Do we need another empty lot? 1941 Niagara St has been on the Demolition list for some time now it has been wide open for years a fire did some damage . Vandals and vagrants have done there share to add to it's demise the damage has been substantial but not devastating. City building codes say that a vacant lot this size is not big enough to build on so i ask Do we need an empty lot on Niagara St . We already have an empty lot on that block can we carry another the future of the Niagara St corridor is based on what is done today. This property is located directly across the street from a large
antique store and the old Jubilee Community center just one block north of a
revitalized block of business's. Niagara St from Amherst St to Hamilton St
has never looked better in my lifetime .North of Hamilton is also on an upswing with a mix of Commercial and residential including a couple
painted lady Victorians and some stops on the
BRR garden walk. Do we need another empty lot?
Do we need another empty lot? 1941 Niagara St has been on the Demolition list for some time now it has been wide open for years a fire did some damage . Vandals and vagrants have done there share to add to it's demise the damage has been substantial but not devastating. City building codes say that a vacant lot this size is not big enough to build on so i ask Do we need an empty lot on Niagara St . We already have an empty lot on that block can we carry another the future of the Niagara St corridor is based on what is done today. This property is located directly across the street from a large antique store and the old Jubilee Community center just one block north of a revitalized block of business's. Niagara St from Amherst St to Hamilton St has never looked better in my lifetime .North of Hamilton is also on an upswing with a mix of Commercial and residential including a couple painted lady Victorians and some stops on the BRR garden walk. Do we need another empty lot?
8 comments:
This property is the source of many complaints to the mayor's complaint line and the councilmember's office. Why should the neighbors have to live next to this? I ask you not to make a Tim Tielman case out of this. If you want to preserve this building, please take some concrete action and purchase this property. Otherwise, on behalf of the neighbors, have the city take it down!
I know this building, I don't see anyone wanting to fix it up. I know on some of the residential streets, when there is an empty lot, the next door neighbor would buy it for a larger yard. Maybe there is a nearby owner who would want to buy the lot and fence it. I am in favor of saving structures that have architectural interest, that can add to the future curb appeal. This building does not fit that category, I fear. There are several buildings in BR that have been neglected for so long that they need to come down and make way for something else. Maintenance is the issue. The other empty lot on the block is not maintained, it's an eyesore. I think that we need to contact the owner and rattle his/her chain. I hope that it's not the city!
I did not start this blog to highlight the property's that I want to save and preserve I started this blog to highlight the area and it's potential sometimes that may include a derelict property that if presented to the right person outside of the area may spark someones interest . This is not a preservationists site dedicated to every hole in the Rock however I am a preservationists at heart. I ask you not to make a Tim Tielman case out of post such as these ideas must be presented just "have the city take it down!" at the cost of $20,000 is not the answer. I have taken "some concrete action" by posting the building here on this blog to discuss you are correct the neighbors should not have to live next to this liability I ask yous to take some concrete action and come up with something other than just tear it down.
Advocate, let me first say that we have something in common. I am a preservationist at heart also. But, through my education and my friends (some are urban planners, others work in the construction trades.)I know when there is no need to save a structure.
You talk about using this property to catch some outsiders eye. We have had that for quite a while in this city. We call them absentee landlords. Look at the east side, black rock and riverside. Properties are being flipped. People are neglecting their property and instead of putting the effort into rehabbing it, they abandon it. I have a question for you. You look to get individuals to care for their property. That is admirable. But the income these individuals have may not meet their expenses. There are groups out there that are supposed to help them. Take for example, the Black Rock Riverside Neighborhood Housing Services. They are supposed to help out the residents. Do they publicize this fact. Of course not. Their director spends more time on the West Side than in BR. Can you tell me who their board is? I can't because it is not made well known. How about going after these people and making them own up to their share of responsibility? They should be there to help the neighborhood, not just sit there and collect a paycheck. I think making the NHS responsible, by say someone doing an article on them, might be a start.
Finally, I know that the demo bid for that building was $12,000. Not 20,000. And it would have been down a long time ago if the lawyers for the listed owner (Elizabeth Manuel) and the bank that foreclosed on it (Fairbanks Mortage) would now have played games with the court.
That said, I think that you might gather that I have been taking some "concrete steps" to make sure this gets demo'ed. I just know and believe that this property cannot be saved.
buzz kill,
Who submits the proposals to tear down these buildings? Is it a competitive bid system, or does it go to a politically connected contractor?
$12,000 seems like an obscene amount of money to demolish this dump. Obviously the draconian environment protection and worker compensation insurance laws increase the cost exponentially, but $12,000?
Unfortunately, the bulk of the demo dollars go to the west side and east side, too. There were quite a few demos happening in the fall last year in BR but they abruptly stopped.
There are far more people on the West and East sides
demanding action and attention from their organizations that are supposed to be working for them. Black Rock residents need to do the same. No one else is going to do it for them.
That being said, Niagara Street looks to be the next focus of attention for city activists. It's not a bad idea to try to find a purpose for a soon-to-be vacant lot.
Neighborhood Housing Services had funds to deal with properties like these, but since 2001 the city has forced them to remit all proceeds to city hall. It was a dedicated loan fund that was used to invest in the neighborhood. It had grown to around $1,000,000 and returned over $100,000 per year. Since then the city has used these funds as they see fit.
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