BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A court ruled in the City of Buffalo’s favor on Friday in the ongoing dispute over two buildings in the Cobblestone District.
The state’s Fourth Department Appellate Division affirmed a previous ruling that the city can assume ownership of the buildings located at 110-118 South Park Ave — which blocked owner Darryl Carr from demolishing the vacant structures. It’s the latest ruling in a decade-long battle between the city and Carr.
Carr had argued that the buildings were beyond repair following a massive fire in June 2024 and he tried to obtain an emergency demolition permit through Buffalo Housing Court. The Fourth Department Appellate Division reaffirmed that the Housing Court “lacked authority to grant a demolition order.”
Carr told WIVB News 4 that he wasn’t necessarily surprised by the ruling, but he has a property that needs to be remediated and demolished and that he would like to work with the new administration to move forward.
In a statement, Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon said he was satisfied with the ruling.
“I am pleased with Justice Gerald J. Whalen’s ruling that reaffirms the City of Buffalo’s position and will allow us to move forward with the acquisition of 110–118 South Park Avenue,” Scanlon said. “This ruling clearly confirms that the city has acted appropriately and within its authority to acquire and stabilize these long-neglected historic properties in the Cobblestone District.
“This has been an unnecessary and prolonged battle with the property owner, who has repeatedly brought this matter back to court while allowing the buildings to deteriorate. These properties have stood vacant for more than a decade, faced repeated code violations, and were further damaged by fire last year. It’s time to move forward.
“The City of Buffalo remains committed to securing and rehabilitating these historic buildings to protect public safety and preserve the character of the Cobblestone District by returning them to productive reuse.”
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Mark Ludwiczak joined the News 4 team in 2024. He is a veteran journalist with two decades of experience in Buffalo. You can follow him online at @marklud12.
Marlee Tuskes is an award-winning anchor and reporter who has been part of the News 4 team since 2019. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter.
