Buffalo landmarks are getting some additional protections from what's often called demolition by neglect.
There have been a series of battles over city landmarks often deteriorating. Many become suddenly known when something goes wrong and the building is beyond repair. That's when the standard question is asked: Why didn't someone do something?
Right now, the fight is over the historic Great Northern grain elevator on the waterfront, badly damaged in a winter windstorm. Only a court action is delaying the push of owner ADM to knock it down.
Common Councilmember Joel Feroleto said legislation approved by lawmakers Tuesday will protect those historic buildings.
"This is not a shot at the Department of Permits and Inspection," Feroleto said. "They respond to complaints, concerns, when people call 311, a councilmember or reach their office directly, they they go inspect the property. So this will just make sure that the local landmarks — we have 134 of them — are inspected once every three years."
That inspection will also join the 21st century, with provision for drones to be used to look at roofs, as damaged roofs and infiltrating water are often a cause of a landmark becoming unuseable buildings.
Councilmember Joseph Golombek said this a big forward step.
"One of the problems that we have had in the past has been demolition by neglect, and that with this piece of legislation and with the new technology that can be used in the Department of Permits and Inspections, I hope that this will cut back, if not completely eliminate, those type of problems from occurring again."
Council President Darius Pridgen said he expects the new law to be used by supporters of saving historic St. Ann's Church from demolition plans by the Buffalo Catholic Diocese.
"Maybe, now, something will happen with St. Ann's," Pridgen said. "I don't know what order the inspectors will go out there. I don't know if they are going by name or by street. I hope they are going by street, 'cause at least F is at the top of the chain. Because St. Ann's has sat there and my fear is that that will be another building that we're going to see demolished because of neglect."
