fixBuffalo

If you are interested in getting the scoop on some of Buffalo's hottest political and preservation oriented news...sign-up for Buffalo Issue Alerts, moderated by über-cool Cynthia Van Ness, when she's not peddling about town or working as one of Buffalo's best librarians. Alan Bedenko from Buffalo Pundit reads it and beat me to posting about a proposed ordinance that the Common Council may be considering sometime soon. It's about "demolition by neglect" and pretty much goes to the heart of what started me on this blogging venture last October. Alan is reffering to this bit of news from BuffaloPlace that appeared on Cynthia's BIA e-list today.

***Update***
The guys over at BuffaloRising just posted
about "Demoliton by Neglect"....check it out here!

This "demolition by neglect" ordince is being sponsored by Common Council President and presumed Fillmore Avenue resident, David Franczyk. Here's a copy of the Common Council resolution regarding "demolition by neglect" that the Council passed earlier this year. Let's assume that a new ordinance that Franczyk is proposing will included substantially the same language and build upon the resolution adopted earlier.

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NYS Assemblyman Sam Hoyt has sponsored similar legislation in Albany, A-06980. I first wrote about Hoyt's preservation thing in April and again in May and referred to it again in October as Sam was called to "witness" the ironic demolition of NYS owned property on Forest Avenue. My e-mail exchange with Sam gets rather snarky so I don't want to include any thing here, yet ask yourself the simple question..."Who is going to enforce this new preservation law?" If our existing laws regarding the proper care of buildings and houses are not being enforced do you really think a new law is going to help?

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Besides, both Franzcyk and Hoyt's "modest proposals" rely on a wrong interpretation of a recent case involving historic property in NYC. I wrote about the "Samuel Tredwell House" case last December. (Cool building, lots of links in that post.) Here, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Walter Tolub, used existing building code ordinaces to force compliance. He didn't use or need new preservation laws.

A new detente between David Torke and this blog has developed, so I’ll be linking to him and his efforts, which are quite noble, would do a lot of good for the city, and are do-able.

Changing historic architecture of St. Stan's is serious mistake

11/12/2005

I initially shared in Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz's goal of re-establishing St. Stanislaus as the primary focal point of Western New York's Polish-American community. Many of the projects he initiated have had a positive effect on preserving the parish complex and energizing a sense of pride among parishioners.

Unfortunately, my support of his efforts has changed following the drastic alterations taking place to the interior of the church. The removal of pews and the out-building of the altar destroy the architectural and historic integrity of one of Buffalo's most important cultural landmarks.

The alterations contradict the common attributes associated with the Polish community: heritage, tradition and history. I believe the parish has made a grievous mistake in changing the historic architecture of the building. My family's involvement and dedication to the parish can be traced back to 1887. For generations of ancestors before me, the altar has played host to countless sacraments. The changes have made the church unrecognizable.

With this letter, I formally protest Grosz's undertakings and ask that the Parish Council please reconsider the construction of the new, historically inappropriate altar.

Martin Biniasz, Buffalo

In case you missed the announcement, Bishop Kmiec recently announced the formation of another commission. This time "The Journey to Avoid Housing Court" is composed of the following members:

While Bishop Kmiec continues to reside at 79 Oakland Place, in the most expensive (highest assesment) residence in the City of Buffalo, it's helpful to remember what happens to former Catholic Church property when it's "flipped" to unsuspecting and irresponsible owners on Buffalo's east-side.

• Most Rev. Edward U. Kmiec Bishop of Buffalo ** Most Rev. Edward M. Grosz Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Diocese of Buffalo, pastor, St. Stanislaus Parish, Buffalo ** Mr. Robert Bennett Chancellor of the NYS Board of Regents, parishioner, St. Christopher Parish, Tonawanda ** Msgr. Leonard Biniszkiewicz Episcopal Vicar of Western Niagara Vicariate, pastor, St. Teresa of Infant Jesus Parish, Niagara Falls ** Mrs. Deborah Brown Director of Sacramental Life, St. John the Baptist Parish, Lockport, parishioner, St. Mary Parish, Gasport; former Regional Director for Religious Education in Eastern Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming Counties ** Rev. Gregory Dobson Episcopal Vicar, Southern Cattaraugus Vicariate, pastor, St. Mary of the Angels Parish, Olean, pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Portville ** Rev. Patrick Elis Episcopal Vicar of Northern Chautauqua, pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Cassadaga, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Sinclairville ** Mr. Robert Greene Lay Chair, Bishop’s Council of the Laity, Attorney with Phillips Lytle, LLP, former president, Board of Catholic Education, Diocese of Buffalo, parishioner, St. Louis Parish, Buffalo ** Mrs. Kathleen Heffern Director, Office of Church Ministry, Diocese of Buffalo parishioner, St. Joseph-University Parish, Buffalo ** Sister Nancy Hoff, RSM President of the Sisters of Mercy, Co-chair, Leadership Conference of Women Religious ** Mr. Kevin Keenan Director of Communications, Diocese of Buffalo, parishioner, St. John the Baptist Parish, Kenmore ** Mr. Todd Kniazuk Member of Diocesan Pastoral Council, Senior Staff Assistant, University at Buffalo Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth, Administrator, Erie-Niagara Regional Partnership, parishioner, St. Adalbert Basilica Parish, Buffalo ** Ms. Denise McKenzie Secretary of Catholic Education, Diocese of Buffalo, parishioner, Our Lady of Victory Basilica Parish, Lackawanna ** Rev. Robert Mock President, Council of Priests, Diocese of Buffalo, pastor, St. John the Evangelist Parish, Buffalo ** Sister Regina Murphy, SSMN Director of Research & Planning, Diocese of Buffalo ** Mrs. Milagros Ramos Director of Hispanic Youth Ministry, Diocese of Buffalo, parishioner, St. Anthony Parish, Lackawanna ** Sister Denise Roche, GNSH President, D’Youville College ** Rev. Joseph Sicari Diocesan Director of Catholic Charities ** Deacon Paul Snyder Member, Board of Trustees, Christ the King Seminary, permanent deacon, St. Mary Parish, Swormville ** Msgr. Jerome Sullivan Director of Priests’ Personnel, Diocese of Buffalo, pastor, St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Hamburg ** Mrs. Ann Swan Member, Board of Catholic Education, Diocese parishioner, St. Gregory the Great, Williamsville ** Mr. Steven Timmel Executive Director of Financial Administration, Diocese of Buffalo, parishioner, Christ the King Parish, Snyder ** Sister Lorianne Tylczynski, CSSF At Large member, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, member, Felician Provincial Council ** Rev. Michael Uebler Pastor, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Tonawanda, former Vicar of Tri-County Vicariate **Mr. Dan Workman Parishioner, St. Martin de Porres, Buffalo

Absent are members of the various communities who have to live next to the Bishop's neglected and abandoned buildings here in Buffalo. Remember this place...the former Immaculate Conception...at the corner of Edward and Elmwood. Bishop Kmiec closed this building four months ago and claimed that the structure was unsafe and needed $800K of repairs. As of last week there was still no housing court file.

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I do imagine that the Bishop has already determined which buildings he will be closing. This exercise, that I've called "Journey to Avoid Housing Court" is simply a thinly veiled attempt to make the process appear more transparent than it really is. If you have any additional information about this "process" ask one of the commission members and let me know.