arkitrave :: log

[UPDATE] Pano, the owner of the property, has stated that whether or not he is granted the demolition permit, he will have the house destroyed himself. The fine for demolishing without a permit is only $1500 in Buffalo, and he said he would simply take down the house and gladly pay the fine. In the face of close to 3500 signatures on a petition, no less.

Pano’s, an established (and I add, always packed with people) 24-hour restaurant on Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo, has just filed a request for a demolition permit on this house next door to their restaurant:

They do own the house. They have evicted the current tenants. No, this demolition isn’t for a fabulous new building by an internationally acclaimed architect. It isn’t because the building has been empty for years. They evicted tenants. No, they want to replace this architectural gem with a parking lot. Yes. A parking lot.

Buffalo’s downtown is 27% parking. Now Elmwood, the healthiest commercial district in the city, mainly because it isn’t all surface parking, has the opportunity for another surface lot.

I am not going to say anything more about this. It could get ugly, and this is a professional website. If you live in Buffalo, and haven’t seen this yet, sign the petition. As of this writing, they’re at 2000 signatures. They’re asking for a boycott of Pano’s, but you can sign the petition without agreeing to boycott the restaurant, if boycotts aren’t your thing.

Even if you don’t live in Buffalo, add your name to the list if you’re inclined. The petition will be delivered at the hearing on the permit in a week or so.

We don’t need another parking lot in Buffalo. And we don’t need to lose another significant building.