Buffalo preservationist speaks out on Cobblestone District fire

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A local environmental advocate spoke out about the frustration associated with Tuesday night’s fire in the Cobblestone District.

Paul McDonnell is the current president of the Campaign for Greater Buffalo, History, Architecture and Culture, an organization that helps preserve and maintain Buffalo’s historic buildings.

McDonnell said he was pretty disappointed as he stood outside the wreckage.

“We’ve been fighting to save this building for about 15 years and to see it neglected and then ultimately catch fire is very frustrating to us,” McDonnell said. “This owner should have been held accountable a long time ago.”

As for the history of the building, it was largely a blacksmith shop. McDonnell said many of the buildings served the maritime industry. It is also the only pre-Civil War building remaining on the waterfront.

“That’s one of the things that makes it so special,” McDonnell said. “And the fact that it’s in the middle of a historic neighborhood, the Cobblestone District.”

Darryl Carr has owned the buildings for 13 years. Carr told News 4 he purchased the buildings “ready to be torn down” and plans to develop something new. He wanted to build a tower that he believed would allow everyone to prosper.

“My project would attract as many people here as the arena,” Carr said. “People are going to come to Western New York just to see a new iconic tower that will put Buffalo on the map.”

Carr fought the city in an eminent domain case. He wants to redevelop the space while the city wants to save it. McDonnell said Carr neglected to take good care of the properties.

“Since the owner has owned this building, he has really neglected to maintain it. It’s a relatively simple building,” McDonnell said. “He allowed the situation to continue to deteriorate.”

McDonnell also expressed frustration with the housing court, saying it didn’t appear to have the wherewithal to hold Carr accountable.

“He has some sort of project proposing to build a condominium building of about 45 stories. No developer has even thought about doing something like this in Buffalo,” McDonnell said. “Our concern is that this building will be demolished and become a parking lot. »

McDonnell believes the buildings are not a total loss. He expressed what he would like to see in the future.

“We believe that with selective demolition, saving some of the existing brickwork, and then stabilizing the building, we can mitigate any health and safety concerns and then take it off its hands, as the city has attempted to do through eminent domain,” McDonnell said. . “The main thing now is to save the building.”

The city said a decision on the eminent domain case is expected soon.