower", Buffalo's first skyscraper, on the property.
Deputy Mayor Benjamin Swanekamp addressed the city's move Monday.
"Councilman Nowakowski has been championing this for a long time and our law department, corporation counsel, and Deputy Mayor Baines have been on top of it and they took action today. So it's been a long time coming, but we're trying to show that we're delivering results for folks, and here we go," Swanekamp said.
Deputy Mayor Thomas Baines also released a statement on the action:
“This administration is going to be aggressive, strategic, and deliberate in addressing properties that have been neglected, mismanaged or stalled for too long, and we will use every tool available to us. With the eminent domain process now moving forward, we will begin developing an RFP to identify a responsible owner and developer who can quickly put these historically significant properties back into productive use.”
- Deputy Mayor Thomas Baines
Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski has said the buildings and complaints against Carr have been in and out of housing court for well over 15 years. June 2024, following the fire, Nowakowski was critical of Carr.
"I believe that he was able to allow and manipulate courts for 15 years for this building to then fall into disrepair for on everybody else's back and their neighbors, and now we're moving full steam ahead that we have an ability to put these structures back into productive use," Nowakowski said in 2024.
Carr learned about the city's eminent domain petition on Monday. On Tuesday, he said the city had yet to make him an offer for the property and argued there is no salvaging any part of it for historic preservation.
"The foundations aren't stable, which is evident in the buildings. The building has to be deconstructed. I can save the brick. We have to decontaminate or dig up the entire property because for this project, we would go 4 stories down and then have to hit bedrock for the foundation," Carr said.
Carr said his Unity Tower project would bring significant economic benefit to Buffalo.
"This would bring most likely up to 500 investors into Buffalo. People that possibly other entrepreneurs, business owners, companies," Carr said.
He said he remains committed to the project, which he estimates would create about 1,200 jobs.
"Well, I'm adamant in creating the project because that's where the real, real value is, the value for the city and the value for the community and to move the city forward," Carr said.
Carr added that if demolition and cleanup were completed, the project could be finished by 2030.
"If we were able to do the demolition and the clean up now, this project could be completed by 2030," Carr said.
I spoke with Carr by phone Monday, but he said he needed to consult with his lawyer before making a comment at that time.
Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski has said the buildings and complaints against the developer have been in and out of housing court for well over 15 years.
Deputy Mayor Benjamin Swanekamp addressed the city's move Monday.
"Councilman Nowakowski has been championing this for a long time and our law department, corporation counsel, and Deputy Mayor Baines have been on top of it and they took action today. So it's been a long time coming, but we're trying to show that we're delivering results for folks, and here we go," Swanekamp said.
Deputy Mayor Thomas Baines also released a statement on the action.
