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Home > Leadership > Mayor > Archive Press Releases > 2008 Archives > July 2008 > Mayor Brown Announces Emergency Demolition

Mayor Brown Announces Emergency Demolition

Source/Contact
Office of the Mayor
Peter K. Cutler
Director of Communications
716-851-4841

Eight houses in the City of Buffalo to be removed because of disrepair

 Mayor Byron W. Brown today announced the City of Buffalo will demolish eight vacant, dilapidated structures to make way for new residential homes that will be developed by the True Community Development Corporation, a subsidiary of True Bethel Baptist Church.

“This is the kind of partnership that brings positive, long-term stability to our city’s residential neighborhoods, “ said Mayor Brown. “These vacant structures are not only eyesores, they threaten the quality of life of our residents who care for their properties and take pride in the places where they live. We will continue to pursue partnerships like this effort with the True Community Development Corporation and remove blighted properties, so that new homes and expanded green space can be developed in their place.”

Burt's Trucking won the bid to demolish 8 houses that were all declared emergency demolitions due to their deteriorating condition. The structures scheduled for demolition consist of 6 houses on Woodlawn Avenue and 2 houses on Kehr Street. 

“I commend Mayor Brown and the City of Buffalo for working with us to remove these vacant buildings, which will enable us to construct four new homes in their place,” said Reverend Darius Pridgen, Pastor of the True Bethel Baptist Church. “By demolishing the old homes, we are preparing the location for the future benefit of the eventual new homeowners, as well as the residents currently residing in this neighborhood.  This is all about strengthening our neighborhood by removing the blight.”

According the Department of Economic Development Permit and Inspection Services, the city has performed demolitions citywide according to the following statistics:

· 2006 [January1st, 2006 to December 31st, 2006] > 459 houses demolished
· 2007 [January 1st, 2007 to December 31st,2007] > 500 houses demolished
· From January 1st, 2008 to June 30th 2008, demolished or bid out 678 houses for demo.
· For the fiscal year, July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008 bid out 1,178 houses for demo.

Last August, Mayor Brown launched the city’s “5 in 5” demolition plan, that targeted demolishing over 5,000 structures in 5 years. It is estimated that city has approximately 12,000 vacant structures. At the time of the “5 in 5” announcement, Mayor Brown announced the appointment of James Comerford as Deputy Commissioner for Economic Development, Permit and Inspection Services to oversee this department’s permit and inspection operations, including all demolition activities.