I posted about Ada Place in the context of Belmont Shelter's Neighborhood Plan - Part III last week. Six of the last remaining 18 houses on Ada Place are boarded and vacant. This house at 38 Ada Place caught my eye.
After completing an ownership analysis of these stranded properties I learned that Rev. Richard Stenhouse, the former treasurer/secretary of Buffalo's Fiscal Stabiltiy Authority, and his organization, Bethel Community Development Corporation own 38 Ada Place. According to City records it was purchased seven years ago. Neighbors inform me that this single family house hasn't been occupied.
I called the Department of Inspections at City Hall and learned that the last property inspection and Housing Court case was finalized prior to Bethel's purchase, seven years ago.
fixBuffalo readers may remember Rev. Stenhouse's prior Housing Court history involving four houses Bethel owned that were in derelict condition and adjacent to one of Buffalo's most exciting school reconstruction projects - Performing Arts High School. They were eventually demolished pursuant to a settlement with Housing Court, six months after the school reopened. See - Boarding Control and Rev. Stenhouse Steps Down.
A number of calls to Bethel inquiring about the plans for 38 Ada Place haven't been returned. While recent successes on Coe Place demonstrate that a market exists for the renovation of smaller single family houses in Buffalo, 'demolition by neglect' seems to be in order for 38 Ada Place.
Neighborhood Plan background - Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V and Part VII called the Department of Inspections at City Hall and learned that the last property inspection and Housing Court case was finalized prior to Bethel's purchase, seven years ago.
fixBuffalo readers may remember Rev. Stenhouse's prior Housing Court history involving four houses Bethel owned that were in derelict condition and adjacent to one of Buffalo's most exciting school reconstruction projects - Performing Arts High School. They were eventually demolished pursuant to a settlement with Housing Court, six months after the school reopened. See - Boarding Control and Rev. Stenhouse Steps Down.
A number of calls to Bethel inquiring about the plans for 38 Ada Place haven't been returned. While recent successes on Coe Place demonstrate that a market exists for the renovation of smaller single family houses in Buffalo, 'demolition by neglect' seems to be in order for 38 Ada Place.
Artspace • BAVPA • Woodlawn Row Houses • fixBuffalo flickr
Creative Class • Shrinking Cities • Saturdays in the neighborhood
I have really enjoyed this series of "Neighborhood Plan". After extensive travel, I come back to Buffalo. Because I come and go in the city, it is interesting to see the decline continue. There is so much potential here as in other rust belt cities.
I love what Detroit is doing. A few individuals buying old houses in nearly vacant neighborhoods in need of rehab but purchased at low prices. Families and small businesses are moving into these areas. Now neighborhoods of young and old, owner occupied.
On the other hand, all of this is a great discussion but without building up the economy of Buffalo at the same time of rehab and building, there is nobody to invest and occupy. And that will take people with a new vision, not old rehashed what do I get out of this talk that has been going on for over 25-years.