Receivership bill would allow Buffalo city to target abandoned buildings

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — An abandoned three-story building on St. Louis Place in Allentown has become a problem for neighbors like Lynn Wilson and Father Sal Manganello.

“And when I go to mow my lawn, this is what I see… I saw a dead body. I saw a fire and I wondered what was going to happen to my property. I don’t want to live like this anymore,” Wilson said.

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“People have passed out in the parking lot. We’re finding needles in the parking lot. I’m the one who called the police the day this body was found here and it keeps happening,” Father Manganello said.

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Today, Congressman Jon Rivera, State Senator Sean Ryan, and Fillmore District Councilmember Mitch Nowakowski are joining together to push for the “City of Buffalo Historic Preservation Receivership Act.”

The bill has already passed the state Senate, but now awaits approval by the Assembly.

“We have the receivership program, but we’re going to strengthen it to make it much easier and more user-friendly,” Senator Ryan said.

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Currently, only the Buffalo Housing Court can appoint a receivership that allows a third party to take legal possession of an abandoned and dilapidated property.

The bill would also allow city leaders to appoint receivers for a property like the one in St. Louis.

“It’s a threat to public safety, it’s a detriment to neighborhoods and it’s because we have unscrupulous slum landlords who have allowed the city of Buffalo and their structures to collapse on everyone’s heads,” Nowakowski said.

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The building has been abandoned for more than a decade and has had 17 violations, Nowakowski said.

Bernice Radle of Preservation Buffalo Niagara says there is hope the nonprofit agency could be named receiver.

“We currently have over $100,000 in a bank account to manage this building. If we can get the green light from the city and the housing court, we can receive this property,” Radle said.

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Lawmakers hope the bill — which grants the city that power — will pass when they return to session.

In the meantime, these neighbors are hoping for changes soon.

“I would like my grandchildren to be able to play in the yard, my dogs to be able to run in the yard. And I wouldn’t be threatened by people hanging out on their porch,” Wilson said.